Film Opening Research #2 - Spenser Confidential

 How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film? 

 During the beginning scene of the movie, there is no titles on display. 

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence? 

The image that is prioritized is that Spenser knew he did the right thing by beating his Captain unconscious and that he doesn't regret a thing. 

What connotations do the images carry? 

The connotations show Spenser's captain was and still is hiding something but the audience doesn't know what yet.

How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset? 

The genre is reinforced that symbolically due to Spenser's actions, either one of them could of been corrupt. Technically, the use of the court hearing against Spenser in the background shows he is not corrupt and even pleading guilty knowing he disobeyed code of conduct.  

How does the film establish an enigma from the outset? 

The outset creates the enigma by Spenser attacking his commanding officer on suspicion of hiding a murder case and beating his wife, giving the audience that back ground knowledge on Spenser's Captain. 

What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience? 

The directors used both the scene of Spenser beating his captain and the court hearing audio to draw the attention of the audience early on. They also picked well known actor Mark Wahlberg to play Spenser which immediately draws people in. 

How has technology been used effectively? You might want to consider camera angles, transitions and editing techniques. 

The use of a high angle camera shot as Spenser beats his captain gives a more in depth scene especially while the end of the court audio is coming when Spenser pleads guilty of all charges without one doubt he did something morally wrong. 

Film Opening Research #1 - Casino Royale

 

How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film? 

There is one title, the title proclaims where this scene takes place, "Prague, Czech Republic".

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence? 

The image prioritized in the opening scene is Bond confronting the man Bond is contracted to kill. Also, the directors prioritized a switch between the present (Bond talking to the man he's to kill) and the past (when Bond killed the other mans contact. 

What connotations do the images carry? 

The connotations that the images show are is that although the other man believes he has the edge over Bond, Bond was prepared. Not only did Bond kill the other mans contact, he also unloaded the gun in the other mans desk before hand. 

How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset? 

The action and adventure genre is reinforced by the technical codes of the black and white lighting bringing the nostalgia of the old school spy movies filled with action and adventure, while also creating the tense feeling of the scene. Symbolically, the man tells Bond that he knows that Bond is very inexperienced, but as events unfold, such as the unloaded gun and the informant, the man learn Bond is very intelligent and articulate.

How does the film establish an enigma from the outset? 

The outset creates the enigma by showing the other man negate Bond's skills and experience, but cutting between scenes of bond killing the informant, Bond being in the mans office before the man,, and the fact that Bond knew where the other man kept his gun. Creating a mysterious conception about Bond on is he experienced or not. 

What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience? 

Strategies used in the film includes the very dark lighting to create suspense and the feel of the old school spy movie. Also the use of Daniel Craig playing Bond draws people in since at the time of the movies release he was a brand new actor to play Bond. 

How has technology been used effectively? You might want to consider camera angles, transitions and editing techniques. 

The use of the transitions between Bond and the other man, and Bond killing the other mans informant creates a great amount of back ground knowledge and excitement on Bond. Camera angles also came quite in use especially to add effect during the fight scene. 

My Favorite Genre - Video

 

My Favorite Genre - PPT

 

 

Agent Carter Assignment

 

In the start of the scene, the scene goes back and forth between Captain America and Agent Cater, as Captain America is near death, doing something heroic. There is frontality shots and shallow spacing used when filming from behind Captain America, doing this made the audience feel like they are in the plane with Captain America. When it cuts to Agent Carter on the other line of the phone, she is being filmed from the front. Both settings have low lighting, so you can only focus on Captain America and Agent Carter when they are exchanging their final words. There is also melancholy instrumental music playing in the background in order to enhance the tragic moment.

The scene then fades into a deep spacing shot of New York City that has the Brooklyn bridge in focus with the towers and buildings in the distance. Before this shot fades out the sound of an alarm goes off, as the scene cuts to a closeup of the flashing red alarm going off at Peggy's office. The alarm going off means that there is an assignment for the agents. After the alarm sounds, all of the agents in the office standup at their desk with their briefcases ready to go if they are chosen for the task. Peggy is the only female agent in the office and her desk is in the back corner, and all the actors are dressed in 60s/70s work attire. Peggy was not chosen for the task and was disappointed, so when everyone else sat back down at their desks, she was still standing. Her boss came over to her and as soon as he said something Peggy move away from him towards the window near her desk which used a following shot of her to portray how she was annoyed and did not want to deal with her boss. They have a brief discussion where the camera is pointed at whoever is speaking and then Peggy ends up going back to her desk. The scene cuts to later in the day when the male agent whose desk is in front of Peggy's rudely asks for a report by tomorrow night, but Peggy had already done it so she opens her desk drawer, pulls it out and gives it to the man. But then Peggy goes to close the drawer and sees a picture of Steve, nostalgic music starts playing and is an emotional moment for her and then her boss ruins it. He tells her to polish up reports on his desk and to lockup while he goes to get drinks with the guys. So, the office is empty, and Carter is taking files, when the red flashing alarm goes off. Cater decides to take the call and go on the mission by herself even though three to five agents were recommended, and a closeup shot of Peggy crossing out three to five on the report. There is a few seconds of suspenseful music playing when she makes that decision and fades into the scene for her walking towards the location. There is low lighting used as this scene is happening in the streets at night. Peggy is walking towards some type of office with three men inside. The one sitting in his chair sends the other two out to deal with her. The man inside has background music playing and is not paying attention to Peggy beating the two men he sent out and only realizes Peggy is a threat once one of the men come flying through the window. He then goes out to deal with her but doesn't know where she is, so he is standing under the light outside the front door as Peggy points the gun to his head.

Mise-En-Scene

   For my Mise-En-Scene project, I decided to watch and talk about the Batman movie staring Christian Bale, The Dark Night (second movie in the Dark Night Trilogy). This movie is one of many Batman movies, however the Dark Knight Trilogy is considered the best of the Batman movies. For a little amount of context, for any Batman fans, in this movie we get the introduction of the Joker. Which if you know anything about Batman, Joker is the arch nemesis of Batman according to the movies and comics. In the Dark Knight, Christian Bale plays the role of Batman, and Heath Ledger plays the role of the Joker. 

    For lighting, we can look at literally any scene with the Batmobile. When Batman is chasing or diving anywhere in the Batmobile, the producers use the effects of Low-Key lighting to make the darker color of the Batmobile pop out more. What the producers will do is darken the background while Batman is driving in order for us to focus more on the Batmobile. This is not the only example of Low-Key lighting that is used in the Dark Knight, low key lighting is also used in many scenes with Batman present to highlight his dark silhouette to make him look more menacing. In both of these examples, the lighting made the scenes feel more intense and or make Batman feel like a menacing character. 

    Now for the costume portion of The Dark Knight, we look at Batman's costume (Bruce Wayne's suit). Batman is notorious for the suit he wears as the "caped crusader, he wears an all black armored suit with a cape and a cowl. The cowl has tips on the head to make him resemble a bat. The reason Batman uses things that resemble bats because of trauma he suffered as a child from bats. The costume adds both a moral meaning to the character as well as another intimidation factor with the all black suit. 

    The setting of a scene is what really shapes the dynamic of the whole movie or TV show. For instance, when the Joker and his goons are robbing a bank in Gotham city, the setting is obviously a bank. If the producers of the film decided not to film in a bank setting, it would not be a bank robbery at all. The setting of a bank gives the audience that emotion to lock them into the scene in order to see what happens next. 

    Lastly, we talk about staging, a big ideal in staging is blocking. Blocking is when the most meaningful character in a scene appears the closest to the camera. In the Dark Knight, when joker blows up the hospital, he is walking toward the camera. As he walks toward the camera, it makes the audience focus on him since he is the most meaningful to the scene. This adds a more intense feeling to the audience as we see the Joker blow up a hospital and see him walk away untouched. 

Film Elements Graphic Organizer