Film Inspirations Analysis

Black Swan
Black Swan is a psychological ballet thriller film, where the opening scene involves purely ballet dancing. This  is portrayed in a blank room surrounded by shadows, as if it isn't real, or in a dream-like state. This fits its psychological conventions, because it keeps the audience wondering what is actually going on. Something else that fits these conventions is the transformation of the protagonist's male dance partner, into a raven-like figure, to already show the deviations from norm, hallucination, as well as the representation of danger, which is an effect we can try to create to fit the conventions of our psychological thriller. The music is a swan lake song, which is an implications of what is to come, further in the story, as well as being ironic to the element of danger, however the beats and change in volume show tension build up, which is the type of music we can consider to build suspense in an ironic-style way. The pale colours of the protagonist represent innocence, and how at the start of the story, the character is innocent and free. It contrasts with the shadowed background to give connotations of 'good vs evil' within the story line, Levi-Strauss's binary opposites theory. The variety of camera angles and fast cutting speed as the suspense builds is an effective way to keep the audience hooked and on edge in the scene, making them want to watch the rest of the film - a technique we are aiming for, so we can take inspiration from the way this clip is edited. 

Insidious

Insidious is a paranormal horror film that has elements that are psychologically disturbing for the audience, which made it a film that inspired me for the idea of our new film the most. The beginning clip shows a boy asleep from a birds-eye-view, with an effect that makes it almost a dream-like state and makes the audience think there's something not quite right. This is followed by panning shots to reveal a silhouette, which then zooms in to reveal a scary-looking woman, making the audience feel uncomfortable. The title text appears suddenly in a red jagged font, to fit the conventions of the genre. The rest of the opening is simple, with mostly short clips of significant rooms of the house in which the film is set, which sets the scene effectively, and gives implications for the rest of the film, such as the additions of paranormal representations like things moving or shadows appearing, which keeps the reader hooked into the opening, whilst the credits are still appearing. There is a black and white effect a tint to the clips, with outlining shadows, to also give a dream-like effect as if the scene if isn't quite real, or not quite into the story yet. This inspired me most with the idea for our video, where we can use specific or relevant objects from the setting, in order to set the scene and incorporate the opening credits into, with an effect on to create a mysterious atmosphere. There are a lot of different angles to create certain effects, such low-angle shots to make the haunted room look superior, or panning and tilting shots to create an abstract psychological effect, to fit with its stereotypical conventions and be disturbing for the audience, which is effects we can consider for our film opening to make a certain atmosphere. To also add to the atmosphere, the transitions are long, smooth fades, too add a sense of eeriness, which is something also involved in our idea. The cutting speeds are long, which creates tension in a different way to the typical fast cutting speeds, because it creates anticipation and anxiousness. This plays with the audience's minds, which is the aim of the genre. The titles fade in and out with a smoky effect, to add to the atmosphere and fit with the sound effects to seem mysterious, along with the red colour to stand out and fit with the theme, connoting fear and danger for the audience. 

Citizen Kane
Citizen Kane is the film that we took most inspiration from in terms of storyline. It involves an opening sequence of establishing, panning and close-up shots to set the scene and establish a mysterious atmosphere, which is even more effective in black and white, something we can also consider. The mis-en-scene includes tall, iron gates and a large spooky looking mansion house. This also adds to the element of mystery and keeps the audience wondering, which is a convention of the psychological genre we are trying to create. There is a close-up of Kane's face, as he says his last words before he dies, in a whisper-like accent, which seems secretive, and does not make sense to the audience, especially when his last word is 'rosebud', something that is unusual, yet powerful, which is the effect we shall think about, with our storyline, which also involves last words being spoken at the beginning of the film to keep the audience gripped and to wonder what they mean for the rest of the film. A lot of cross-fades are used to make smooth yet serene seeming transitions, to also keep the audience hooked, which is a useful effect which has inspired me for use in our project. The cutting speed is slow, to also reflect this transition.

Silent Hill

Silent Hill is a psychological horror film based on its video game, which inspired me a lot for our project again in terms of storyline, where there are ritualistic torturous scenes involved, and all in a dream-like 'dead' state, where there are people and creatures about that the audience are curious and confused by, which is something we want to achieve. I chose to look more at the end credits instead of the opening credits, because there is more of a sequence involved that I can gain ideas from. The whole of this section is animated, which relates to the video game, which gives it some striking effects that keep the audience interested, and even includes animated objects and people that relate to the rest of the film, that the audience will associate with. The fast action of the changing camera angles also keeps the audience hooked, as if they can't look away from the screen just in-case they miss something, as well as representing the fast action and danger that is involved within the rest of the film. Using photographs of the cast as their names appear I thought was an effective way to make the audience relate to them and feel more involved with recognition, as well as to create a contrast to the shadows surrounding it, to create an eerie and disturbing effect to fit the genre conventions, which is something important for us to consider. The camera goes through different parts of the setting, but not quite revealing all of it, to keep the audience gripped in wanting to see more, but it also sets the scene in order for the audience to again make reference to. The music is ironic, where it doesn't fit with the typical genre conventions. This creates a contrast effect, that is effective to make it dramatic and memorable, and in ways makes the audience find it more disturbing, which then does fit the conventions. This is a useful outcome that would work well with the film opening we are trying to create.