DISTRICT 9: Audience analysis and audience profile

Glossary of camera shots, composition, framing and angles

What makes a thriller thrilling?

Short analysis' of a sample of movie screen shots including films such as; James Bond: Casino Royal, Psycho and Harry Potter

AS level Media Studies – Summer work

Thriller conventions:

Narrative:  In the thriller genre most films produced have a similar narrative consisting of three main parts; the beginning, the middle and the end. ‘The beginning’ is where the characters such as the protagonist and maybe his side kick or a team are introduced to the audience and the objective they have to complete  is explained to them, this is usually to stop the antagonist from completing his goal. Then there is a transition from the beginning to the middle (the climax of the movie) what is where most of the action is situated this usually consists of the protagonist on a journey to find the antagonist, this normally contains a chase scene between the protagonist and people on the other side, almost certainly resulting in the protagonist showing his strengths and overcoming whatever the antagonist throws at him. Then they reach the ‘middle’ or the ‘climax’ of the narrative this is usually where the protagonist gets close to achieving his goal but reaches a flaw or dilemma that stops him. This normally consists of the protagonist being heavily overwhelmed by the antagonist forces, with almost no hope at all the hero will somehow come up with a plan and get through this by using his or her skills to do so. Once the dilemma has been resolved it then goes into the ‘ending’ phase, this is where the hero and his team get closer to the antagonist again this time the antagonist weaker in some sort of way such as an injury or lack of forces and then is left vulnerable. Once close to the end in most thriller films the hero finally overcome the villain in a one verses one match up where both characters use each other’s weaknesses against one another and almost certainly ending with the hero winning and the objective being completed.  

Setting: In thriller films the main setting used is urban, normally a city setting is the most popular this is used as the plot normally threatens a huge mass of people and adds difficultly for the protagonist as it is such a huge space it is harder for him to find the antagonist.

Actors: Firstly the protagonist: In thriller films or most others films the hero character is stereotypically a male and not female, this gender has been used as male actors come across as strong, skilful and resourceful characters fit to be in heated situations such as combat. Actors that are muscular and good looking are used to portray this skilful character worthy of combating the problems of the antagonist. Secondly the antagonist: again this is normally played by a male actor who has very similar figure and skills to the protagonist; muscly and good looking so he also looks like a force to be reckoned with. Thirdly the damsel in distress or the sidekick character: The damsel in distress is usually played by a woman actor who is very good looking and someone who would appeal to the protagonist, usually they are skilful but not as much as the protagonist, someone who may need saving later in the plot. The sidekick character is normally played by a male actor who has less good looking physique so he doesn't overshadow the main hero character, usually they have a nice personality, someone who the hero can connect with and work with as a team.

Props: In thrillers there are a lot of reoccurring props used such as: guns, melee weapons, technology, and computers, transport etc..

Camerawork: In thrillers different camera shots are used to emphasise the subject in them. Low angle shots are usually used on the protagonist and his team as the angle makes the characters look larger than they actually are so they look more powerful. High angle shots are used on the antagonist and his forces, this shows them being smaller than they are so it feels like they are the weaker force compared to the hero’s team and himself. Long-shots and extreme long-shots are used to establish the setting. Mid shots and two shots are normally used to show characters in conversation and to show a relationship between other characters. Tilted shots are used to create a sense of movement and confusion. Tracking shots are used normally in motion of car chases or a character moving throughout a setting, it is fluent and smooth, keeping up with the action at all times.

Editing: Thrillers contain a lot of action, in editing fast cuts between characters and events are added to create a high pace in the action to create tension and mystery in the audience watching. Sometimes CGI is implemented to certain action scene to emphasise the action and makes it more thrilling for the audience.

The Matrix:

Camera shots: High angle shots on the secret agents, Low angle shots on main protagonists such as: Trinity and Neo. Tracking shots on chase scenes to capture speed in the action. Focus pulls between to objects to show their importance to the character. Ariel shots to show the huge vast setting of New York.

Editing: Huge amounts of fast paced cuts to create a sense of speed complimenting the ‘superhuman’ characters. CGI used quite a lot to emphasise the ‘superhuman’ narrative to give them abilities a normal human couldn’t do.

Sound: Non diegetic soundtrack used in action scenes is fast paced with a very fast tempo, the beats sometimes match the movements of the characters, especially Trinity’s chase scene at the beginning of the film. Soundtrack used in non-action scenes are mysterious to create tension and suspense for the audience. Diegetic sound from the movies scape such as sirens in the city used to create immersion.

Scene Analysis:

1)      Starting scene with Trinity on laptop

This scene is the scene that starts the Matrix film, before entering the real world movie scape the scene begins with CGI bright green neon numbers that come together to assemble the words “The Matrix”, “the camera” than pan zooms into a close up of a few of the numbers ticking down slowly, and the diegetic sound of typing starts to be heard. This starting CGI scene of what seems to be some sort computer code, this then foreshadows that the film maybe has heavily use of technology in the narrative. Then it transitions into the next scene where it reveals the source of the typing sound and it becomes clear that a woman is at a desk in an empty room on the computer seen in the CGI scene. What comes next plays on stereotypical and anti-stereotypical gender representations and different conventions of a thriller. The woman in the room on the computer we know as Trinity shown in a mid-shot to show her and the room to emphasise she is alone is on the phone to a man and suddenly realises that something is wrong and they are being watched, at this point the sound of typing is suddenly drowned out by the start of non-diegetic soundtrack that starts slow paced to give it a mysterious feel to create suspense, the beats mimicking the sound of a heartbeat (iambic pentamatas) gradually getting faster, that of Trinity, this slow rise in pace foreshadows that something is about to happen. (Then the scene in which the special agents and also the  police who enter the building trinity is in and go to the same room she is in and then goes to force their way in), all through this the pace of the soundtrack is at its fastest this getting the heart of the audience to beat faster and increases the tension to a high level, once they broke into the room, the police train their torches on trinity, and a pan from the police officers to Trinity is used to show that she is the reason why they are here and they are here to take her in. Once the pan is over and is now on Trinity the way Trinity’s body language is seen as the stereotypical ‘damsel in distress’ figure as her hand are behind her head in a submission type position ready to surrender, a close up is used on Trinity’s face to show what seemed to be  showing worried and agitated movements. But then a sudden change in body language (her eye suddenly opening), and a sudden change in tempo of the soundtrack implies something is going to change in the plot. Trinity then changes the way she is represented from a ‘damsel in distress’ to an anti-stereotypical representation as she then single handily takes out all of the police officers, this done with elegance and speed of hand to hand combat, unusual characteristics for a female role in a thriller as she takes role of what is normally a male protagonist. The fig scene containing a lot of fast paced cuts to create the feel of adrenaline Trinity must be feeling while fighting the officers. This used to emphasise that a female can be just as good as a protagonist as a male. Also the editing been used to emphasise further trinity’s ‘superhuman’ combat skills and intelligence, this then adding to the narrative that the Matrix is about some ‘group’ of people that have these special abilities and are maybe involved in some sort a computer hacking.           

2)      Trinity rooftop chase scene

Throughout this scene a tracking shot is used to follow Trinity as she is attempting to escape from the secret agents, the tracking shot is a continuous mid shot showing the whole of Trinity’s body, this shot emphasises the anti-stereotypical use of a female character as a protagonist rather than in most thrillers where there is a male protagonist, showing that females are just as good at the same role as males are. Her costume emphasises this, she is wearing a tight leather costume, this showing that she still has the good looking and evocative characteristics of ‘damsel in distress’ would have but then the colour black and the material of leather has been used to show she is also on par with male actors who wear the same colour and material clothing, this showing that going against the stereotypical male actor protagonist works well. The constantly moving tracking shot of her whole body shows she has elegance and swiftness, this emphasising the ‘superhuman’ skills Trinity has, this also emphasising that a female protagonist is better in some ways as she is more fluent and fast compared to a clunky moving muscly protagonist normally used in action scenes such a this chase. But at times there are close shots that show her emotions and that at points she is scared and is in fear of what is to come, this showing her weakness that maybe a female role may be subject to emotive weakening. Throughout the scene fast paced non diegetic soundtrack it playing this fast paced music adds tension and emergence for the audience as it helps with the chaotic and confusing events to get the heart pumping in suspense. Also it can be seen as synchronous soundtrack as some beats in the music match with Trinity’s running footsteps, this again helps to emphasise the fluentness of Trinity and this is her advantage over the secret agent male characters. Then to even further emphasise the quickness that this scene is happening in editing they have implemented fast paced cuts what swap between Trinity and the secret agents have been used to further add tension and to show that these characters are connected in some way in the plot, this giving the audience an inkling and an idea into why she is being chased and who is chasing her, that clearly she is an important person in the plot.

3)      (Trinity rooftop chase scene) When Trinity looks down upon a special agent from the roof. 

During the chase scene Trinity looks down into an alleyway where a special agent is seen, a high angle shot and an aerial shot has been used, these shots been used to show at this point of the chase Trinity has the advantage as she has the higher ground in the chase, it shows Trinity as big and the special agent as small as the aerial shot shows the distance between them showing the agent is far away from catching Trinity. But on the other hand we also know from watching the special agents in these opening scenes that they are as equally skilled, although the special agent himself is small, low key lighting in the form of a single light used behind the special agent in the darkened alleyway to elongate the agents shadow this creating the idea that although he is far away from Trinity, he is just as powerful or even more powerful or skilled than Trinity, also the way the shot has been took compliments this idea, the shadow created by the agent takes up most of the whole shot, this showing that even at a disadvantage the agent can easily overcome it as he is a very skilled character. The fast paced soundtrack slows for this shot and is taken over by Trinity’s heavy breathing, this emphasises that is a hard chase and she is fearful that she may not make it out and get caught. This urban setting has been used to create tension and an action packed scene for the audience, it comprises of areas hard to transverse and hide, this creating suspenseful action scenes the audience will love.

4)      Stand-off between Trinity and the three special agents

In this final segment, the only means of escape for Trinity is a telephone box at the end of the street but is guarded by the special agents in a big truck. We know that the phone box is the means of escape when there is a focus pull from the phone to Trinity with her eyes firmly set on the phone. A sudden jump cut is then used to show the special agents and their truck pointing directly at the phone box too, foreshadowing that the agents are going to do anything to prevent Trinity from getting there. The non-diegetic soundtrack at this moment is now slow paced creating tension and suspense as the agents and Trinity keep eye contact frantically with each other and the phone box. A single note then rings out and signals a change in pace as Trinity starts to make a run for the phone box and the sudden revs of the truck can be heard, tracking shots then used on both Trinity and the agents to give a fluent and fast track of them both, at the same time cross cutting between both of them getting faster as they both get closer. The soundtrack back to the pace of what it was in the rooftop chase segment, face with strong beats creating adrenaline rushes and suspense of if Trinity will make it or not. Once both the agents and Trinity were very close to the box it seems Trinity had the upper edge and reaches the phone, and a medium shot on of trinity’s is used as the trucks POV shot is used and lights behind the camera used to simulate the trucks lights pointing at Trinity, getting more intense as the truck seems to get closer, this shot on Trinity had been used to show the fear Trinity has, this then creating suspense and tension as the audience don know if she will actually make or not. The camera fades to black and an asynchronous sound of a crash is played, this making the audience feel like Trinity hasn’t made it, but then the camera fades back in to show piles of rubble of the phone box but no body, showing that in fact Trinity did make it.