Recipe for a James Bond Thriller

There are recurring parts to a James bond film that can are significant to the films carrying on it's reputation as one of the more daring and eye catching films in the action thriller genre. Many things are knowingly present in each film, some of theses things could be the Aston martin super cars that can be seen from the beginning of the Bond series to now, the memorable Martini that Mr Bond always has in the specific 'Shaken, not stirred' manor.
other things that are vital in the creation in bond films are :

- One dashing and heroic secret agent










- One eccentric villain of equal strength

- Two (or more) Beautiful women

- a verity of exotic locations and plot devices

- a multitude of death defying stunts, eye popping, driven action stemming from moments of absurdity

The clip below is to show the immense amount of action that a bond film has :

Preliminary Task Evaluation

pre production

short brief on what you where asked to do

production

how you achieved what you where asked to do
who did you work with
how did you plan for it
where did you shoot it


Post production

did you work will as a group
who did what
how does the final editing look

Diegetic/ Non Diegetic sound

-The word diegetic refers to the word of the text

-Examples : dialogue, sound effects, music .with source within the text for example radio

- Non-diegetic refers to everything outside the world of the text

-Example : voice over, sound track, captions, titles, subtitles

- On screen sound - the audience can see the source of the sound

- Off screen sound - the audience can't see the the source of the sound

-Off screen sound enables the extension of the diegetic world

Sound : parallel / Contrapuntal
-Parallel sound matches the action
-Contrapuntal sound does not match the action

A Sound bridge helps create a smooth transition from one scene to another

Lighting Exercise

Lighting is a vital and very detailed part of filming there are many different ways of which it could come across in a frame. there are also different forms of lighting that occur many times depending on the genre of the film and also the emotion that the director wants to evoke from the audience.

The Key Light - The key light is the brightest and the most influential light, it is used to highlight the form and dimensions of the object. it is a way in which a silhouette effect can be created. The key light can be hard and focused or soft and subtle depending on the set up and the mood of which the director is aiming for.

Back Light - The Back light helps counteract the effect of the key light or creates an outline or silhouette. this is a very effective way of creating mystery in a scene because the audience is not able to see the features of the character, it is sometimes called the kicker or the rim light because it often gives characters an angelic halo type effect.

The Filler Light - The filler light helps soften the harsh shadows that the use of the key and back lightings create.The filler light crates a brighter and smoother look to a scene, it is very often used to make a film glow in appearance and vivid.

all these forms of lighting are used in a three point set up to create contrast between the background and the centre object but also to produce a three dimensional effect.

Under lighting - This is when the main source of light comes from below the subject. it is used in thrillers and horror films to make the subject look more sinister and powerful. it is effective because the light scatters all over the subject and creates a lot of dark shadows that help to horror .films that more frightening.

Top Lighting - this is the complete opposite of Under lighting because the main .source of light is coming from above, highlighting the features and is used to crate a glamorous look, the subject.

Low Key Lighting - Low key lighting is created by using only the key and back lights. This will produce a sharp contrast of light and dark areas on the screen as very deep, distinct shadows are formed. it tends to portray a sense of alienation which may be why it is mostly used in horror films.

High Key Lighting - There are a lot more filler lights used to make the object more realistic, it may also be used .to suggest a more up beat mood, high key lighting is very luminous and free from harsh shadows, using high key lighting does not need as much adjustment so it can cause shooting times to  contract.

The Shower Scene

The shower scene in the film psycho directed be the legendary director Alfred Hitchcock is a very memorable part of the film and a scene that is still regarded as one of the best scenes in film history.This scene is a great example of the elements that a good horror movie must include. The suspense, Lighting and sound all tie together to make a scene full of tension and excitement.

Psycho

Psycho is an Alfred Hitch cock production released on June 16 1960. This film is one of Hitchcok's finest films and has left a strong impact for generations to follow.This film is a horror film as displays a great deal of suspense and deception. the film is also loosely based on a book published in 1959 by the same name.The main direction of which the film goes in is that there is a young lady by the name of Marion crane whom works as a secretary in phoenix Arizona is given the sum of $40,000 to be kept in the bank account of a customer, due to the circumstance that her  boyfriend is in he decides to take the money and travels to her boyfriend California home but on the way to her destination she has to stop overnight at the Bates motel owned by a young man by the name of Norman Bates who lives with his mother in a house overlooking the motel.A very interesting scene to watch is when Norman bates invites Marion to his parlour and they begin to converse after Normans mother has denied Marion entry into the house...

There is a faint sound for the rain pouring as Marion asks Norman about what he does with his time in such a s.low moving motel business.there seems to be a smooth an calm feeling at this point of the film, the dialogue puts Norman in a particular place in the mind of the viewer, he seems to be a humble and shy person, someone that puts his mother before everything. The type of lighting used is low key lighting, this is very common in films of this Genre. the shadow of himself to the left of the frame makes Norman bates in a focal point of analysis for the audience, a method of unknowingly showing that there is a dark side to him. As the conversation continues there are a lot of cuts back and forth. The dialogue adds some more tension when Norman says '' What are you running away from?''. Marion becomes a little uncomfortable, pauses and stutters replying ''why do you ask that?'', as the dialogue continues about the weather and how Norman things everyone is in there own private trap, where he may be referring to his mother being a burden on him. The scene ends with Marion making reference to the argument that Norman and his mother had regarding her entry to the house. Norman admits that sometimes he wants to rebel with some passion in his actions but latter falls back on his chair and says ''but i know i can't'', with the expression of disappointment in himself

Alfred Hitchcock Techniques

Alfred Hitchcock in order to be one of the best directors of his generation Alfred Hitchcock had to have a few unique methods of directing that set him apart from the rest, these techniques in later years will be implemented in various ways and in countless amounts of productions.The techniques that i will be explaining are the MacGuffin, Red Herring and an Enigma. these interesting touches to the movie that Hitchcock has directed are another indication of the cinematic mastermind that he was.

MacGuffin - The MacGuffin is defined as the element of the plot that catches the attention of the viewer, it can also be used to drive the plot of a work of fiction. the specific nature of the MacGuffin may be ambiguous or generic an example of this may be a quest for money, glory or revenge but later declines in importance as the audience is more interested and in tune with how the character fulfils their purpose, but it later comes back in to play to bring a climax to the film. this technique is mostly used in thrillers. In regards to the film North by North West the MacGuffin in that film is the Microfilm that become significant close to the end of the film.

Red Herring - A Red Herring is another way in which Alfred Hitchcock adds excitement and suspense.To his thriller films, a Red Herring is described as being a clue that purposefully or non purposefully distracting the audience from the actual issue in the film and causes them to be later surprised because of the unpredictability of the film a Red Herring can be show in the form of leading the audience in a particular direction but later finding out that the climax is completely different to what would be normal. In the Thriller movie Psycho directed by Alfred Hitchcock the Red Herring in that film is the audience is lead to believe that  the mother of the character Norman Bates was responsible for the murder of the main female character Marion Crane but it turns out to be Mr Bates himself whom .was responsible f.or the killings.

Enigma - An Enigma is defined as puzzling of mysterious occurrence or situation, The job of the audience is .to solve the puzzle or mystery before the film comes to an end. this is a very effective way of adding more thrill to the film and getting the audience to be more involved and more immersed in the film.

In my concluding post about the Alfred Hitchcock classic North by North west i am going to shed some light on the very clever and attention grabbing end to the movie.

Below is the link to the Video that  me and my group have created to show different shots that could be used to create an effect, enjoy...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmg0bkUyyWQ&feature=plcp

The auction scene in North By North West is the scene of which every thing comes together. Roger Thornhill realises that his love interest in the film is an alliance to 'Mr Townsend.'.This is also one of the more memorable scenes from the Alfred Hitchcock production. As Roger Thornhill enters the venue of the auction, the camera cuts to 'Mr Townsend' having his hand around Eve Kendall's  neck... at this point the camera .Shot changes from close range to long range and then to a pan shot in a very smooth transition  The dialogue in this scene is more important that any thing else. A lot of the tension relies on the conversations and the delivery of the dialogue. the panning camera finally stops at Roger Thornhill at the entrance.as the camera tacks roger Thornhill to the place where 'Mr Townsend' and co are seated he initiates dialogue by saying "The three of you together, now that is the picture only Charles Adams could draw", this is a very subtle way of addressing his disgust and surprise at the people actively trying to kill him.
as the scene progresses Roger Thornhill throws a few witty insults in the direction of Eve Kendall and 'Mr Townsend', for example as Eve Kendall explains that Mr Thornhill followed her to her room. he follows up quickly with the comment "doesn't everyone" which is very insulting to a woman particularly in the time of which this film was made another example of this is when he says to 'Mr Townsend' "I didn't realise you were an art .collector, I just thought you collected corpses". This is a slick remark about the attempts made by 'Mr Townsend' to kill Roger Thornhill. As the auction continues Roger Thornhill continues his slandering of Eve Kendall as she sits still trying to maintain her composure. Immediately after 'Mr Townsend comments about the different roles that Roger Thornhill seems to be playing in regards to his mistaken identity and ends his statement by saying "Seems to me you could stand a little less training from the FBI and a little more from the Actors studio".Roger Thornhill fires back by replying "The only performance that will satisfy you is when I play dead". Then 'Mr Townsend' replies by giving  one of the most classy and witty death threats by saying "Your very next role, You'll be quite convincing i assure you". as the scene progresses Roger Thornhill realises that his only refuge is in the hands of the police so he causes disruption to the point of which the police have to take him into custody to escape his death.

One of the most famous scenes in the well renowned film North by North West ,by the legendary director Alfred Hitchcock, is the crop duster scene. it is an outstanding reminder of the visionary power that Mr Hitchcock possessed. the objective of the crop duster was to kill Roger Thornhill, this was a very innovative and unique way of doing so. The audience will not be expecting the crop duster .to be a method of killing Mr Thornhill.This scene is so effective partly because of the suspense that is created prior to the main part of the scene taking place. the long silence build up tension until the crop duster is in sight. as the sound of the crop duster increases in  volume, there are a series of cuts back and forth between Mr Thornhill and the crop duster... finally the crop duster comes dangerously close to Mr Thornhill till he has no choice but to duck for cover, the camera cuts back and forth continue as the crop duster comes around for a second time. as the crop duster comes around to Mr Thornhill for the third time. there is non diegetic background music that begins to play... this is a way in which the tension increases. As Roger Thornhill runs for protection the crop duster can be seen over his shoulder, the particular camera shot used at this time is the tracking shot. Later in the scene Roger Thornhill finds a vehicle through the crops, which was his hiding place, and runs towards it for safety. as the background music .continues to play, there is an identical form of editing uses as the vehicle moves closer and closer to Mr Thornhill. the back and forth cuts between them add .to the excitement of the screen and makes the audience ask questions about what .will happen, until at what seems .to be the last second Roger Thornhill lays on his back as the vehicle harmlessly comes to a halt on top of him. soon after the scene takes a turn for the worst as the crop duster crashes into the rare of the vehicle and subsequently bursts into flames.The well known crop duster scene in North by North West is praised so highly  as the perfect combination of suspense,  special effects and cinematography.