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Showing posts from December, 2023

Movie Conventions Research: Don't Worry Darling

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What conventions of psychological thrillers does this movie have? This movie has lots of close ups and zooms into the main characters face. The sets and costumes are all relating to the 1950's which is where the movie is set. There is a major plot twist nearing the end of the movie, common in this genre. The main character is trapped and cannot escape, also common in this genre. There are fast cuts in between shots, like an insert, montages of weird pictures with whooshing noises, and high pitched ringing, fast paced music. What conventions of psychological thriller did this movie have that you like? This movie's plot twist had me shocked, as I truly had no idea. I also loved the main character's arc of realizing her situation, and even though everyone around her believes she is crazy, she is actually correct. I also really liked how the sets change to show her mindset. When she is cleaning the house by herself, the window she is cleaning starts to close in and push her up

Movie Conventions Research: Midsommar

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What conventions of the genre that you chose to base your final task on does this movie have? This movie uses POV shots and dutch angles and a non-diegetic, high-pitched, ringing to convey disorientation to the viewer. It uses flashbacks to provide more context and further the audience's attachment, or connection, to characters. It uses diegetic sounds such as sobbing, humming, and screaming to further the intensity of the plot and emotionally grasp on to viewers.     What conventions of the genre did the movie have that you liked? I enjoyed their us of dutch angles. There is one part specifically that incorporates a tilt and transitions from one location to another. I found it very stirring; it worked just as it was supposed to, to disorient viewers before bringing them back to center ground where they can understand the setting again. I also found the screaming sounds to be very disturbing and unsettling. It is so loud, so it makes viewers uncomfortable, yet sympathetic.   What c

Movie Conventions Research: In the Tall Grass

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What elements (Conventions) of the genre that you chose to base your final task on does this movie have? In the Tall Grass has many conventions found in classic psychological thriller movies. This movie includes many tracking shots following the characters through the maze that is the tall grass, high angles to make the characters look vulnerable, and establishing shots above the tall grass. Many cutaways are used for when there is a jump scare and a significant amount of cross cutting when the characters are all running in different locations to give the impression that their actions are all unfolding at the same time, just in different locations. Not many props are used in this movie and there is only two settings: the field and a church. All of the characters are covered in dirt and remain in the same clothes the entire time.  What elements (Conventions) of the genre did the movie have that you liked? Some conventions from In the Tall Grass that I enjoyed was the many tracking shots

Genre Research Blog: Genre Decision

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 For our opening sequence, we came to the conclusion that we will be focusing around the psychological thriller genre. We agreed that this would be the best option for our genre based on the storyline. Our film follows the story of a young girl with a perfect life but something is rather off about her. As the main character starts to slowly go insane, the film comes along with her. Our storyline is not intended to be violent or blood ridden. It is supposed to give the viewer an unsettling or anxious feeling and create overwhelming suspense. Psychological thrillers have more to do with torturing the mind rather than giving the viewer an uneasy stomach. 

Genre Research Blog: Horror

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Common camera angles, camera movement, camera shots, in horror: Point of view Handheld Dutch Angle Tracking shots Wide shot Extreme close-ups. Common Mis-En-Scene in horror: Rural, isolated/deserted locations Dark lighting and lights flickering Props such as weapons like knives, axes, chainsaws Make up like splattered blood Costumes like torn up clothes Common Editing in horror: Transitional cuts Blur Common Sound in horror: Diegetic sound like heavy breathing, footsteps, stabbing sounds, monster vocalizations Non-diegetic sounds like eerie music in minor keys, dissonance Ambient sounds like creaky floorboards, insects buzzing Examples of horror movies: The Silence of the Lambs The Shining Scream A Quiet Place A Nightmare on Elm Street Elements of horror movies I like: I like the suspense of most horror movies, as well as the background stories behind all the gore. Elements of horror movies I dislike: I am pretty squeamish so I dislike gory and bloody movies, as well as when the movie&

Genre Research Blog: Romance

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Common Camera angles, movements, and shots: Close up Long shot Establishing shot Medium shot Two shot High angle Low angle Common Mis-en-Scene: Normal clothes for costumes Bright, cheery lighting The leads act nervous around each other Plain makeup to simulate normal life Props could be a wedding ring, flowers, or a love letter Set in a big city. Common Editing Insert Fade in and Fade out Shot Reverse Shot Cross cut Split Screen Common Sound: Diegetic sound Non-Diegetic sound Sound Motif Sound Bridge Dialogue Voiceover Example Films: Heartstopper 13 Going On 30 How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days Clueless Flipped To All the Boys I've Loved Before What elements of the genre that you like? I like the sound motifs for a character or emotion in the film, along with the voiceovers to explain a character's feelings. I also like the close ups and two shots, as they can effectively create meaning in very simple ways. What elements of the genre do not appeal to you? I do not like the plain cos

Genre Research Blog: Psychological Thriller

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Common camera angles in your genre (CAMS) camera angles, movement, shots: Close ups and extreme close ups Dutch angles POV shots Zooms Common Mis-En-Scene in your genre (CLAMPS) Mis-En-scene: "Low-key" lighting Acting: unstable emotional state Setting: confined spaces, remote locations, or situations where escape is difficult. Costumes: time-oriented, colors relating to the time period. Common Editing in your genre: Fast cuts Flashbacks Slow-motion Montages Common sound in your genres: Diegetic Sounds Sobbing Screaming Foot steps   Banging   Gun shot   Whispering Non-Diegetic Sounds Slow piano Fast-paced music High pitched ringing Example films of your genres: Don't Worry Darling Parasite Midsommar Lamb Get Out I'm Thinking of Ending Things What elements of the genre that you like? The use of the element of anxiety to make readers uncomfortable. Each psychological thriller I've seen has been very moving. Costumes seeming to be perfectly fit to the film What elemen

Pitch Blog

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Pitch A: A girl's perfect life comes apart as she slowly goes insane and the film comes along with her.  Pitch B: Four teenage strangers who have very different personalities get stuck together in a library and must work together to escape. Discuss Pitch A: We discussed the possibility of making this a mockumentary, including the narration of experts. We could incorporate small details throughout that hint at the girl's insanity. She would have perfect grades, a nice boyfriend, friends, and loving parents. But maybe she is schizophrenic. Something is off about her. In the end, it becomes less subtle. The audience starts to realize how truly crazy she is. She is tortured by this, scared of herself. The film joins her in her insanity Discuss Pitch B: We wanted to find an option that would be very easy to film. We are four teenagers, so we could easily cast ourselves in the roles of the four teenagers. We were torn on where the kids would get stuck, and how the situation could be

Group Blog

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  Now that we are done with our music video, we have to start working on our final task! For my group, I decided to work with Lilly Gonzalez, Samantha Burton, and Isaac Gafanovich. We worked so well on the music video, we decided to work together again for our final task! We work very productively together and compliment each other well. Our music video was the best it could possibly be! I have known Lilly since we were 5 since we go to the same church. She has been my best friend for a while now, so working with her was an obvious choice. I met Samantha (Sammie) at a theatre camp when we were 7. We had forgotten about each other until we re-met in middle school. Recently, we have been becoming better friends because we are both very musically inclined. We decided to start a band called Hazel's Dead and it’s going very well so far! Sammie is also one of Lilly's close friends. Us three being friends, of course we had to work with each other. Last year, Sammie and Lilly were in t

Intro Blog

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   Hello, my name is Amélie De Kegel and I am a sophomore at Fort Lauderdale High School taking AS Level Media Studies. We finally finished our music video! I am 15 years old and was born on March 21, 2008 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but am from Belgium and Mexico. My family moved to Belgium 6 months after I was born for around a year, and then moved to Spain after my mom was rejected entrance to the United States. My lifelong passion has always been music and I hope to accomplish a career in the industry. My favorite genres of music are rock and funk, and my favorite artists are Bruno Mars and Radiohead. I am so excited because I was able to get tickets for the Bruno Mars concert on December 7 which is in two days! He has been my favorite artist since diapers. I also love musical theatre and have been in over 30 musicals! Some of my favorite roles being Alice in The Addams Family and Rafiki in The Lion King. I am mainly a singer but I also play drums and guitar. I have been singing s