STUDENT WORK-“EIGHTEEN”

TEXTUAL ANALYSIS

• This opening sequence is relatable to the one we are intending to do as it is a very similar genre. This film is a thriller that is probably also close to a horror, which is the genre we are intending to do. This means that we can use it to help us understand a bit more of what we have to do in our production in terms of sound, lighting, etc. This way we can see how these affect the audience. Eighteen is produced by a conglomerate because however, our production is going to be produced by an independent but I will be analysing some of the shots of the sequence in order to get ideas and help us understand a little bit more about the genre.

Eighteen- opening sequence

CONNOTATIONS OF SOUND• The non diegetic sound of the score during the scenes in the

woods helps put the character in a dangerous position and it connotes a the threat the girl is under. This score is also connoting a disequilibrium. It is rhythmic and this rhythm creates the sound of heart beat which helps create an atmosphere of suspense amongst the audience.

• In the scene where the two girls are in a room, the non diegetic sound is a more lively score that connotes happiness and an equilibrium in the narrative. However, as soon as they start talking about the shoes, the contrapuntal sound with the same score heard in the woods is played connoting that something negative and dangerous is about to happen and it also unsettles the audience. As it is the same score the audience will associate it with the beginning of the film connoting that the shoes are important and they are linked to the attack of the protagonist.

LS connotes the isolation of the character. She is in the woods, in the middle of nowhere. It connotes the mystery of the place where she is going towards. She is running away from the camera which implies that the audience is the antagonist going after her. The camera is hand held which connotes the disequilibrium and makes the audience feel uncomfortable or even sick, giving them visceral pleasure.

LONG SHOT

Hand held camera can be really effective to create a sense of thrill, which is really important in a horror film. Therefore, we will probably be using this filming technique to have a higher impact on our audience’s emotions and feelings.The character is wearing a white dress which might connote her purity and innocence, however, the bright red shoes connote danger and blood which can therefore subvert the meaning of the white she is wearing. The shoes also sexualise her, this links to Clover’s theory of the final girl as she’s being punished for being sexual.

MS of the character connotes desperation to escape from whoever is chasing her. However, the fact that she is looking back connotes that she is facing her fear and she's taking control of the situation which represents Gauntlett’s empowered female which is subverting the stereotype of women always being inferior. She is facing her fear but still running away from it. The character is brave, and this might be seen as a positive representation, but she is still wearing a short dress, with which we can sexualise her and put her in the male gaze (Barthe’s striptease theory). The camera is being hand held again, creating the same effect like in the previous shot.

MEDIUM SHOT

The over-exposure is not letting the audience figure out who she clearly is, this creates a sense of tension and intrigue amongst the audience. Just when you're about to be able to see her face, the shot cuts to the title of the film, leaving the audience at the edge of their seats. This connotes the violence of the attack she is facing.This can be a great way to engage the audience with our opening sequence: not letting them see something completely by cutting to another shot. This will help target our more sophisticated audience as they will try figure it out. Gives the audience intellectual pleasure.

MLS connotes the character’s femininity and her need to be perfect. This shots shows how much she cares for her image. This links to Butler’s gender performance, as she is putting makeup on. She is stereotypically behaving like a female who is also a teenager, they stereotypically do anything in order to look good. This connotes how vane they are and links to the mass market audience of this film.

MEDIUM LONG SHOT

Because our film has also a more sophisticated older audience, we will probably not use any of these stereotypes. We might try subverting them and creating more challenges for the audience. However, as our main character in the sequence is going to be a female, some of these may be applicable.

MCU of the character and her friend in the background connotes that the blonde girl is more powerful and rules over the one sitting on the bed. This usually happen with teenage friendships. This shot has a very high key lighting compared to the ones in the woods where the lighting was only on the girl. This connotes an equilibrium, before anything bad happened.

MEDIUM CLOSE UP

This scene is a very simplistic one that is clearly aimed at a young mass market audience, it provides personal identity and belonging to the younger primary audience. This is because it has been produced by a conglomerate, however, our film will need to challenge the audience a little bit more in order to target a sophisticated secondary audience. This scene also connotes the disconnection between the girls, their relationship is clearly a dark one. Teenage girls usually have ‘bitchy’ relationships and this stereotype is portrayed in this shot.

• After analysing this opening sequence I think that there are many things that could have been improved. One of them being the sound during the dialogue. Due to the use of a non english actress, the dialogue had to be recorded separately using another person. The use of dubbing in this sequence is obvious and makes the scene unrealistic, there is not a sense of spatial verisimilitude.

• The lighting in the location of boarding could have also been improved. It looks yellow and over-exposed. This are things that are not acceptable in a film, especially when it is produced by a conglomerate and the budget is bigger.

CONCLUSION