Gangster genre...

            Gangster films, like “Lock Stock” and “Reservoir Dogs”, can be identified by the conventions used. One of the easiest conventions to see is mise-en-scene. This includes costumes, setting, lightings and others.

            “Reservoir Dogs” can be easily identified as a gangster films. This is mainly because of the costume. The characters wear sunglasses, dark formal suits. This is the most common clothing worn by gangsters and in other gangster films. Furthermore, the setting is in a corner of a restaurant and later the walk outside into a rural area.

            The other film, “Lock Stock” uses different clothing for the characters. The characters wear dark casual clothing. This clothing is worn mostly by lower ranked gangster. Unlike the characters in “Reservoir Dogs”, they are in a back alley. This means they’re dealing in illegal dealing. This is shown clearly when they were chased by cops later on.

The Film Industry

Warnerbros.com/main/homepage.html

            Warner Bros’ homepage for The Dark Knight provides information regarding the film. Some of the information provided is a synopsis of the film and the casts. The release date is also included.

 

This homepage also provides the users with a trailer of the movie. Additionally, images from the film are included and can be seen by viewers. This information publicises and advertises the film at the same time. This helps attracts audience to watch the film and therefore raise profits.

Dark Knight’s homepage shows all the important details of the film, and whatever else is needed for the viewers to watch it in the theatre or buy its DVD.

            Furthermore, this homepage also has links to other features films. It also shows a list of films by genre, year or casts.

Warner Bros Studios (http://www2.warnerbros.com/wbsf/#/home/)

            Warner Bros Studios has a 110-acre facility, which has 30 sound stages plus a 20-acre back lot that can double as any place.

            One of Warner Bros’ principal structures on the lot, Stage 16 the largest sound stage at Warner Bros. and one of the tallest in the world, was completed in 1935. That same year, the entire structure was raised 30 feet, using hand jacks and a lot of labour, to accommodate an elephantine musical, Cain and Mabel.

            During 1990, Warner Communications, Inc. and Time Inc merged to form TimeWarner, Inc. - one of the world's largest communications and entertainment companies. In June of that same year, the company acquired the entire studio lot and celebrated its rededication as Warner Bros. Studios.

In 2001, Warner Bros’ parent company Time Warner Inc. merged with America Online, Inc. to form the world's foremost media and Communications Company.

Other companies

            Warner Bros is a subsidiary of Time Warner. Furthermore, Warner Bros owns a number of other companies. Some are Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc and Warner Bros. Distributing Inc.

Thriller Genre

Thriller genre can be recognised by their conventions. I looked at two thriller films, insomnia and memento, to identify these conventions.

One of the conventions present in both films was shot in dark and deserted places. Another is that the shots were at odd angles, making the audience feel uncomfortable. Furthermore, the effects used, like the blurred vision and the time rewinding back, was really bizarre and out of place, to show that something isn’t right. This feeling that something isn’t right was reinforced by the strange scenes shown at the start of both films, like the man who was wiping the blood and the man who was shot and was on the floor. All these things help create tension.

These are the conventions used in the films “Insomnia” and “Memento”.

Psycho Connotations

            The film “Psycho” uses connotations to affect the reaction of the audience. Here are some of the connotations used.

            The first one is the opened eyes of the character. The opened eye, which was right after the struggle/fight, strongly suggests death. Especially the opened eyes, strongly connotes the life of the character leaving her body.

            The second is the blood. Blood normally connotes violence or death. Furthermore the colour red is associated with anger. Anger normally leads to violence or even death. Therefore, this connotation shows violence, death, or in the extreme case death.

           The third connotation is the naked woman. This nakedness shows openness and vulnerability. Most people use clothes to cover their body, almost like a protection. Therefore when these are removed, people normally feel defenceless.  Furthermore, the fact that the character that’s naked is a woman reinforces this vulnerability and defenceless state.

            These connotations help the director increase the tension in the film. Like the vulnerability strongly suggests that the character is open and vulnerable to attack. This helps in horror and thriller films. By using connotations like these, directors can increase tension and can also scare and surprise the audience more.

Intro...

Hey there, everyone. I'm Mark Lariosa, from St. Peter's School. I'm just starting my AS Media Studies. I enjoy waching movies, particularly the fanatsy genre. I'm doing media studies to find out how everything runs behinnd the camera. Well, just follow my blog tro find out more about my progress. have fun.