Write an account in report form, of a scene taken from a horror film.Analyse the director’s choice of camera shots, lighting and sound in order to create the most effective visual images and therefore sustain the interest and suspense of the audience
English
GCSE
Media Coursework
Write an account in report form, of a scene taken from a horror film.
Analyse the director's choice of camera shots, lighting and sound in order to create the most effective visual images and therefore sustain the interest and suspense of the audience.
Matthew Kutner 10 G
Mrs Hayes
Contents
. Frankenstein - An Introduction
2. The terms used in describing Camera Angles
3. The Report
4. My Evaluation
5. Conclusion
Frankenstein - An Introduction
Frankenstein was a novel written by Mary Shelley in 1816 while staying at Lake Geneva. It went on to be one of the most famous novels of all time and has been the subject of many films over the years.
The novel is the story of Victor Frankenstein, a medical student who makes a " Being" from the remains of corpses. In the novel the student explains:
"I collected bones from charnel-houses and disturbed, with profane fingers, the tremendous secrets of the human frame."
Horrified by the result of his Creation, Frankenstein abandons the Creature, who wanders the countryside, being in total isolation from humanity. The Creature persuades his creator to construct a second, female Being, but Victor "kills it" before it can be brought to life. In revenge, the Creature murders Frankenstein's bride-to-be. A chase across the world then takes place, Victor determining....
"to pursue the demon who caused this misery until he or I shall perish in mortal conflict".
The terms used in describing Camera Angles
Long Shot
This shot will include the whole of any person who is in the photograph and there will be a lot of information about the setting.
Mid Shot
The Mid Shot will show the person from waist upwards. We will be able to see some of the background, but the person will fill much more of the photograph than they do in the Long Shot.
Close-Up
The Close-Up is where the head and part of the shoulders fills the photograph. It is a very intimate shot. It is as if we are standing very close to the person, staring them in the face. We can tell a great deal about what emotion the person is feeling when this shot is used.
Big Close-Up
In this shot, one part of the person completely fills the photograph. It shares the intimacy of the Close-Up but can be used to narrow down the focus of attention and present things with dramatic impact.
Long shot
Mid shot
Close up
Big close - up
An account in report form, of a scene taken from a horror film.
analysing the director's choice of camera shots, lighting and sound in order to create the most effective visual images and therefore sustain the interest and suspense of the audience.
Over the past few weeks, I have been studying an important scene from the film, Frankenstein. I studied one of the most pivotal scenes in the whole film, because Victor Frankenstein suffers the devastation of Elizabeth's' death. The director spent considerable time on it, to make it significant for the audience.
The scene was set in and around a Nineteenth century Inn on the wedding night of Victor Frankenstein and Elizabeth, his new bride. Although it was meant to be a momentous event for the couple, it all goes horribly wrong when the Creature enters the scene and murders Elizabeth.
In this section of the coursework, I will examine each aspect of the scene in detail.
The opening scene takes you to Victor and Elizabeth's hotel room on their honeymoon; they are on the bed about to consummate the marriage.
There is a very passionate feel to this part due to camera techniques and choices made by the director. The camera angles used in this scene were close-up in some instances and the extreme close-up; this is because the director wants to expand the intimacy and involve the viewer in "their secret" moment. Close-up's and Extreme ...
This is a preview of the whole essay
In this section of the coursework, I will examine each aspect of the scene in detail.
The opening scene takes you to Victor and Elizabeth's hotel room on their honeymoon; they are on the bed about to consummate the marriage.
There is a very passionate feel to this part due to camera techniques and choices made by the director. The camera angles used in this scene were close-up in some instances and the extreme close-up; this is because the director wants to expand the intimacy and involve the viewer in "their secret" moment. Close-up's and Extreme close-ups can be very intimate shots, it is as if we are very close to the person - we can tell a great deal about their emotions, and we need to tell that Victor and Elizabeth are both very content and romantic. Victor is on top of Elizabeth and there is a rotational shot of them kissing...this is a whirlpool of love that makes the audience feel very passionate and enables them to share in their intimacy. This is further developed by the camera going behind some of the scenery, so the viewer feels as if he is almost spying in on their wedding night. The use of extreme close up in this way makes the audience feel voyeuristic and helps to feel a bond between them and the couple.
The director uses colours to emphasise the romantic feel of the scene. He uses red and orange hues, which are "hot" colours. There is a lot of candlelight around that casts an amber colour that is very passionate across the two lovers. He also uses soft lighting to emphasize their familiarity. As their kissing becomes passionate, almost lustful the music in the background increases in intensity and loudness. It starts as a romantic violin solo in the background that rises from softer to louder; this technique is called the use of crescendo and diminuendo, as their passion ebbs and flows. The music in therefore in sympathy with the action the audience is seeing on the screen.
We see Frankenstein on top of his wife and the violins are taken over by a flute that plays 7 single notes; it is very beautiful and sounds as if the creature shouldn't play it! This is dramatic irony because both Victor and the audience know that the Creature is playing the melody. Elizabeth has no idea what it is, but the audience is pre-warned that the Creature is lurking nearby. During this musical transition, Frankenstein's thoughts also go from passion to being aghast at his realisation.
Victor stops the passionate kissing and looks up while the flute is still playing. The close-up captures his look of horror. He looks toward the balcony window, his face is a few inches above Elizabeth's - there is a contrast here because you can see through the close up, that Victor has a look of horror on his face and Elizabeth has the romantic, content expression. Victor gives Elizabeth one final kiss and whispers 'lock the door' to Elizabeth after he realizes that the Creature is outside.
The camera follows Victor to the door in close-up and we see him seize the guns from the chair. On the way he says, "lock the door" once again, thus emphasizing his concern for Elizabeth and growing anxiety. Using the close-up lets the viewer share these growing emotions. Elizabeth questions him by saying 'Victor?' in a quiet and passionate way, and you hear her beginning to share her husbands fear through the tone of her voice. The director uses a close up of Victor reaching out for his jacket and guns to emphasize the fact he has these items and so the suspense about what he will do to the Creature begins to emerge. The music is very daunting and exciting at the same time; it tells the audience that something horrible is about to happen.
The scene cuts to a cold stormy view outside. There is an imminent danger that has to be dealt with here and the director uses light, sound, camera angles and dialogue to capture this.
Victor meets two other men outside in the pouring rain. One of the men say to Victor,
"I saw him in a flash of lightening".
The colours and the feel of outside are very dull as a contrast to the light indoors in the scene before. It is stormy, blue and very dark. The sounds of the elements (rain, lightning and thunder) emphasize the unleashing of uncontrollable nature that is reflected in the Creature. The lightening could represent evil and is perhaps a warning to the viewer that something bad will happen soon. The storm is preparing the viewers for the emotions within the Creature, which are out of control.
The next scene sees along shot which becomes a mid-shot of three men running, the camera then pans upwards to the balcony where we see about two seconds of the monster running across the balcony, to the background soundtrack of continuing thunder: it is not going away and nor is the Creature! This gives a moment to take a gasp of breath and have a rush of adrenaline go through our body rather than taking time for us to make a rational decision about what is before us. The director is using quick cuts of scene giving us snippets of information so we build up a sense of suspense.
We then go back inside to see Elizabeth looking bewildered; after all, she thought that she was have a night of passionate love - and it has vanish for her - she hasn't a clue what is going on! The music has disappeared and therefore there is silence and emptiness, reflecting her lack of understanding about what is going on. You get a warm feeling after coming from the stormy, dark outside into a nice warm looking inside! It is also very quiet inside which empathises the fact it was loud outside - another use of contrast.
She lies back so that her head rests on the pillow, she looks comfortable but then she gazes up in horror at what she sees... Suddenly we hear a crash of thunder and see the monster silhouetted against a sky alight with lightening. It reflects blue across Elizabeth's face and the full horror of his presence is signalled by this.
This scene is the shortest, but the most important because you are introduced to the Creature, in all his hatred and venom. In the silhouette the monsters arms are outstretched and his shape forms a cross with his body, right at the moment of the Creature standing there. This biblical connection serves as a warning to the audience that Elizabeth is going to die! You can hear the rain dripping against the building and roof that gives this particular part an eerie effect, because it sounds like the drums used before an execution.
We move onto the next scene. After you see the silhouette of the monster that tricks you to believe that you are looking at him from Elizabeth's point of view...almost immediately you see nothing but the hand cover Elizabeth's mouth - you see it being done with a birds eye view so you can tell exactly what has happened to her. We then go outside to the three men once again. Victor sees the balcony door open and shouts "Elizabeth!" in a frantic voice! Building up the sense of urgency. The music is reaching a crescendo in sympathy with the action on the screen.
The final scene is also the most action-packed! There is a close-up of the Creature lying on top of a very scared and terrified Elizabeth, each staring at the other in silence - this is a very quiet moment for the audience; it gives you your breath back from the outside! There is eerie music in the background to match with this eerie moment. The audience has time to contemplate - what will happen next? Will the monster let her go or will she die? The close up reveals the monster looking admirably at Elizabeth and for a moment we believe she will escape. It still has the amber glow inside, but because this is a different situation - the amber doesn't give out the romantic feel anymore, it gives out a chilling feel instead!
The silence is broken when Elizabeth asks not be hurt. This is still a close up and you can hear Elizabeth breathing in fear and see the expression on her confused and bewildered face.
The creature takes up a lot of the camera space in this shot; he wears black that is a sign that the evil is domineering over the good.
"Don't bother screaming," demands the creature in case they find him. He says it again to make himself clear. At this moment you feel sorry for Elizabeth, because you know she is going to die and you are part of her experience because the camera angle is a close-up and you feel her emotions.
The Creature says, "Your even lovelier than I had expected"...there is then a flash of lightening in the foreground - it catches the eye of the creature, he is blinded and bewildered by it for a split second, he recovers and hears Victor shout "Elizabeth" from outside the room. He suddenly digs his hand into Elizabeth's chest, the three men then burst in and all of a sudden the Creature catches the audience off-guard by ripping the heart out of Elizabeth in a matter of milliseconds and turning to Victor utters, "I keep my promises".
The three men start to shoot at the creature, but the creature throws the dead Elizabeth off the bed - her hair catches fire which brings in more excitement for the viewers. The creature makes a dash for the balcony window and jumps out onto the ground. This is all mid-shot, and distances you from the action so that you can see the whole picture.
The scene ends with the romantic feel it started off with, but this is a tragic romance as we are left to watch Victor cradling the dead Elizabeth in his arms after putting the fire out of the hair.
My evaluation
The director has used a wide range of skills to contribute to the success of this scene. He shift's the viewers through a range of emotions and expectations through his use of contrast, lighting and sound. The sense of suspense is heightened by the use of small short, contrasting scenes cut quickly between them.
In my opinion, the director should try to and use the audience's four senses so that the audience feels even more part of the film, thus becoming more scared when something harrowing happens!
I think a brilliant idea to back this up would to be adding smell and touch...for example - you can smell the flowers and candles burning in the love scene and you can feel the warmth and smooth fabric on the bed.
I think that the director was very effective in the scene and made good use of what he could. He used lighting, sounds and images which all made the audience hooked into the scene.
I in particular was glued to it, and was always thinking, 'What will happen next?' It does seem like a mad rush - but that is good in horror films, the quick feeling of adrenalin pumping through the body is the main objective of the director!
Conclusion
The scene that I studied was a very good example of a horror movie! There were all the ingredients that are needed to fulfil a good horror movie, such as the "normal" love scene turning into a horror scene. Contrast plays an important part in horror movies. For example, there was the contrast between the beauty of Elizabeth and the ugliness of the Creature and the beauty of the love scene which shows the creation of life through love and the contrast of the death about to befall her.
The director uses very good techniques to keep the audience glued to the film. He let the audience know there was horror awaiting outside, but inside Elizabeth was completely unaware of what was about to befall her and the audience just want to let her know that she should get out of there, but we feel frustrated because we can't do anything about the information we have. The audiences' emotions are therefore heightened and confused.
I especially like the use of colours in the love scene and the contrast with the turmoil of the dark storm outside. I think that emphasises the mood of the whole scene - the evil that lurks outside. I also like the 'flips' between the inside and the outside, where you feel warm and secure inside and vulnerable and scared outside! The director is playing with the emotions of the audience.
Overall, it is an effective scene - I think it could even be an inspiration to other horror film directors because of the techniques that were used and the way they were used!
By Matthew Kutner 10G
Matthew Kutner 10G
