Psycho

Camera & Sound Techniques

Camera Shots The camera shots in Psycho are very clear and simple. The most interesting scene where the

character is murdered in the shower as it uses good camera angles and techniques to portray it. As she is being murdered the character is shown being killed from many angles and views this created a dramatic scene and brings fear to the audience. It also shows the psychotic killing that the movie is trying to show. The camera also shows views of her being dragged out of the bathroom in a dull gloomy scene. Overall the camera techniques used were very effective and had a big impact ob how the movie is portrayed.

Sound Techniques The sound techniques are very dramatic in Psycho as the sound starts from the beginning of

the movie as the title is being shown. The famous sound that portrays this movie is high pitched and quick with a beat that makes the audience alert.

ConventionsFrom Book By Robert BlochDirector and Producer of Psycho Alfred Hitchcock Starring in Psycho - Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh

Key ConventionsBlood and FearSecrecy and liesDeath and MysteryThrillerIsolated areaCreepy houseSplit personalityMental Battle

Mise En Scene The opening of the film is very interesting as the movie starts and uses the dramatic sound

and title to kicks off the film. The camera effect of the window being open and the camera flying into the window is very well used, the title Psycho is edited and cut which hints to the spit personality the audience will see in the movie. The layout and structure of the beginning of this movie sets this thriller into scene.

Secret Window

Titles The film ‘Secret Window’ is a psychological thriller. The opening title appears in the

following half of the opening sequence. The non diegetic sound is in the background of the movie which makes the viewers feel weary and uncomfortable while the title is being introduced. As the title appears it introduces in silver and slowly changes colour to red. This suggests change in the movie and that their will be changes and twists in the movie. Times New Roman appears to be the font. Lastly the title is introduced over the set background of the remote islands of the woods. This suggests the importance of the lake house and part it will ply and effect it will have in the movie.

Camera & Sound Techniques

Camera techniques The camera movements are interesting and clever in my opinion. The camera slowly pans whilst zooming

in towards the sea the zooms out, this shows the speed and movement of the sea in that order. There are many different shots used in the opening minutes of the film. The high angle shot which shows the main character by the stairway , looking downstairs over the female cleaners. This shows the power and dominance of the male as he is shown higher above the female cleaners. Also the medium close up shot focus on the characters facial expressions. From the expressions we can tell the character has not slept, he is not in the right state of mind.

Sound techniques The sound of the main characters voice shows that he may have problems. The sound used to portray him

when he is scared and especially the change in voice towards the end of the movie when the characters personality comes out.

Mise En Scene The Movie from the beginning has already created a creepy unusual atmosphere to the movie

which makes the character look different. The main character comes across looking lazy and hesitant, partially when the viewers witness him sleeping during the middle of the day, as well as his incomplete typing of his story. The actors movement creates caution for the viewers as he is always hesitant. For example the claims of the plagiarism guy who blames and accuses him is miraculously gone.

Conventions

Johnny Depp - Mort RaineyDavid Koepp - DirectorGavin Polone - Producer

Key ConventionsMysteryNice but creep lakehouseStrangers and mysterious disappearingsLazy and awkwardnessMentally unstablePsychologically paranoidSplit personality

Inception

Camera & Sound Techniques

Inception creates and brings alive all these camera techniques alive, it uses such intense shots from dream to dream and scene to scene. The camera shots of the buildings moving and collapsing. The angles of scenes where action or fighting is taking place, the camera stays put as the characters tilt, the use of slow motion In certain scenes were incredible which helps the viewers to understand the movie better. The techniques used were creative and effective to the movie.

The sound in the movie was very intense and had the impact to the audience of something is going to happen any minute. The sounds and music used relates to the characters emotions. The use of dramatic and intense sound as building are being moved and the use of fast paced music when there is a intense chase scene going on.

ConventionsDirector and Producer - Christopher Nolan Dom Cobb - Leonardo DiCaprio Saito - Ken Watanabe

Key ConventionsPsychological thrillerMental strengthJumping from dream to dreamEscaping to another worldDeath and new lifePowerful emotions

Mise en SceneThe main character is shown in the first minutes of this movie. As audiencesCan see he is having flash backs from his memory to do with his family. We canSee from the facial expressions that they are not good or happy memories. TheAudience can already depict that the energy of the dreams will play a huge partThrough out the movie. The dramatic scene of flashbacks of his children give theViewers an idea that his children and him have problems or that he has problem toDo with them, it also shows that his family will play a big part in the movie.

The Dark Night

Camera & Sound Techniques

The movie starts with over the view shot of Gotham City. This shot automatically allows the audience to understand where they film is set. The camera next zooms into a gloomy, glazed building. The building looks ordinary. The viewers are then presented with a high angle shot of two masked men with a gun. The viewers become suspicious of the characters. The camera then shows faces of joker masks which shows the villain that the movie will use. The joker mask is shown again, and we soon realise that the ‘Joker’ face is a pattern and is going to play a big part in the story. Also the movie is a fast paced film so the quick camera shots used in the movie are excellent.

The film starts in calm quiet city sound but then as the music begins so does the tension. The big robbing scene in the bank where the music gets intense when the money is being robbed and the robbers are killing each other, but as the real joker comes out and makes a small speech before escaping the sound dramatically increases and the movie set off.

Mise en SceneThe film is located in the city of Gotham, through out the movie we have a quick view of the city,

from an aerial view. Interestingly all the male characters are dressed very alike, in dark suits and related masks. By them all dressing almost the same, the viewers then understand the darkness of this movie. The acting in this film makes the viewers confused due to the 'Joker' and his games. Also the use of Harvey Dents coin ultimately depicts his character as being two face.

ConventionsDirector - Christopher NolanProducers - Emma Thomas and Christopher NolanBruce Wayne /Batman - Christian Bale

Harvey Dent/Two Face - Aaron EckharThe Joker - Heath LedgerRachel Dawes - Maggie GyllenhaalKey ConventionsHero Villian(s)Big city but dark placesThe jokers games and plansThe change in character to two faceThe idea of a villain just wanting to cause the world painDeath

Se7en

Camera Techniques

The film begins in a cold looking room and the viewers see a character but we can only see the back to the character, instant suspicion falls towards him and there are quick shots cutting from various angles of the character for example a close up from the back and a sudden cut from the character to the possessions on the bed. The viewers then see a close up of the characters face however in the reflection of a mirror, this could represent that there is a hidden side to him.

Mise en Scene In a certain scene where the apartment of a deceased man the audience can only

imagine the smell of rotting flesh. The dark stylish clothing of the officers shows there significance and authority. The use of the scenes where dark streets look very wet and where the weather is discouraging keeps the movie in a dull atmosphere and the area also look as though it is suffering from poverty.

ConventionsDirector - David Fincher

Producer - Phyllis Carlyle

Morgan Freeman - William Somerset

Brad Pitt - David Mills

Gwyneth Paltrow -Tracy Mills

Key Conventions

Thriller

Seven deadly sins

Serial killer and deaths

Poverty and rainy background

Panic Room

Camera & Sound Techniques

The Film sets off exploring the city of Manhattan. There are both low and high angle shots presenting the significance of the buildings. Panning shots of Manhattan show how huge it is and then the shots tend to get slower in pace which then adds tension. The viewers are then moved to a high angle shot of a busy street where characters are introduced. There are panning shots of the house which introduces the house and shows how big the house is however it also shows the emptiness of the house.

The sound in this movie is intense especially once the characters are settled into their new home. There is music being played at the beginning. The increasing speed of the tempo when the strangers enter the house adds anxiety to the film, there is almost instant tension built. The sound used is dramatic and well used as the movie is presented.

Mise en Scene The film is a cold chilling thriller and has the perfect characters that are generally

wearing dark clothing throughout the movie. This shows the coldness and darkness in the house there is. The emptiness off the house emphasises of the emptiness the characters have and how they feel. In a way the Panic Room relates to the character. The only room that has bright lighting and shows some sort of life is the panic room. This adds emphasis on the importance of the room.

ConventionsDavid Fincher - Director Cean Chaffin - Producer Jodie Foster - Meg Altman Forest Whitaker - Burnham Kristen Stewart - Sarah Altman

Key ConventionsThrillerFear and emptinessMystery and strangersThreatening and paranoia DeathGood and Bad