Research - Opening scenes

 

Opening scene of The Grudge

For this task we had to do some research on different opening scenes of the genre that we wanted to use in our main task. I chose to do horror therefore decided to do my research on the opening scene of the movie The Grudge. The film was listed in three genres; horror, thriller and mystery with horror being the main one and the most important.

The opening scene started off with some steady music in the background which sounded quite chilling but also was building us suspense. It was a black background which made the opening more dark and sinister. Slowly came the quote “when somewhere dies in the grip of a powerful rage… A curse is born” this is basically an overview of the whole film. The word curse is then coloured in red with the rest of the words fading out. This suggests to the audience that the whole outline of the film is about this curse that we know is going to be involved because it was specifically highlighted on. This is also projected as a little teaser and again builds up tension right from the start of the film which keeps the audience guessing which wants them to watch ahead. Also two more quotes show steadily after one and the other with the words death and fury highlighted again suggesting to the audience that there’s going to be a lot of deaths and also a lot of anger and rage throughout the film. They are highlighted in the colour red to emphasize the blood and danger. It’s a colour in day to day life used as a warning.

Once the words have vanished there’s a water sound running in the back of the dark coloured background. The audience knows that the location is taken place by an ocean or river type area; this actually lightens the mood slightly. Just then you see a river running and it slowly goes higher from that area and zooms out of it from a close up shot to a medium shot to then a long shot. In this angle shot, we can see that the background is of a typical city life with flats around, people talking continuously and rushing off and you see a building site where it’s making a lot of noise from all the drilling. This sets the mood for the audience; even though quite noisy it’s still the everyday typical life you always see. The audience is calmer at this point of the scene. The camera angle is still a long shot which then goes to a low angle shot where you can see a man standing from a balcony staring down. All the way through this shot the lighting is clear and bright so the audience doesn’t expect any action or any sort of physical violence.

A close up shot of the man’s face shows anxiety and that he’s disturbed about something. It then goes on to show a woman in the bed waking up with a smile on her face and asking the man a question to why he’s a awake so early. Everything seems normal and nothing out of the ordinary is happening which doesn’t make the audience suspect anything or doesn’t build the audience to look out for something to happen. The shots move back and forward from the man and woman whilst she is talking with the man’s expressions not changing and his slow movements. It then shows a medium shot view of the woman looking really relaxed which is the opposite of the man who is still looking quite distressed. She is quite happy and seems cheerful which you can see from her body position which is comfortable and laid back. The lighting in the room is still quite bright where you can see that it’s a bright sunny day suggesting that nothing bad is going to happen yet. However the background is silent whereas before it was noisy but this blocks out everything and you can tell that everything is focused on these two people in the room.

 

With a silent background and all the lighting still the same, it then shows a long shot of the man where you see him slowly turn his face away from the camera showing his back to the audience and him putting his hands on the balcony. There’s a slight pause here for a second where it’s still relaxing and a calm atmosphere but still wanting to know what’s going to happen next. He then drops over the balcony with it still being silent in the background. Birds-eye angle is then used for the next shot where we see that the camera is coming closer and closer to the ground which is supposed to show the man’s point of view which is intense. A close up angle shot of the woman’s face is shown when you hear a thump sound which the audience know is the man landing on the floor without actually seeing it. Right after this sound, the woman’s expression change completely and she gasps. This changes the whole mood of the scene but also the audience’s mood as it happens so unexpectedly. You see her running up to the balcony where her face is shocked and you see her body quite tense and is shivering and taking slow breaths. It then shows a birds-eye angle shot from the woman to the man lying on the floor so that the audience sees what is happening and is a part of the scene.

Its then taken to the bottom from where the body is and a long shot is shown with people around stressing and in shock starting to panic. The sinister music from the start is playing once again. Eye level angle shot of the body on the floor is shown which is slowly zoomed on up to his head where you see blood coming out. Just then you hear a woman whispering which is quite chilling. Music is building up to when the background goes black again.

My Chosen Genre

Horror Genre

I have chosen to do the horror genre. This is because I have researched up on it and looked at many different films in that genre. This has helped me to gain knowledge on how horror films structure themselves so that they are able to keep the audience happy and satisfied with what they have seen. I think that personally horror is one of the easiest genres that you can produce. This is because horror is easier to create as you have to think of one idea and develop that into something scary and also because of the several horror films we have seen in the past, you can develop ideas from them as well and create it in to something original and new. A genre like comedy is difficult to create as you have to keep the audience constantly laughing and smiling so that they feel that it’s a comedy film. Comedy is really hard to manage as the writers have to make sure that the audience will get what they are saying and have to make sure that they will find it funny. Horror films date back to the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, however horror films were not that popular as they weren’t made as much. However over the decades, the popularity of these films have increased and horror films are one of the largest genres ever watched.

Horror movies go a long way back dating back to the late 1800’s where most of them used to be about vampires, monsters and various other creatures. Bloodsucking and vampire bats have always frightened and terrified the audience; these were commonly used by directors. Horror movies are unsettling movies that attempt to draw out the emotions of fear, terror and disgust from their target audience. They often draw out the audience’s fear by building the suspense which places anxiety in their minds which is a common way used by the director to draw out the horror in a more entertaining way so the audience feels involved and pushed to watch more.

Research on BBFC

BBFC - British Board of Film Classification

　
　
　
Before deciding which is our target audience, we had to do some research on the different age groups and what they prefer in a film. Whilst doing this, we found out that certain age groups have limitations on what they can watch and what not. This is decided by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) who are not apart of the government but are a independent organisation that are financed and supported by the filming industry within the UK. The BBFC are responsible for organising films and looking over each film individually with them receiving a certificate. Alongside it they have to label information specifying references to violence, any strong language and nudity/sex. Therefore the board also has to clarify a certain age suitable to watch these films and only they are allowed to purchase them.


Suitable for all ages / Universal
When labelled a ‘U’ it usually is understood for all ages to watch, however seeing as anything they see can trouble a child, its put down that these films are suitable from four years and above. Violence, sex or any threatening scenes are not shown so that no significant issues arise which may disturb a child in particular but also adults who may be offended by any discrimination or other issues such as race or sexuality. If any violence or horror do occur in the film, they should be over quickly so that it doesn’t upset a child. They should also know the difference between right and wrong so complex issues can not be put in the film to confuse a child.


Parental guidance
When labelled this, it means that children of any age can watch these movies with or without a adult present. However certain scenes may be unsuitable for a child under the age of 8 so parents are recommended to consider themselves whether they feel if the content will trouble their child. Above the age of 8, the content should not upset a child. Mild bad language is allowed and any violence has to end quickly and also cannot be shown in detail. Discrimination and drugs are not allowed unless it teaches them that it is wrong, dangerous and not tolerated.


Suitable for 12years and over - Cinema only
This was introduced in 2002. This rating is used only for films which are shown in the cinemas. Only the age of 12years and over are allowed to watch these films. However, a child under 12years is allowed to watch these films if accompanied by an adult, who have to be above the age of 18. They are responsible to be with the child whilst the movie is playing. It is solely up to the adult and their judgement, if they would want the child to see the film but it is recommended that they don’t. This is because films under this category may contain mild swear words, mature themes and violence/sex references.


Suitable for 12years and over - Videos and DVDs only
This rating is used only for videos or DVDs which are to be purchased or put as rent. No one under the age of 12 is allowed to purchase or rent a 12 rated film. Unless extra content has been added to the film, 12A films are usually given a certificate to be rated as a 12 when being put onto video. This also includes a game which has been rated a 12. It cannot be bought by someone under the age of 12 and should be accompanied by a adult.


Suitable only for 15years and older
Only people at the age of 15 and above are allowed to view a 15 rated film. This means that they can watch, purchase and rent this film or game by themselves without no adult supervision necessary. No one below this age are allowed to do so. Films rated 15 have the permission to include contents such as strong words, moderate violence/sex references, not detailed sex activity but also hard drugs which is a complex issue.


Suitable only for adults
Only adults are allowed to see this from the age of 18years and over. If rated 18, no one under this age is allowed to see these films in cinema and neither are they allowed to purchase or rent a film/game of this rating. Films rated this have usually no limits to what contents they are allowed to display. This can contain bad language and strong violence/sex reference along with non-detailed sex activity which is also permitted to show. Hard drugs can also be used. However there are still limits on discrimination so no race, religion, sexuality issues are permitted unless created in humorous ways and not directly trying to out them out.