Continuity editing

In the preliminary task we must show a demonstration of continuous editing, it must show: match-on action, shot/reverse shot, 180 degree rule and eyeline match.
Continuity editing is to 'smooth over' parts of the editing process to establish logic between two shots to do this devices such as match-on-action is used to achieve this effect.
Match-on action
Match-on action is when we see a character start an action in one shot; which is then continued in the next shot.
Example:

Shot/reverse shot

This is used to show characters having a conversation, this technique makes that conversation more interesting than watching two people talking in one shot.
Example from 'Sin City' :

The 180 degree rule
This is a basic guideline which states that 2 characters (or other elements) in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other. If the camera pauses over the imaginary axis connecting the 2 subjects, is called 'crossing the line.'

Eyeline match
This is when we see the character look at an object and their eyeline direction follows to the object or person they're looking at.
Example:

Task layout

Character A walks towards a closed door, character A enters through the door and crosses a room to where character B is seated. Character A and B exchange a short conversation, there is at least one use of eyeline match. Either character A or B exits the room.

Ideas:  teacher and student conversation

            an awkward conversation

            a party

            office

Paranormal Activity

Director: Oren Peli

Writers: Oren Peli

Stars: Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat and  Mark Fredichs

After moving to a suburban home, a couple become tormented nightly by a demonic entity.

Sales

The estimated cost of the movie was $15,000, the film was shown in only 12 screens in America released on the 27^th of September 2009 it took in on its opening weekend $77,873. It’s been estimated that the film has made $193,355,800 worldwide all together when added up last year.

Main problem with these type of films

The main problem the horror genre faces is to make the supernatural believable, in order to make these films believable we the audience need to identify with the story and characters. For example there is always a sceptic, who we identify with normality, during the film as the plot thickens when the sceptic starts to believe we also get drawn in and believe.

There are many scenes in the film that are in the daylight when the characters are analysing what’s happened the night before, this emphasises that they are normal people and the daylight being relatable to everyday life. We see Katie’s friends round making it more believable, constant use of date/time linking with reality again and the amateurish filming makes us think we could film this ourselves!

Sometimes in these films ‘experts’ are brought in, like Peter Cushing in Hammer Horror films. Dr Fredericks, Dr Abraham are the experts in the film and even the internet which is a modern source of information we all use today.

Why this film is effective

The film is captured through a handheld camera, the camera is our eyes in the film and also makes the film realistic as it makes us feel like we’re there like for example when Katie’s sleepwalking it seems like we’re looking for her too. At night we see everything that is happening when the couple are sleeping making them seem more vulnerable.

There is no non-diegetic sound which makes everything seem more unpredictable and tense and we don’t know what’s going to happen next. The simplest of noises become scary and selective use of volume makes us jump when loud. The film is in low-key lighting, use of light/darkness and shadow the bed is partially in light and surrounded by dark/evil. The darkness make us the audience also struggle like the character as we can barely see what’s happening.

The film is constantly building to a climax and the demon gradually is getting stronger and confident as each night the attacks/torment intensifies leaving the characters more paranoid and frightened. Seems more paranoid and scared the characters become the more violent the supernatural attacks become.

127 Hours

Director: Danny Boyle

Writers: Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy

Original novel author: Aron Ralston

Stars: James Franco, Kate Mara and Amber Tamblyn

Aron (Franco) goes on a weekend rock climbing trip; and doesn’t tell any of his family and friends where he is going. He’s arm becomes trapped by a boulder and the film follows his struggle to survive.

“Thrillers are characterized by fast pacing frequent action”

The whole film kept me clinging to my seat; there is constant action and tense moments. At the start we see how Aron’s life was before the accident and how active he is, as he’s walking though and following his hand along the rocks we the audience are constantly waiting for his hand to get caught, however sadistic that sounds.

When his hand gets caught between the side and the boulder Aron first panics and desperately calls for help, as any human being would, but his call for help fails. Aron is constantly trying to move this rock and comes up with many plans to do so. We see the character lose his sane state of mind during the middle of the film; and towards the end is when he decides the only way to get out is to cut out his arm.

 

“Devices such as suspense, red herrings and cliff hangers”

Suspense is created first when we the audience are waiting for Aron’s hand to get caught, just clinging to our seats waiting. Then when he’s cutting off his arm in order to survive and get out of there we’re watching in horror and wondering: is he going to do it?

At the start of the film there are many opportunities where Aron could have got his arm trapped, Boyle uses these red herrings to mislead us and keep the audience stuck to the screen waiting...

The end of the film we see Aron get free from the boulder and trying to get help, he’s walking in the desert looking for help all seems bleak until he sees three figures in the distance and they get help. More help arrives and then emergency forces finally, after the uncertainty, Aron is rescued.

The Manchurian Candidate

The film comes from a political thriller novel by Richard Condon, about a son of a prominent US political family who is brainwashed turned into an assassin for the communist party.

1962 film

Director: John Frankenheimer

Stars: Frank Sinatra, Lawrence Harvey, Janet Leigh

The film is about son of a right-winged political family has been brainwashed as an assassin for an international communist conspiracy. 

Key scenes

Murder of Senator Jordan: In this scene we see Raymond enter senator Jordan’s house and he goes into the kitchen, senator Jordan seems surprised to see him there and then notices Raymond has a pistol in his hand and asks what’s wrong with him and what’s going on. Raymond then shoots senator Jordan, Jocelyn hears the gunshot and comes downstairs and Raymond also shoots her and walks out the front door.

End scene:  This scene we see Raymond, dressed a catholic priest, ready in position to assassinate a presidential candidate. Major Marco looks frantically around the event for Raymond and finally spots where he is, it’s a rush to stop his friend doing something unforgivable! Raymond shoots his mother and her associate then as Major Marco enters the room, Raymond says why he did it and how the threat couldn’t be stopped even at the highest authority then puts his medal of honour on and shoots himself.

2004 film

Director: Jonathan Demme

Stars: Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, Liev Schreiber and Kimberly Elise

The film is about, again, son of a right-winged American political party has been brainwashed to be an assassin for a group of Global companies who oppose a threat to democracy. But in this film the ‘baddies’ have the most power within the film until the end of the film; but throughout the film it seems like there is no stopping them and we don’t know if the hero is going to prevail!

However in this film Major Ben Marco is trying to regain and unravel his sanity. He is a masculine man respected by others, used to the danger and killing, and has a brave history in the army making him independent and resourceful.

Key scenes

Murder of Senator Jordan: Raymond drowns both Senator Jordan and his daughter in the remake of the film. The director chose to change the scene to symbolize the fact the main characters are drowning and the fog representing the characters lack of clarity. The use of non-diegetic music creates tension as Raymond approaches the lake foreshadowing the death of his next victim(s).  Simple editing and close up camera shots reflect Raymond’s hypnotic state; we see this effect being used many times during the movie.

End scene: This scene we see Major Marco also brainwashed and he is supposed to assassinate the presidential candidate, however he breaks of the hypnoses and kills Raymond and Raymond’s mother. And the authorities take over and visit where the men were brainwashed then we see Major Marco place the army photo and Raymond’s medal of honour close to the sea on the beach they were brainwashed.

What makes this film effective and believable?

Well both films refer to social and historical context, it relates to events at the time that’s why it’s so believable. Also prays on people’s fear of terrorism/ foreign threat as the original film was set after the cold war and the remake after the Gulf war, so this fear would be fresh making story like this terrifyingly effective.

After watching both films, the film I preferred was the original film I thought the scene when Senator Jordan was killed and his daughter was more effective because it was brutal and emotionless. But I preferred the ending of the remake because it had a good twist at the end which you never saw coming; but in the orginal film the ending made Raymond’s character seem more tragic as he killed the main leaders of the threat but then killed himself.