Film Techniques: 180 Degree Rule

The 180 Degree Rule is a basic rule that means two characters should always have the same left and right relationship together. When the character crosses the axis connecting to two subjects it is called crossing the line. The new shot is called the reverse angle.

This schematic shows the axis between two characters and the 180 degree arc on which the cameras may be positioned (green), when cutting from the green arc to the red arc, the characters switch positions.

Initial Planning - One Sentence Synopsis

One sentence synopsis

A young boy's walk home turns into something much more, something that will send shivers down your spine ...

Film Techniques: Codes in film

Enigma Code

Enigma codes pose questions to the audience which are then answered shortly after or later on in the film. For example, who is she? Where is she going? Why is she doing that? They're questions enabling the audience to get intrigued with the film and wanting to find out the answers to these questions, therefore watching more of it. Enigma codes entice the audience to watch the rest of the film as they're curious as to what will happen next; they also help to move on the narrative.

Silence of The Lambs Example With Codes

The use of enigma codes:

The opening of this movie features a woman running through some sort of misty woods, this makes you question yourself: who is she? why is she running? As she runs on, you then see her climb over part of an assault course which then answers one of the questions for you. You then see an FBI agent tell her that Mr Crawford wants to see her. You then ask yourself: who is Mr Crawford and what does he want? As she makes her way to see Mr Crawford, just befoer she passes through a lot of other agents and weapons, she walks past another women who high five's her, she says 'Hey Clarice'; this then gives the female a name as well as a personal link to her. This then makes you realise that she must also be an FBI agent. But you ask yourself: why are most of all the other agents male? She enters the office which shows a wall full of newspaper cuttings and other pieces of information, this makes you question yourself as to what the importance of the images/cuttings are, the scene ends a few seconds after.

Action Code

Action codes are significant events which move the narrative on in a particular direction. For example, a phone ringing or a knock at the door. Both actions are used to change the scene/narrative for specific reason but to also keep the narrative alive. They teach the audience new things, for example, something new about a character or possibly the plot itself. They give the audience needed information.

The use of action codes:When an agent asks the woman to see Mr Crawford, this is an action code. This changes the narrative and the direction of what would of happened. The lift scene could also be seen as an action code as it represents some of her characteristics of being a strong, independant women as she's in a lift full of men. If she had taken the stairs, things could've also been different; she may have missed Mr Crawford and we wouldn't have found out what he wanted. When she enters the lift full of other men, they're all wearing bold red uniforms where as she's wearing a pale blue uniform, there is also a huge difference in height. This emphasises the fact that she's an individual and that she stands out from the rest of the agents. Another action code used is the behavioural services sign as this reveals more about the location she's in.

Semantic Code

This code refers to parts within the text that suggests to referes  to additional meanings. Elements to a semantic code are called semes.

Symbolic Code

A code that is about symbolism in the text. it opposites to show contrast and create a greater meaning and create tension.

Referencial Code

This code refers to anything in the text which refers to an external body of knowledge such as scientific, historical and cultural knowledge.

Initial Planning: 60 Second Pitch

This is our 60 second pitch for our film called 'Jack'. We made sure it included all the information needed for the film to be clear to the audience, and tried to make it short as well so its snappy and the audience will not get bored from it.

Initial Planning: Target Audience For Our Film

My film opening is in the thriller genre. Due to this my group and I need to think about what age our target audience will be, this target audience needs to be the right age so that the film will appeal and will be liked by this specific group of people. We also need to think about the primary and secondary genders that our film opening will appeal to. We have decided that the target audience should be 15 as it contains graphic content such as the character 'Fred' being hung at the end, which may scare some of the audience, so therefore have decided to make sure the audience enjoys it and realises it's not real.

Intital Planning: Mood Board of a Thriller

Initial Planning: Genre Research

Genre Research

Using his love Genre is French for type or kind. Every film that has been made is in a particular genre. When a film is created it is then categorised into a genre depending on storyline and content in the film. For example a film with comedic and romantic pleasures would be classed as a Romantic Comedy film.

Sub genres help to categorise films better as each sub genre has a set element. Some genres of films have sub genres like Horror and Action and Adventure. These particular genre of film have set types which therefore sort them into sub genres. In Horror films the fixed element is usually a threat towards the protagonist.

Film genres have to be recognisable so when a viewer goes to watch a film and knows they do not like horror if they see the genre of the film then it will stop them from going to see a film that they will not enjoy. Film genres can also help the writers know what kind of script and film appears to types of audiences. For example writers of Romantic Comedy films are written in a certain way and f the film is enjoyed by the audience they know that the next rom-com film should be written in the same style. If the audience has enjoyed a film like Love Actually then the writers and director know that if they create another romantic comedy film they know they would be expecting the same audience to watch the new film.

Genres are important to audiences because in film genres there are usually pleasures which the audience would expect from a film. A pleasure is something that the audience expects from a film that they are going to see. For example if a viewer was to go and see a horror film they would expect tense, scary and jumpy pleasures.