Kill Bill Vol. 1 Opening Scene

Kill Bill Vol. 1 Opening Scene

This opening scene is amazing. It is cheap to do and is very simple, which is perfect for someone such as myself who is looking to create an opening scene to a film that is great for leading on to the rest of the film, and more importantly, getting the audience to ask questions. Openings should not give anything away and should leave the audience second guessing, like this opening does.

 

First off, the screen is completely black, but you can hear a woman, who is clearly in pain and/or has suffered something traumatic mentally or physically. Then you see her face, a close up. The audience is not allowed to see anything else, just her face. The black and white sets the mood to bleak and as though this is not a happy start to the film, instantly allowing the audience to identify the genre of film. The cuts on her face are much more vivid and noticeable due to the black and white. The audience is put in the position of the character and instantly starts to feel their pain, even though they have no clue what is going on or what has happened. this noir setting is clearly caused through chiaroscuro lighting that allows the camera to film so vividly which creates a mysterious effect.

 

As she is still making these sounds, the audience starts to hear footsteps in the background. They're traveling at a steady pace, and before you see the shoe, you can tell they are healed shoes. The camera switches to a tracking shot, but only of the shoes. Again, the shot is a limited shot, leaving the audience guessing as they cannot witness more. Once we see the shoe, the audience is instantly told through props that this character has class, but they also know he is a dirty character, as he is walking up to a beaten down woman, with no hesitation in his pace. All of these features build up tension and keep the audience second guessing. The non-ambient lighting creates a perfect shadow, as if the character is walking into darkness. Suspense just keeps continuing to rise. 



 

This opening scene uses props so cleverly to distinguish what characters are like. The title of the film is called 'Kill Bill', and in the first 33 seconds, we are instantly introduced to him, through a napkin, because it has his name on it. This suggests Bill is vein and thinks a lot of himself, instantly allowing the audience to dislike him. He wipes the woman's face, as if to be kind, but he does not help her up. The woman's face says it all, especially her eyes, she has a lot of hate for the man she is looking at, and because of the camera angle, the audience feels as though the hate is towards them and as though they are in Bills position. His watch suggests class, just like his shoes. Even the action he is doing suggests kindness, but it is also clear he is not hurt, his hands are even clean as he wipes the face that is full of bleeding scars. This shows that he has people do his dirty work, but he still stands with pride. As he wipes her face he says 'I bet I could fry an egg on your head right now, if I wanted to', which is extremely unsympathetic, and suggest she is extremely angry, setting up the rest of the film. It also suggests that Bill can do whatever he wants, and feels he has won, but this is just the beginning of the film. 

 

At the end of the scene, you hear Bill pull out a gun, whilst talking as if he were in an everyday conversation, suggesting this is an everyday thing for him. Just before he shoots this woman, she says it is his baby, but he shows no mercy. The audience clearly knows who the bad guy is, and have no idea of what is to come. Perfect opening. 

 

 

 



Essex Boys Case Study

Essex Boys Case Study

  This is my case study on the opening to 'Essex boys'. This is a great piece of thriller research as our task is to create a two minute film for an opening to a thriller. The opening is very important as it sets the mood and tone for the rest of the film and allows the audience an insight into what the film is about and should make them start asking questions, which should keep them watching.

 

   

The lighting in this opening scene is chiaroscuro lighting, which is light that is unnatural. Because the lighting is controlled, and there is little of it, this creates a noir tone to the scene. Because of the position of the camera, where you cannot see out of the garage, it creates a sense of entrapment because the audience has no idea what is outside of the garage, and the camera is not moving. All of these are thriller conventions which allow the audience to identify this film as a thriller.



 

There is more use of non-ambient lighting is this next shot, due to the character switching on another light, allowing the audience to see more of what is in the garage, but the audience still cannot see what is outside of the garage, making them focus on what is in the garage, e.g. the very old car and the fist character they see. The audience feel they are in the same position as the narration begins in this shot. The cob webs and dust suggest age, which instantly gives off the impression that the film is starting with a history in its stooryline. Good use of props to allow the audience to subconciously understand things.

 





This next shot, in my opinion, is superb. The unclean window suggesting this new character, Jason, is unclean, maybe even a psychopath which is supported by his lack of emotion and upright posture, suggesting he feels powerful. He looks ready for what is to come and gives the impression of a big history. The chiaroscuro lighting and noir setting allows him to seem a dark man you would not want to mess with.  

 

This scene suggests many things. For example, the narrator, who has just explained who Jason is, seems trapped. there is no other way out other than forward and backwards. Jason wants to go forwards, so they go forwards. This also suggests the effect of looking like the barrel of a gun, making this seem more threatening and violent.



 There are many outstanding techniques used in this shot. The reflection on the windscreen that make it seem as though they are imprisoned, and the posture of the two characters. The driver, straight face, trying to look normal. You can feel that he does not know how to behave, whereas Jason, the ex-convict is just sitting there comfortably in his bright shirt that instantly attracts the eye, showing he does not care. 

 

The use of a white, empty van is a stereotypical vehicle that criminals use to kidnap people. This allows the audience to see how dark this film will be, especially after seeing the man in the screen shot get beaten up and acid thrown in his face before being shoved in this van. The long shot allows the audience to see all of the mans expressions and body language, showing what a victim would truly behave like in this situation. As he is released, in this screenshot, you can see his desperation to get out, like a caged animal and the use of ambient lighting coming from outside of the van suggests how dark it must have been in there. 

 

This is where we see the man get beaten up a bit more as he gasps for water to help his face feel better. The remote landscape is a perfect place for a thriller, as it does not look aesthetically pleasing. The ambient lighting is perfect as it is a dull day, as it would be in the UK, which suggests reality as if the sun was out, it would suggest happiness.

 

As the weather and lighting set a dull and disturbing mood by the emptiness of this location and the bleakness of the clouds, Jason is shown as more of a psychopath through lack of empathy and the way he behaves. The fact that he still feels the need to harm this man after he has thrown acid in his face suggests  he does not care and is shown as the perfect character for a thriller.

 

This long shot shows how isolated this person is, and because Jason left him alive, it shows that he does not care about what this man says or does about it. He is clearly a psychopath and this shot can be used to suggest how far Jason is from morality and it can show how far Jason needs to go until he is done with what he needs to do.



 



 

 

 



Liam James' AS Media Thriller Idea

Thriller Initial Ideas

Luther: TV Series

Believe it or not, Luther has more than one director. Sam Miller has done 8 episodes, Brian Kirk has done 2 episodes just as Stephan Schwartz and Farren Blackburn have. I think the reason for this is because each episode is a different story and different techniques of directing help keep the audience interested.

 

Luther was released on the 4th of may 2010, and the series continues to be extremely successful.

 

Awards - Golden Globe for best performance by an actor in a mini-series or a motion picture made for television (Idris Elba). Edgar in best television episode teleplay (episode 1, series 1). Royal television society, UK won in best drama series.

 

This series is truly amazing to me as it allows the viewer to see it as a reality instead of a typical Hollywood movie. We, as the audience, get to see what the character Luther really is and we get to understand his character more than other characters in the series. To us, Luther is portrayed as doing the right things but in the wrong ways, by the law that is. Because we see this rebellious detective do all these things he seems to be a bit of a hero. One of my favourite parts of the series is when Luther is trapped inside the back of a truck with a killer, and he pours gasoline over himself to make it seem he is surrendering to the killer, whereas he is waiting for the right time to tell the SQUAT team outside where to shoot on the side of the truck, and we witness a slow motion viewing of the killer getting penetrated by bullets coming from the side of the truck. When Luther gives the order to shoot at a particular part of the truck, and the man in charge of Luther says "well you heard the man" my blood pressure dropped. This is when you know a thriller is amazing.

"And the last few minutes of tonight's episode will grab you, force you to the end of your seat, give you about 12 consecutive heart attacks and then drop you at precisely the right time." Quote on the first episode of series 3 from The Guardian. This quote cannot be more perfect. This is what Luther does to you. The choreography, acting and storyline allows the audience to feel as though they are in the show and allows them to have the same emotions as the characters. When there is a suspense moment the locations chosen are spectacular. You see Luther move house from a lovely house to a run down flat. When there is a murderer threatening to kill their victim, it is in a widely spaced pure white shopping-mall looking building. They film in the middle of London when Luther thinks he sees the murderer, and starts chasing him. The camera angles and perfect lighting choices (e.g. noire lighting when Luther first confronts a murderer) represent to the audience, subconsciously, who is in power. The best part is, you can never guess the outcome. Luther usually survives, yes, but you never know what could happen in the show. It always takes a different direction to what you expect, and sometimes a direction you didn't think was valid. This is why I chose this quote - because it does put you on the edge of your seat. When you are watching this show, you can't think of anything you would rather be doing at that moment.

  It says on page 6 of my coursework booklet "the tension usually arises when the main character(s) is placed in a menecing situation or mystery, or an escape or dangerous mission from which escape seems impossible." Luther is constantly in a bad situation. When he isn't in a situation as such you feel a sense of relief. Luther has so many generic conventions, for example; excitement, suspense, uncertainty and nerve-wrecking tenssion. A lot of the time, Luther is unaware of things the audience is aware of which creates suspence as you feel you know what the outcome will most probably be, but the show almost always takes a different path. Luther's life is his job, and you see as the show progresses, the effect it has on him. He seems broken, and seems such an intelligent individual that it keeps the audience interested just because he is broken but still brilliant.

 

 

 

Summer Task

Example Camera Shots

High Angle Shot

This shot suggests vulnerability to the character and promotes emotion for the character in the audience. This usually happens when someone is alone and the camera does not show much of the surroundings, suggesting anything can happen at this moment of time.

Low Angle Shot

I used an oil painting my aunt drew as a background in these examples of camera angles, however I feel this is the best camera angle for it. It shows the scenery really well. It makes the elephant figure look powerful, and as though he owns all the land.

Over The Shoulder

This allows the audience to see things from the characters prospective. This could also give the audience the emotion of fright as there could be someone/something behind the character.

Tilt Shot

This creates confusion in the audience. The character this angle is focused on is usually in intimidating character and gives the impression of a nightmare.

Long Shot

This allows the audience to see where the characters are and whether they are under threat or not. This can promote the audience as being relieved or scared. The camera can be level with the heights of the characters for this shot but I thought a higher shot was better for wildlife.

Medium Close Up

This allows the audience to see past the main focus of the camera. This is usually to ease tension and to bring focus to the characters.

Close Up

This allows the audience to see the expressions on the characters face and allows them to establish their emotions.

Extreme Close Up

This is usually used in horrors. Mainly used on intimidating characters so the audience feel the same feelings as the characters looking at the intimidating character.

Bird's eye view

This gives the audience a different view of the action and allows them to allocate any threats.

 

Worm's Eye View

This indicates fear on the audience as the camera is usually placed in the position of another character that may have fallen to the character in the shot, like this example.

 I would like to inform you I have completed the summer task but I am having difficulty uploading it to the blog, apologies for the delay.

 





Introduction

Hello,

my name is Liam James and this is my AS Media Studies blog.