RM - Alien (Theatrical Release) Deconstruction

Title: Alien
Director: Ridley Scott
Release Date: 1979
Budget: $11,000,000 (estimated)
Takings:  $60,150,933 (USA)

20^th Century Fox

Lucas Films THX

Subtitles are over a space background, panning shot establishing the location of the movie. Text is in white. Eerie music being played. Blue blocks appear one by one as the shot pans passed a planet. Each block turns white as time progresses. These blocks spell out the title of the film – Alien, unusual way of picturing the film’s title.

Fade out and in of shots used to change the location of the film, although still in space but now focusing on a spaceship. Music increasing in volume. Text appears on screen gives anchorage of the name of the spaceship, crew, cargo and course. Music is still in the background but overlaid by the sound of engines. Shot has changed to a close-up of the spaceship but from underneath.

Jump cut to inside, with several shots panning around corridors – setting the location signifying where the aliens can hide and move. Music has started again adds tension. All the rooms are empty although there are boxes and papers shaking. Leading to a false scare? Not much shot variation yet, the majority are establishing shots all of which pan.



Shot to shot used between a helmet and a computer screen, music has stopped again but has been replaced by a buzzing. Computer screen suddenly turns on, audience jumps. Again lack of shot variation as only four shots are used. Screen suddenly goes black and is lightened up again quickly by lights turning on.


Tracking shot into the crew’s bedroom all in their own beds, similar style to the ones which appear in Avatar, however music is increasing in tempo adds tension. Something going to happen? Lights turn on and top of the beds open. Music turns from being eerie to calm and relaxing.


Group shots used and fade ins and outs used to change the focus and signify time has passed. Shows them having fun and eating during this sequence a range of shots are used to show the crew and let the audience familiar themselves with them.

Scene end - 8:53

Imdb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078748/

Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_(film)

RM - Super 8 Deconstruction

Theatrical release poster

Title: Super 8
Director: J. J. Abrams
Release Date:  2011
Budget: $50,000,000
Takings:  $127,004,179 (USA)

                  

Paramount
Amblin Entertainment
Bad Robot


 

Ttle screen

Eerie music starts as the producer and distribution idents start. Non-diegetic noise – sounds like an old cinema projector and type – title of film also appears on the same screen similar to how it would be projected. – Makes a ticking noise and light goes – out of film? Eerie noise still remains.

Establishing shot of a busy warehouse – days since last accident: 784 significance – signifies an accident is about to take place or has? (Pictured to the left) Person is lifted into frame as the shot pans from a long shot to a close-up as this happens the person removes all the numbers from the billboard – replaced by the number 1 (Pictured to the right).  Significance – will there be a flashback to reveal what has happened. Music changed from eerie to sad.

A secondary establishing shot

An example of a close-up

Jump cut to another establishing shot this time of a small housing estate focusing on one house. A police car is parked on the drive – signifies something has happened – relation to the safety sign? Person on the right on his own on the swings – someone related to what has happened? Cuts to the person of the swings (close-up medium angle) holding a necklace – further anchorage something has happened also the person is in full black clothes signifies funeral? Shot pans up to reveal his face non-diegetic talking starts about the boy on the swing – jump cut to where the talking is taking place which is inside a house, the shot is a group shot two of them are in focus signifies mum and dad or guardians? Mood in the house is depressed everyone wherein black clothes – funeral aspect again – is anchored by characters talking about a girl dying. Focus changes from the parents to four of his friends all thinking about them binary opposite to guardians (?) who are worried about their son. One talks about creating a film – signifies what is to come?

Both of these shots are group shot but contain binary oppositions.

Woman dead is in fact the boy’s mother anchored through dialect. Jump cut back outside to another binary opposite between the depressed boy who is interested in what the man is doing and the adult male who ignores the boy. Followed by an argument – the focus is still on the depressed boy. Several panning shots and shot-reaction-shot of the boy and the fight which has just broken out outside as the male who just entered is being forced outside. Forced into a police car – relation to the victim – followed by “Joseph I’ll be home soon” – further signifies?

An example of a close-up, low angle shot.

A panning shot which pans behind
the protagonist

Cuts to another panning shot behind the boy followed by a low angle close-up of the boy – normally signifies power however this time used to give the opposite effect. Closes the necklace in his hand screen goes black noise echoes out. Anchorage of time passed through text reading “Four Months Later”.

Anchorage that time has past.

A third establishing shot used

Anchorage of the time of year

Music starts completely different to the two previous types of music at the start. Establishing shot of a school then screams of joy are heard. Time set in a binary opposite of the last scene – summer vs. winter. Panning shot with a sign saying “Have a Great Summer” is further anchorage. Shot jumps back to the boy now at school meeting his friend – talking about a new scene for a movie – reference to what the same boy said in the previous scene – continue to do so.

Intertexual reference -
Halloween poster

More intertextual references -
a poster from the "of the dead" series

Jump cut to someone being attacked by a zombie – the same noise as was in the titles – film being projected onto a screen. Film looks like it’s a low or zero budget film – camera pans to reveal the main protagonist in shot. Shot changes to a two-shot – Intertextual reference to Halloween and a film which is part of “of the dead” franchise through posters. Binary opposite between how the director of the movie talks to his parents and his friend.

An over the shoulder, two shot which
includes the male gaze theory.

Panning shot of his family in the dining room – focus is on the blond – male gaze theory comes into play also blonde signifies scream queen? A lot of skin can be seen on the girl further signifies scream queen. All shots in this sequence pan. Shot-reaction-shot between the protagonist’s friend’s mum and the protagonist himself followed by another one but this time instead the protagonist’s friend’s dad instead of mum. Both offering him a place to stay – signifies what could happen? 

Scene finished: 6:45


Imdb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1650062/
Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_8_(film)

RM - All The Boys Love Mandy Lane

Theatrical release poster

Title: All The Boys Love Mandy Lane
Director: Jonathan Levine
Year Released: 2006
Budget: $750,000

The opening credits feature a red background this signifies blood, with the title there is blade slash and a girl screams hint at what is to come? Also a typical convention for a horror film, the blood which has appeared on the screen from the blade slash makes it way down the screen. The shot pans down to a school which appears to be a normal school day.


A song is being played the song could hint at what is to come later on in the film? Mandy Lane then appears in fact of the audience, stereotypical blonde signifier of scream queen. She looks at outsider or new, as she walks through the corridors everyone reacts to her. This is until a friend starts talking to her


During this sequence a range of shots have been used including: establishing shots, close ups, medium shots and long shots.


When outside the school there is a stereotypical teenager who is being cured and offensive, hints at what is to come as this type of person normally dies as well as the scream queen.


The shot scrolls up to establish next scene this is a pool party anchoring the location is America. The event is a stereotypical setting for a pool party, nothing out of the ordinary, normal swimming pool/party clothes. The same music which featured at the start of the film starts again, again hint at what is to come?


Again wide variations of shots are used to focus on people enjoying themselves. The shot takes are short and quickly edited between each other.


The person who was being offensive in the last scenario is still being offensive, her friend water pistols him which turns into a fight, this is used to build up the tension. Another possible hint that something going to happen with these two in the future? Fight shows that is the strong out of the two. Both want the same prize Mandy Lane. Also a use of binary opposites is used: Brain vs. Brawn.


Time of day has changed to night hints that something going to happen? Mandy’s best friend is sitting on the roof, either shows power or he is a loner probably the latter. The guy he previously had a fight with comes to sit with him. Both talks about Mandy (clearly the prize in this film) start to argue about her. The best friend, who so far the audience reacts with sympathy, tricks his rival to jump off the edge to impress Mandy- jealousy? However the guy slips as a result of being drunk - outcome revealed before it happens? Has attracted tension people's attention and are worried although he is still drinking. When he jumps of the shot is similar to that of a point of view however it stops short letting the guy disappear out of shot. The party atmosphere has been replaced by that of screaming - makes the audience tense and want to know what has happened. As the guy enters the pool blood with blood surrounding him - audience is shocked.

Brains have beaten brawn. The same music, which has already appeared twice in the film already, has started again.

IMDB Page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0490076/
Wikipedia Page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandy_Lane

RM - An American Werewolf In London Deconstruction

Name: An American Werewolf In London
Director: John Landis
Year Released: 1981
Budget: $10,000,000
Takings: $20,445,527 (USA)

Universal
PolyGram Pictures
A Lycanthrope Films Limited Production

For Jim O’Rourke black screen with white text – binary opposite.
Fades in to a establishing shot 0:30
Non-diegetic music starts at 0:36 – producer credits fade in to the bottom central.

Shot fades out whilst another shot shots in – still showing the scene.
Shot of moor plus calm music with white text of the film title binary opposite as werewolf isn’t the previous mentioned.
Song has the lyrics blue moon signifies/anchors what is to come.
Several establishing shots whilst credits of cast/crew fade in and out.
All establishing shots are calm and peaceful reflects the song which is being played although very rural and no help if there is trouble,  common convention of horror films.

2:20 shot of road and at 2:29 first sighting of object with headlights – shot stays the same until the vehicle reaches the camera’s foreground, music fades down and replaced with vehicle’s engine, camera pans to follow the vehicle stopping at a junction. Slightly shaky camera work, point of view (PoV)/realism. (End of first scene and no shots of people i.e. no close-ups etc. – 3:00)
Match on Action as farmer opens the back of the pick-up truck to reveal protagonists surrounded by sheep.

Medium close-ups of both the two protagonists. Followed by a two shot of the pair exiting the vehicle which turns into a group shot as the farmer enters the shot as all three close the back door(?)

Again match on action to a side shot of all three members shown, medium shot, medium angle, panning involved + tracking also used but used to move backwards to allow the three cast members to access the side of the pick-up truck. Farmer wearing stereotypical clothing compared to the binary opposites of the two protagonists whom wear big waterproof jackets and jeans whilst carrying massive rucksacks.


Suddenly dialect at 3:36 anchoring the location the two protagonists are wanting to go. Farmer exists the shot (same as the one previously mentioned). This is part of a Shot-reaction-shot between the two protagonists and farmer. Issues warning to stick to the roads and not to go on the moors – Signifies what to come? Humour added “You have lovely sheep” and “Bye girls”. Binary opposite to black humour which could come in later. Long takes used although a wide variation of shots used. Further use of tracking (again backwards plus shaky camera work, adds to the realism) Pans in front of the two protagonists – shot ends with a binary opposite to the jokes about the sheep with the same person saying “Those sheep shit on my pack” fade out + fade in to the opening shot again. Protagonists enter shot camera tracks, appears that the two protagonists have listened to the farmer + wind – tension building? Two protagonists talking about one of his girlfriends in a sexual manner and her body. Changes to a shot behind the pair looking where they are going extreme long shot with characters in the mid-foreground, camera suddenly stops behind the pair. Pair walk out of along the road and out of shot; shot fades out with the pair telling “Knock Knock” jokes 5:38

RM - Frankenstein Deconstruction

Name: Frankenstein
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Year Released: 1994
Budget: $45,000,000
Takings: $22,006,296 (USA)
                £5,723,059 (UK)


Columbia Tristar Home Video
Tristar Pictures

Title screen

Film starts with a black screen and subtitles, something white in the middle of the screen getting closer. Audience finds out its the title of the film Mary Shelley’s come closer slowly binary opposite to Frankenstein which appears quickly in multiple layers. Also music suddenly rises, false scare already after narrative hints at it with “quick the readers beating heart”





Text appears on screen in the style as it would a book, pictured to the left. Thus giving the audience valuable information about what has happened up to where the film begins. Text ends at 1:35.

Establishing shot also includes
anchorage of location and year.

Crash of lightening which also appears on screen signifies the first shot. Location and year have been anchored (Arctic Sea 1794). Establishing shot of sailing boat travelling through a storm, the shot pans around the boat whilst there are crashes of thunder and lightning,immediately builds upon the tension of the film. Audience already thinks something is going to happen. Cuts to a long shot panning upwards whilst focusing on a man trying to see what course they are taking whilst being drenched with water. Water covers the screen this is used to cut to another shot of someone being through of some ropes. Wide variation of shots and angles from the start. Short takes also thrown into the mix (i.e. barrels being thrown over). Panning used frequently as well.

Another example of an establishing
shot.

Zooming into the captain whom is steering the ship starts of blurry but focuses more whilst getting closer – similar to a point of view and face being covered with water. Cuts to the sailing get ripped anchors one of sailor’s points. Cuts back to a group shot of captain and crew members. Throughout the sequence there are cuts to crew members in distress and captain struggling to maintain the ships bearings. Mad panic in shots – used by medium shots is juxtaposed by a very extreme long shot showing the audience the nature of the storm.

An example of a two shot.

Another example of a two shot used.

Cuts back to a medium long shot which is part of a reaction-shot-reaction (shot-reaction-shot) of an iceberg approaching the ship. Music immediately starts and builds up in sound and suspense. Shot zooms in to show crew/captains expression followed by a cut to the person maintaining the ships course. Followed by an over the shoulder type of shot taken from behind the iceberg. Quick takes and a wide variation of shot co-inside with the non-diegetic music. Several shot types are repeated and some in the same positions as before. Another over the shoulder type shot used anchors the ship has hit the iceberg. Match on action to further signify the ship has hit the iceberg, music quickens and loud ends. More panning shots and quick takes with a wide shot variation are used to signify and anchor the panic the crew are in. Music is still increasing to anchor this panic and what the audience is seeing on screen. Shot-reaction-shot again used to show the panic of the crew member struggling for his life whilst in the icy sea contrasted to the captain trying to maintain his calmness. (Second shot in this is a group shot but focuses on two people) Cuts back to this shot to focus on their reaction. Medium shots medium angle used whereas the shot of the single person is a medium shot but high angle – signifies weakness and a victim.

A close-up which is part of
a shot-reverse-shot

Another close-up which is part of
a shot-reverse-shot

Cuts back to a long shot of the ship being battered by the sea and shot fades music fades and replaced by a calmer music as a new shot (very extreme establishing shot) anchors the new location of the crew. Tracking shot of men chopping wood close-up used diegetic noise coming from the axes hitting wood. Pans out from a close-up to a long shot. Cuts to a single shot which becomes a two shot of binary opposites. One man is old, calm, white haired, and dressed in white whilst the other man is young, annoyed, brown hair and dressed in brown. Panning shot focusing more of the person of the right signifies power and most likely to be the captain – normally its person of the left who’s in power - countertype. Word “Mutiny” makes the camera zoom in and the person on the right gets more annoyed and music builds, tension builds again. However calm re-action also anchored by the music which becomes calmer again. Same shot as previously but has become a group shot. Shot still panning/tracking depending on the captain’s movement. Cut to a close-up of the captain turning around. Cut to the crew member he is talking to – doesn’t break 180 degree rule.

Another example of a two shot
which pictures two members of
the crew

Part of a shot-reaction-shot
also a false scare.

Howl is also a part of this signifies something out there in the arctic, builds tension. Shot changes to what it was previously to show the reaction of the captain and crew members face followed by a point of view looking out into the wilderness, nothing apart from white fog can be seen. Dogs start to bark/whimper. Something comes into glimpse briefly. Shot of several dogs’ reaction builds upon tension followed by crew member’s reactions. Music has started, builds the tension further more. Point of view used followed to a group shot of the captains and crew member’s reaction this time in the opposite way as shown before. Music builds further more and camera zooms into captain’s face. Builds tension even more. Followed again by another Point of View looking out into the wilderness, something moving, shot goes back to what it was (before zooming in) this time it is now a group shot as crew members have taken an interest into what is happening. Followed by another point of view this time creature is dead central in the shot and getting closer. Medium angles are used throughout the sequence. Music builds even more. Close-up and two shot of crew members scared one is about to shoot. Followed by close-up of more captains’ expressions. Separated by shots of the being getting closer.

False scare revealed as the being takes off his hood, pictured to the left, and reveals he is a man, pictured to the right. Shot zooms in whilst this is happening to build the tension. Shot-reaction-shot between this man and captain. Followed by shots of crew members still looking nervous. Again medium angles are used. Same three shots are used between the man, captain and crew in quick succession, then shots reverse. Another non-diegetic moan. Shots quicken, close-up of dogs leads breaking followed by panning of them running away.

Shot taken from the actual scare

Point of view of dogs running into distance. Followed by quick shots of them attacking and being killed by an unknown creature – narrative enigma – hear non-diegetic growling and whimpering. Followed by a reaction shot and point of view. Repeated again but focusing on a different crew member. Noises of whimpering and growling continue. Loud howl and quite whimpering end the point of view shot and link to another repeated shot of the reaction. Music increases as panic sets in again with the crew members. Long shot of the ship is interrupted by a blooded hand appearing in the foreground. Adds to the tension which has already been brought up by the dogs being killed, panic amongst the crew and music. Music ends abruptly. Followed by a group shot of crew still in panic.

Final shot of the scare

Music died down but builds up as the crew become more panicked. Juxtaposed with a two shot of inside a cabin where it appears calm, pictured to the left, compared to outside. Music still going on and builds tension. Shot-reaction-shot reaction the captain and the male from the false scare second shot more close-up. Another grown interrupts this shot which is followed by a group shot of the panicked crew members. Followed by a close-up of the captain. Panning shot used to zoom into the fog although there’s heavy breathing signifies point of view. Followed by a two shot of inside the cabin which is now in panic. Over-the-shoulder shots used to show each of the pairs face. Again doesn’t break the 180 degree rule. Shot changes between the two although more emphasis is on the captain – signifies power. Music builds until the man who was part of the false scare anchors himself to be Victor Frankenstein – and anchors being outside, music dies down as the shot fades into another one for the next scene set in 1773, Geneva.

Opening scene length: 7:22

Imdb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109836/
Wikipedia Page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenstein_(1994_film)