Genre analysis - Friday the 13th

Film name - Friday the 13th

Age certificate - 18

Production company - Paramount pictures

Distribution company - Paramount pictures, Warner Bros

Director - Sean S. Cunningham

Box office takings - $5,816,321 

The opening starts out calm and like many slashers takes a very immediate turn for the worst, this is made apparent in order for the audience to empathise with the victim in this scene.
Similar to Halloween the camera is shown from the POV of the killer who is driving, this is to show the Victims panic as the scene escalates, and to keep the killer's identity hidden so it can be revealed later in the film, although the scene starts from a camera panning left and tracking the Jeep's movement, this sets the scene effectively with little dialogue needed which is good for a fast pace moving slasher film.

A incidental non diagetic brass instrument plays which is a traditional tool used in Slasher films in order to raise the suspense and alert the audience that a tragedy (often murder) is going to occur.

The scene escalates greatly when the scene changes to a camera panning left this time from the rear to emphasise the Jeep speeding up, this leads to the victim making a rash decision in this case jumping from the vehicle and like in most slashers this leaves the victim injured and thus more vulnerable, this would leave the audience on the edge of their seats, and more fixed to the upcoming chase.

After the victim leaps from the vehicle it shows the vehicle reversing back towards the victim, it does this from a camera positioned in the back giving a extreme long shot focused on the victim to give te impression that its an over the shoulder POV from the driver, this answers the audience's suspicions that the driver is a threat to the victim, yet still not revealing anything about the killer.

The start of the chase is shown from the POV of the killer, which gives a rear view of the victim attempting to escape, the victim is shown stumbling and tripping as the killer draws closer, this is another classic element used in slashers to make the victim look helpless and panicked, this is also exaggerated by the incidental sound track which speeds up to show the escalation of the chase.

Another effect used in slashers is shown here, when it goes to a extreme long shot panning to follow the victim, to make it appear as if the killer has been escaped, and the incidental sound track ceases, to give the audience the feeling that she is out of the danger and everything is clear, until she finds herself face to face with killer, although the killer's boots and trouser leg is only shown to the audience, it is shown through the victim's reaction which is to stumble in horror that this is the killer.

Genre analysis - Halloween

Although I researched Halloween for one of my opening researches, I decided to evaluate the first 2 minutes of the actual film rather than the open credits.

I chose to research Halloween again as it is one of the original films comprising in the "Slasher" genre.
The opening is filmed from a POV camera view from the killers eyes, this allows the audience to witness the horrific events from a point of view that allows them to see the fear in the victims eyes without releasing any information regarding the killer, this tool is used to increase suspense and terror in slasher films.

The victims in this opening are a young couple alone engaging in sexual activity, this is a very stereotypical cliché for victims in Slasher films, their Mis En Scene is also very typical, the male seeming quite sporty and fit, wearing a sport like jumper, while the girl is wearing a skirt and cardigan with her hair tied up, this is to make her look unintelligent and vulnerable, the setting is a average American home, with the couple sat kissing on the sofa unaware of the killer watching them.

When the lights turn of in the room a high pitched screech is played to inform the audience that something dangerous and scary is going to occur, and the high volume would make the audience jump in shock which is a very common tool used in a Slasher genre film.

The incidental non diagetic sound track played as the killer stalks through the house is also very stereotypical for the genre, as it is used to build up suspense for the audience.

The killer reaches for a Kitchen knife, which is extremely iconic and stereotypical for a slasher film, and is often used to signify that a murder is going to occur.
To add to this the young woman is left alone, and this leaves her as the traditional "damsel in distress".
  

Genre Research - Definition of genre

Genre the French word for "type" and that's what they are, a genre is a type of film to put it bluntly, genre is used to show what sort of film the audience is viewing and the film makers are presenting, for example if the film features cow boys, sheriffs and saloons and related clichés it is classed into the genre of Western.

To be classed into a genre the film would have to show the fixed elements listed in a genre type, for example most thrillers feature jump scares and such.

Genres have been created originally for profitable purposes, as film companies would produce a highly successful and profitable film and would like to achieve the same success in their next production, so the idea to just create a film using the same principles and ideas that made their last piece so popular to achieve the same success.

This in turn would be useful for the consumer, as they would know what type of genre they would enjoy and would be able to identify this by what genre the film was listed into, so they would be able to view a film they would know contains their pleasures, for example a horror fan could expect dark imagery and scares in a horror genre film.

Sometimes a film can contain elements from other genres and they would be classed into sub-genres, for example a romantic film which has a humorous and comedic plot would be classed as a Romantic-Comedy as it contains elements from both of these genres.

  

Genre choice

I have decided to base my film opening and genre research on the "Slasher" sub genre film.

Slasher films are normally based around the elements of a human (to a certain degree) killing other people in gruesome and dark ways, the plot normally unfolds throughout the film and the killer's purpose is often revealed to be quite disturbing and shocking.

The killer is often armed with a knife, axe, machete or any sharp cutting instrument, this is the reason for the name Slasher. 

The general audience for Slasher films are young adults ageing from 16-18, this is due to graphic content and threatening imagery.

Example Slasher Films :-

Halloween  

Nightmare on Elm Street

The Hills have Eyes 

Film opening research - The Shining

Film name - The Shining

Age certificate - 15

Production studio - Warner Bros

Distribution company - Warner Bros

Director - Stanley Kubrick

Box office takings - $622,337

The opening starts rather boringly with the production/distribution company shown in its ident format with no animation nor soundtrack,

It opens with a moving wide shot, moving across the lake showing the mountainous region, this emphasises the isolation of the setting, which is also the theme of the film, this is accompanied by a slow sounding brass instrument score, this works well with the journey through isolation, but is a juxtaposition as its a tense horror style score, in comparison to a seemingly peaceful remote setting.

The camera follows a car from a birds eye view, this is to emphasise the feeling of isolation to the audience, as no other cars or buildings are present in the scene, also the road is going through a thick forest, this can be seen as a horror film stereotype, the birds eye view also exaggerates the great length of the road, and distance from civilisation.

The shot returns to a moving wide shot as it presents more derelict mountainous scene, during this the opening credits showing the director, 2 of the main cast this is shown in a simple blue typography so it is easy to read as is moves through the shot, the title of the film is exaggerated in capitals, to emphasise their importance to the audience, afterwards more of the cast are presented.

Film opening research - Halloween

Film name - Halloween

Age certificate - 18

Production Studio - Compass International Pictures

Distribution Company - too many to list

Director - John Carpenter

Box office takings - $47,000,000 (estimate)

The opening begins in pitch black, with nothing on the screen with the non diagetic ident sound track, which has a very fast pace metronome mixed with a piano tune, gives the feeling of being chased, or something creeping through the dark.

The opening credits start with the production company, tis is shown in its ident typography coloured orange to fit in with the pumpkin style Halloween theme.
The main distribution company is also presented in a simple neutral typography coloured orange.

The main title of the film is presented along side the director to show it as his creation, the title is shown in a sharp vamp-uric lettering style, this works with the name of the title as it adds to the theme of Halloween.

The score escalates as a ominous pumpkin is shown at a eye level extreme long shot, the pumpkin has been lit and it glows in a traditional way, this leaves the audience feeling uneasy as it matches with the non digetic sound track, the pumpkin is the only object presented throughout the opening and is shown as quite roughly made, for example the eyes are out of align and are ruggedly carved to make it look as if crafted by a child, this has a disturbing effect on the audience.

The main cast is presented in their order of appearance in the film, and each actors/actress's name is presented with the character they play, the actors/actress's name in emphasised in bold typography, this is so its presented as important to the audience, the transition between each star's name is a simple fade in fade out.

As the casting continues the score escalates and the camera slowly zooms in towards the pumpkin, this increases the tension towards the audience, it continues to zoom in to the top right of  the pumpkins face to a extreme close up, this adds to the effect of the pumpkin staring into the audience giving the feeling of evil and tension.

Film opening research - The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring

Film name - Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring

Age certificate - PG

Production studio - New line cinema, WingNut Films, The Saul Zaentz Company

Distribution company - too many to list !

Director - Peter Jackson

Box office takings - $36,116,967

evaluating 2.00

The introduction starts with the production company being presented in its ident, the first 2 production companies listed are presented in a animated medieval typography, it is styled to look like the letters are filled with dark mist which fits in with the style of the film.

The screen fades to black and the silence is broken by a incidental score which is a choir which adds to the feeling of a fantasy affect, the darkness and the mythical sound track would leave the audience feeling somewhat entranced to the film.

The non diagetic voice over  begins speaking in Tolkien's Elvish which generally would not be understood by the audience, its whispered in a low pitch to grasp the audience's attention, and emphasise the feeling of the fantasy genre, before the main narrative (the same non diagetic voice over) begins in English. 

The female narrator speaks in a very hushed, slowed tone this adds to the deep and mythical feeling which fits in with the dialogue that is narrated.

The voiced over narrative scripted describes briefly the situation and hints of what is to come, it does this in a way that represents the character as a wise mythical being.

The narrative pauses and the ident Lord of the Rings (non diagetic) soundtrack plays as the main film title fades into view, the typography used looks like its made from a brittle gold, the edges are jagged and look like the edges of swords, this typography is unique to the film and is based strongly on the fantasy medieval genre.    

In the scene where the ring is forged, the narrator continues her voice over, the voice over now describes what is being presented; an extreme close up of molten substance being poured into a mould, the zoomed in perspective of this scene emphasises its importance. 

throughout the scene the camera is constantly focussed on the rings, this signifies yet again emphasises their importance. 

The first set of characters presented from a eye level medium long shot, focus is particularly put on the woman in the foreground, the Mis En Scene of the characters is that of fair hair and natural glowing faces, this is to present the characters as wise and mystical and this is even highlighted over in the narration, there is no scenery only a black background this is to put the audience's focus on the characters that are being described.

The Mis En Scene of all the characters shown corresponds with the race narrated, for dwarfs its thick beards and dark halls, to the men who are dressed very kingly and grand, the way the men are presented highlights the character at the centre of the group foreshadowing his role later in the film.