Semiology

Semiology

When we watch films or TV, we are shown images that we can relate to and can develop our thoughts. For example what do we think of when we see a rose?  Normally roses refer to love and romance, so when we see a rose in a shot our mind tells us that there will be some romance present. Another example is a kitchen knife, when we see a kitchen knife we relate to murder and death, so again hinting us what the scene may be about.

Opening movie sequences

1. Delicatessen - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtbTe52lmlc

The intro instantly tells us that the movie is about a killer as we seen him throwing down a knife on someone, so it already sets the mood. Then during the title sequence its developed as we are shown limbs and other instruments such as knifes to suggest he is a killer. Also everything seems like its a mess and dirty, with blood stains and dirt strongly suggesting that the film is about a killer. Furthermore the music brings up images of old french times showing us when the movie is set, the equitment also looks old suggesting its not a modern setting.

The titles the infomation provided is done very creatively as it tells us all the names of the people who are involved in the film in order and suggesting from the image what they did. For example on the big pieces of paper high up are the main roles and companies in the film for example actors such as Jerome Thiault and suggest they play the important roles in the film. Also companies are shown in bigger and bolder text making them stand out more for example Foundation Gan.

2. Batman, The Dark Knight Rises - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDpjSr9VhG0

Really fast moving text with dark and eye catching visuals such as smoke, broken glass and newspaper clipping all with similar texts about batman suggesting someone is researching him. There is also drawings of plans, portraying that something is being built for the batman. The music is very fast paced making this sequence a lot more dramatic and exciting.

Again the infomation is portrayed very subminimally and not too structured. For example when there are shots of pictures form newspapers it then shows a name, this clearly suggest that this is the actor. As the music builds up to the end it shows something big is coming and when it finally reaches the end the directors name is shown in big writing in the middle showing the importance of him. Also the big companies are simply shown right at the beggening with their initial logo and not linked into the context of the opening scene.

3. Panick room - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqIclb4qsJI

This is the simplest of the three, yet still effective. It films a city instantly showing where it is set, and pans across different buildings. We do not find out too much action in this sequence but it simply gives us an idea where it is set.

On the otherhand the infomation is given to us really clearly as each shot shows one name of an actor or company very slowly and in huge writing, allowing us to easily read for example we know that it is a Huffland production through easily visible text and slow shots.

Analysis of favourite scene

Drag Me To Hell

The scene/sequence follows a lady through a car park
after work to find she has been followed by someone or something.

Sound

-The use of violins building up getting faster and faster has an eerie effect and builds tension.

-Clip pity clop of heels is louder than in real life which has a surreal effect on the audience.

-The sound of wind is eerie.

-The ladies scream shocks the audience.

 

Editing

-Music relates into the fast past editing making it more tense and if something is going to happen.

-Film of her looking switches to the direction she is looking at giving the audience a point of view shot.

Camera

-Camera films her from above making her look vulnerable.
-Shot of scary women looking at her and she doesn’t know.

-Close up of floating cloth makes it stand out and adds suspicion.

-Long shot of her walking alone in the car park brings up a sense of loneliness and eeriness.

 

Mise en scene

-Hardly any cars in the car park again portraying loneliness.

-Clothing of woman is smart in comparison to scary lady which is ruff, making her stand out more.

-Dark lighting creating tension.

Shooting our prelim

 We were given this storyboard and our task was to shoot the sequence using the shots shown on the sequence, we also had to add some of our own shots to add extra effect. The other part of the task was to give the dialogue some meaning using an object to portray what the characters were talking about. In our group we used the object of a condom to tell the audience that the two characters were talking about sex.

We filmed the sequence on a small set which looked like a modern living room, we also wore young and colourful clothes showing it was set in modern. In this sequence we had to film 3 specific shots, these were a wide shot, over the shoulder and a close up, plus our additional shots we took. We had to film all of these shots filming throughout the sequence so when we came to edit them they would be smooth transitions and look more realistic. The wide shot showed the full room and the two characters standing in them. The over the shoulder shot was filmed from both shoulders of each character like a point of view shot. Then the close was simply a close up of each characters face during the dialogue. For our own shots we filmed from outside the set through a curtain as if someone was looking through on them watching what they were doing. We also did a close up of the condom that we will see at the end of the sequence that will tell the audience what is going on.

Shooting our prelim was not entirely smooth and controlled, we found choosing people to do certain roles difficult and we also had some trouble with operating the camera. However after a while we became more familiar with the way in which the camera operates and also knew what we had to do individually. It didnt take long in order to understand the film language such as standby, rolling and action and we were all familiar with the terms. We ended up getting all the shots we needed, however some did not come out looking as effective as we thought they would.

As i was absent for the first week of term Matt pulled me over to the side to teach me things about the camera. He taught me how to balance the camera, using the bubble. Then i learnt how to get the white balance right by zooming in on a white object. We then learnt how to operate all the buttons on the camera such as record, on off etc...

Analysis of Kill Bill scene

Kill Bill buried alive scene

1

At this shot we can here very sinister, creepy western music which tells us something bad is happening, this is a non-diegetic sound. Also a diegetic sound is heard at this point which is the sound of the coffin banging down which again is a very harsh and creepy sound making the situation more creepy and tense.

2

At this point we start to here whimpering and panicking suggesting she is in trouble and has a dramatic effect on us. Also the music In the background is still going on, adding to the effect.

3

From this shot we here the diegetic sound of many hammers hitting the coffin, it is very repetitive which has a sinister effect as if she is going to die slowly. Once again the music in the background strengthens this effect.

4

At this point when we see nothing, the music cuts off and we can only hear her whimpers, which makes us feel as if it is over for her, it also portrays to us that she is desperete and alone with no help. It also creates a dramatic tension as we cannot see or hear anyone else but her.

5

Again we can see nothing but now we start to hear the crunching of a shovel, very close by which is loud but muffled making us feel close to her in the coffin having an eerie effect on us. Below this sound we can still hear her breathing very fast and panicking making us feel tense. Also we start to here the thumping of the dirt on the top of the coffin which tells us she is getting more burried and burried, closer and closer to death.

6

Now we can see her as she has found a torch, but she has started to cry louder which makes us feel as she has given up. She then tries to bang and get out but it doesn’t work making her seem even more vulnerable and in danger. After this shot she carries on cring into the end of this sequence.

Introduction

My name is Gil Hogarth and i am taking media at Hurtwood,  which i really enjoy. I use media alot for example i like to make short films, which i had previously won awards for in my old school for film studies GCSE. I use techniques i learn in media to make the films more effective. I also am a music producer on reason 4 and produce a vareity of things from dubstep to hip hop instrumentals. I plan to mix my media skills with my music skills during the course asthey are two things i really enjoy.