Shot Reverse Shot

What is shot reverse shot?

Shot reverse shot is a filming technique where one character is shown looking at another character (often off-screen) and then the other character is shown looking back at the first character. Because the characters were shown facing different directions, the audience/viewer assumes that they were looking at each other. It is a feature of a classical 'Hollywood' style editing which concentrates on shots which the eye of the spectator perseveres one continuous action. 

This picture is a perfect example of Shot reverse shot. It shows two men having a conversation of which the camera turns to face them when they are talking.

Blizzard Production - logo possible idea

Idea for logo

 

This is an idea that I came up with for our logo, its not what the final one will look like but its a good idea of what we could include in the finished piece.

Shot Reverse Shot

Shot Reverse Shot

Shot reverse shot is where the camera is looking at one character talking usually a close or a medium shot showing some sort of body expression or if a emotional scene it would be a close up shot showing there face and there expressions.

The camera may then jump to another character talking which it then looks like they are talking to each other when they are not it is two completely different times of filming. This creates a good effect as it tricks the viewer and looks like there is a conversation going on between people. 

Character Types

Character Types

Within Thrillers and Micro-Elements used in their Portrayal

Handsome Hero-Commonly masculine Usually has a large significant involvement in the movie or the movie is completely based around him, for example Batman. They usually only have one weakness like Achilles who could only be killed if shot in the heel, in the film Troy. The weakness is usually exposed during the film for the audience to see.
 The hero never saves the day empty handed he is usually equipped with some sort of a weapon, martial-art or power. Which he will use to defeat the enemy/ bad guy. the camera usually shows the whole of his body to show how physically fit he is, so the audience can judge whether he is a stereo typical hero or if hes out of the ordinary.
 Mise-en-scene is used to show his initiative or to make him stand out for example a costume is sometimes used to make him stand out from ordinary people. This makes us focus on the main charter instead of getting side-tracked.

Themes and symbols used in a thriller film

Themes and symbols used in a thriller film 

Thriller films include different themes and symbols for example voyeurism is used in thriller film; this is when someone gets interest out of spying on people with intimate behaviors such as the removal of clothing, sexual activity, and other things that would be described as a 'private nature'. Voyeurism of a character makes them seem cowardly as they are unable to involve themselves in a real relationship but feel they have to watch over them, this gives them some sort of happiness as well as distancing themselves from actually speaking/communicating with an individual.

Shutter Island - My research

My Thriller

When i watch a Thriller i like to look for a strong opening to drag me into the film and make me want to watch more. I like to have the bad guy appear first to show us how evil he is and to set what is going to happen. I do like to have opening credits as a film would usually have the theme music and also what is happening in the background can be relevant with the film. 

In a Thriller film i like to have a strong plot which leads up to that making more tension and suspense. The stronger the actors in the film the more i feel i want to watch it and also actors i am a fan of helps.  A thriller has to have some sort of death to someone or some sort of twist to it to make me want to say i enjoyed it. Shutter Island was one of my favorite films as it ticked all those boxes and also as it left us on a cliff hanger where you had to make your mind up in the end.

Usually i look for strong music which fits with the film and also something that gets stuck in my head. The music in Shutter Island was powerful and made the film even better.

Editing in seven

Editing in Seven

Technique	Example	Effect
Credits	The font seemed scribbled and jumpy.	This caused a Psycho effect and also creates tension as we have a picture of someone being a sort of psycho. It could also refer to real life crimes, such as the 'Zodiac Killer',' His writing also resembles the credits.
Compressed time	When the detective cuts from his work to his house.	This shows that he is leads a busy lifestyle and shows that the film is fast paced.
Match cut	When we see him take his glasses off and cuts to him putting them on the table.	Shows that he is a slow and calm sort of man
Quick cutting.	Credits sequence.	A jumpy sort of effect jumping between different parts of the credits.

Audience Research

Audience Research

I have asked 2 people questions about thrillers. I decided to go for a 16 year old boy (George James) and also a 45 year old woman (Mrs Pitts). I chose these people as I have an age gap between them and also to get a view from each gender. Both of my people would have different views as they are from different backgrounds and also the as gap is significant between each of them.

Mrs Pitts.

My favourite thriller film would have to be Shutter Island as it has a great opening and as the film goes on you get drawn into the plot and the mystery. I am a fan of Leonardo Dicaprio so this film immediately appealed to me.  The opening few minutes were good as it very much set the scene and it gave a clear understanding where they were and who each of the characters were.  By the end of the film I had a different look on the film as it leaves it up to you to decide who he really is.

I would recommend this as a thriller as it has spooky and mystery to it making it a good thriller. Also the music is very much depressing and that it fits very well with where they are.

George James

I have chosen The Town as my thriller film. I would say that it has a strong plot and that some particular actors are good. Such as Ben Affleck who is the main character plays his role very good and makes the film a Thriller. The Suspense grows through this film as it leads up with a dramatic ending which is good.   

Amber Ireland

My favourite Thriller was Shutter Island. I prefer crime thrillers. In shutter Island i really liked the plot and a really creepy sort of suspense. I also liked the twist at the end of the film which made me think what is going to happen next.  I was disappointed that it didn’t have opening credits introducing the film or that it had opening theme music.

Jack Craig

I like basic instinct. It is an erotic thriller which contains a lot of scenes of sexual content. I hate opening credits and I also hate theme tunes. They take up to much time of the film and i can’t really get into the thriller.

Mood Board

How are camera, editing, mise-en-scene and sound used in the opening of the film seven?

How is camera, editing, mise-en-scene and sound used in the opening of the film seven?

In the opening to the film Seven, mise-en-scene is used to create an atmosphere of tension and uncertainty. For example in the flat in which the murder takes place the lighting is extremely low-key and the set the is bashed up, unclean and in poor condition. This is done too portray that the people living here might have been of lower social status and that their living conditions were unsatisfactory. Another point is that the main detective (played by Morgan Freeman) is dressed in a very messy manner in the very beginning of the scene, he then changes into his work clothes which is an old-fashioned typical New York detective outfit whereas the other detective has more of a modern costume that is a leather biking jacket, this being a lot more up-to-date and fashionable for people of his age. We can also see in the opening of the film the props that are used in the ending of the five minutes, this being scissors, a diary or scrap book, and photographs all being put together and constructed to create something that looks like people that may or may have not been murdered. 

    

For sound there are also many different things that we are able to identify for example there is a lot of diagetic sound used, e.g when he turns on the tap and his footsteps, which is also a parallel sound this makes us feel the suspense. Some other forms of diagetic used in the opening sequence such as speech and sound effects (SFX). Sound effects that are used are: police Siren, Megaphone and metronome. Non diagetic sound is also used such as music. Thrillers are usually recognizable through their theme tunes.The film Seven had a distinctive theme tune, which suggested the film is a physiological-crime thriller due to its intense and creepy tune. The metronome suggest that the main character, has OCD, because he has to have everything perfect before he goes to bed and a constant beat . When the main character started the metronome,  the sound at the background of police sirens , people arguing and dog barking starts to sound louder , this could suggest that the the noise of violence helps him to go sleep. 

The opening to Seven we have a lot of editing. A great deal of ewditing was when we had the opening credits. The credits are very jumps and we have a lot of cutting of different shots of there hand. This is significant as these jumps show us what he is doing from many different angles. The credits are very jumpy and look like someone has scribblded and looks very much that someone has scratched it in. We have amatch cut of the detctive in bed and he takes his glasses off  and puts them on the side we have to shots of him doing this and it shows that he is very much a calm and slow man.

How is mise-en-scene shown in the film Seven?

 How is mise-en-scene shown in the film Seven?

 

In the opening to the film Seven, mise-en-scene is used to create an atmosphere of tension and uncertainty. For example in the flat in which the murder takes place the lighting is extremely low-key and the set the is bashed up, unclean and in poor condition. This is done too portray that the people living here might have been of lower social status and that their living conditions were unsatisfactory. Another point is that the main detective (played by Morgan Freeman) is dressed in a very messy manner in the very beginning of the scene, he then changes into his work clothes which is an old-fashioned typical New York detective outfit whereas the other detective has more of a modern costume that is a leather biking jacket, this being a lot more up-to-date and fashionable for people of his age. We can also see in the opening of the film the props that are used in the ending of the five minutes, this being scissors, a diary or scrap book, and photographs all being put together and constructed to create something that looks like people that may or may have not been murdered

Silence of the lambs.

Silence of the Lambs

Silence of the lambs has a opening which is very mysterious. We start off seeing the opening credits and also some slow low key music going with it. This is creating tension for the opening when you don't know what is going to happen. When we cut to the first scene we see a very mystery,spooky sort of place. This helps us to understand that they are out in the country and that no one seems to be around. The opening credits continue to role over this and so does the non-diagetic music. 

When the first person appears on set we see that she seems to be moving at a fast pace giving you the impression that she may be running away. The camera angle is a far shot showing her and the scene that she is in. when we see her run past we see that she is worn out and that she may have been running for some time. 

As it cuts through the forest showing her running the camera has some tracking shots showing that she is running along. The clothes she is wearing is very much basic track's showing that she is very basic and giving you the impression that she may be from some where. 

When we see that she comes up to an obstetrical we immediately  think that she is not being chased any more and that she is doing a special course. As wee see her climb up and jump down you get the impression that she is quite fit and knows what she is doing. 

When a man calls her name we see that she is not alone and that she must be close/ part of some where. The man who stops her has a police hat on showing that he must be part of the police or a high power in the police force.

When we hear her speak she has very much a low voice showing that she may have manly aspects to her, when she runs inside we see how she greets everyone and that she must be part of that as she looks like she knows where she is going. When she reaches where she is we hear people talking and having a sort of fear in there voice. They both have suits and the way they look they seem to be high class of the police force. In the opening we see great dill of suspense of what is going on making you want to know what is going to happen. 

When the woman is inside the office she is meant to be in we see how she has a look around as if she has not been in here before. she has a look at the wall trying to see what is going on the audience see how the police are looking at a case and we see how it then links to the inspector who comes in. 

The Inspector seems to have a higher class to him as he speaks more formally and there are aspects of speaking lessons he has had. The Inspector very much gives a bio of the woman in the office to the audience as he says how clever she is and how well she has been doing. This is significant as we see how clever she may be and only moments before how she was running around a assault course.