Research on Alfred Hitchcock...

Mini Biography

Alfred Hitchcock was one of the most influential film directors of all time, earning him the nick name 'the master of suspense'. Born in humble beginnings as the son of a greengrocer, he then went on to design sets for a film studio in London (1920). However he did not get the chance to start directing until 1923 when the director of 'Always Tell Your Wife' fell ill, pleased with his work on the film the studio gave him the importunate to work on his first film 'Number 23'. Unfortunately this fell through before completion as the studio closed its British operations. Hitchcock was then hired by 'Micheal Balcon' as assistant director for the company later to be known as 'Gainsborough Pictures'. He directing career finally came with the importunate to direct the German/ British collaboration 'The Pleasure Garden (1925)'. His directing talents could finally be seen out right, going on to produce over 50 years of cinematic magic.

Trivia

- In a lot of his films he liked to create shadows on the walls to add tension and suspense 

- He hated to shoot on location, he much preferred to shoot in a studio so he could have the optimum control over lighting and other factors

- He liked to use major starts within his films so that the audience would be familiar with the character, therefore he did not have to divulge in character development and concentrate on the ins and outs of the plot 

- He often would make the audience empathize with the villainous character of the plot

- He loved to used usual subjective point of view shots

Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980)

Notes on others presentations...

Daryl - 'The Grudge' directed by Takashi Shimizu

Daryl went the through the opening of 'The Grudge' following a female character before she gets attacked by the grudge. Here are some of my favorite points..

- the credits at the beginning our consumed by swirling blackness - he referred this to the actual 'Grudge' and how it devours its victims

- throughout the opening the lighting is dim - even when the shot is based in the town - dark lighting promotes the mystery and eeriness

- within the shot of the high angles of her barriers can be seen between her and the viewer i.e. stair banisters - gives the impression that she is trapped/ no escape 

- I felt the shot above was a particularly memorable shot - as she walks towards the camera she begins to block out the light from the window - again the idea of consumption, the shot traps the audience in the situation as well as the character, isolation

- When in the attic - before facing the grudge, she encounters cobwebs - the idea of  a spider catching their prey - she will become the prey of 'The Grudge'

low angled long shot

- She is consumed by darkness once with in the attic where she uses a lighter to create light - the flame is flickering - which creates tension and the impression that she is shaking with fear - helps the audience live through her terror 

Georgia, Catherine, Akshay and Emma  - 'Silent Hill' directed by Christophe Gans

In the opening of 'Silent Hill' we watch a mother and fathers journey to find their sleep walking daughter, it is set in the dead of night. Within Akshay, Emma, Catherine and Georgia's presentation I picked out a few points..

- The non-diegetic instrumental sound that the title opens with is slow and eerie - hinting the genre of horror, also dust/ ash is fall relating to the fires further through the film - the audience already gets the feel of destruction
- The opening begins with a low angled close up of a women - showing her to be a main character/ protagonist and importance within the film
- the time set adds mystery - darkness fills each shot, fear of what is beyond your sight
- We cut from the mothers progress to long shots of the child 'Sharon' who is nearing the edge of a waterfall - the long shot indicated her isolation and her lack of control
- The young child is wearing light blue pajamas - showing her innocence, also relates to her mother who is wearing light blue shorts - showing their connection
- The closer to the child the mother gets the music accompaniment grows in volume - synchronous sound matches the tension/ action

Ben, Dom, Toby and George - 'Silence Of the Lambs' directed by Jonathan Demme

Ben, Dom, Toby and George concentrated on two opening sections within the film 'Silence of the Lambs'. Their sections went through the opening credits with the background scenes of 'Agent Starling' running an assault course. The second section they chose was of the first meeting between 'Dr Lecter' and 'Starling' set in the underground holdings of the asylum. Here are some points made..

First Section
- The credits open with the shot of a knarled tree with fog in the backround - the fog could indicte how not everything is obvious, which is a theme through out the film
- The camera then follows 'Starling' in a tracking shot - giving the impression that she is bening folowed, sets tome for the film - pyschological thriller
-It is set in the woods - gives an eerie impression - dank lighting, gives the impression that she is alone, someone is ust beyond eye sight
- Dramatic orcestrail music is used - adds drama, minor key - draker tont to film
- Physical exercise - indicates her strength of character/ determination

Second Section
- The camera is obstructed by bars/ barriers - indicating she has no way out/ setting herself up
- Red lighting is used - representing danger/ going into hell (i.e. where the prisoners are)
- Dank lighting - shadows giving an eerie sense

point of view - long shot

- Long shot of the chair - representing her isolation / she is very much alone in this situation
- Metal bars separate her and the prisoners - violent and abusive - barriers indicating the differences between herself and the prisoners
- Hannibal in control of emotions - more threatening/ dangerous
- Clear glass separates them - she is able to let him in - representing them to be more similar than the other prisoners
- He has the sense of control - he is in the light/ and she in darkness

Analysis of an existing horror opening...

As a group (Hannah, Abbie and myself) we were asked to looking into existing films withing the horror genre, taking particular notice of their openings. We chose to look at the opening of 'Hide and Seek' directed by 'John Polson. Taking note of the effects of the camera angles and movement, sound, editing and mise-en-scene. This task was to help us explore ways in which the industry could create thrills and hopefully give us ideas in how to create the effect ourselves. We created a annotated version of the opening, which we presented to the class alongside our additional spoken notes and findings.

*myself far right in green dress, Abbie far right in grey and Hannah far left in blue

Below is the annotated version of the opening we produced...