Cinematography is the act
of creating a motion picture and throughout this blog I will be analyzing one
of the aspects of cinematography; camera angels, and the effect that they have
and how they are frequently used in the thriller genre to help the viewer build
a relationship with the characters. The clip I will be using is Saw (1/11) Movie CLIP - Waking Up (2004) HD an
extract from the first saw film. Due to the use of the many types of angles
used I concluded that it would be an excellent clip to analyze.
The first shot that we
are introduced to in the clip is a close up of what appears to be a key being
flushed down the plughole. The blurred underwater effect that the camera gives the shot creates a sense of confusion, obscuring the objects actual identity
keeping us guessing as to what this glowing, hopeful object is. The close up
ensures that the audience are aware that the object that appears to be a
sense of hope is being lost (down the plug hole) and helps us; the viewers,
build a relationship with the characters involved as we feel a sense of
sympathy for them.
This next shot; a low angle
tracking shot is used to further the viewers interpretations and
understanding of the characters feelings, the shot is used
to convey the characters feelings
of disillusion and confusion as to what they have just
woken up to and shows how things are going too fast and out of the characters control,
helping us (the viewers) to build feelings of remorse and sympathy
for the characters. The growing relationship we get in turn for
the directors cinematography makes us grow accustom to the characters
and this relationship makes the film better as these emotions influence our
opinions on the characters. These key factors of relationship between
viewer and character are generally seen to be primarily focused
on by the thriller and the drama genre as they focus more on character emotion
to exploit the more focused plot and in turn make the film better.
This reaction shows the
audience of the disarray this victim must be in, given his
hands covering his face and stunned expression. This shot is used to show how
the character is reacting to a certain event or activity within the film. The close up used helps to ensure the audience are able to clearly see the emotions that the character is feeling, and as we can see his despair, confusion and vulnerability the is portrayed in a more vulnerable way, creating a relationship between the audience and character on screen. This helps build more suspense it is
furthering the audience's ideas of the characters feelings/emotions making them
feel more sympathy for him. In this case it is the lights suddenly turning on
and blinding him. Reaction shots are common conventions of the thriller genre as they are used to help further the
tension on screen as we see their perspectives of what is happening, meaning the audience begins to build emotions such as sympathy and pity for the victim.
Although conventional in
all genres the mid shot is an essential aspect of all cinematography, as we are
given a general overview of what is happening on set including iconography,
costume, setting and lighting. Although that being said I
would argue that this is one of the more circumstantial mid
shots used during the scene. Although his pose is not on purpose his
submissive 'I surrender’ stance is subliminally conveying the
characters fear for the given situation a commonly misunderstood shot in the
thriller genre. The shot creates a more sinister atmosphere as we are able to
see most of the character so we can see what he looks like from this we can
gauge his situation which is clearly desperate.
To summaries I would say
that my research that I have now carried out on cinematography has helped me as
I am now more familiar with the subject of media and its terminology in general
and the knowledge I have gained will be circumstantial in the future when I
eventually get to create my thriller opening as I am now aware of the meaning
and purpose of cinematography within filming. For example different camera
angles are used to convey different effects within any type of media. So now I
know that applying specific camera angles such as a high angle shot, which is a
convention of the thriller genre can help make a character or object seem more
insignificant or vulnerable, which can ultimately increase the tension and
suspense within my thriller film.
