Planning Cinematography - Miss Miller

Planning Cinematography

Cinematography is important within films because different cinematography techniques create different atmospheres which then leads to creating different impacts on the audience depending on what the genre of the film is. This is key because the impact on the audience has to match the genre that is being used in order for the film to be successful. Planning is required in order to create an excellent film because it will enable the film to flow more easily. Each individual clip will have different techniques being used containing different objects/people in the frame so it is vital that the clips flow easily so that the audience do not get confused. Furthermore, different shots, angles and positions will create different moods and feelings towards the audience and film and the success of the planning will determine the flow of the sequence as the audience will have to have a clear understanding of the film in order for it to be successful. 

Low Angle


The first cinematography technique we intend to use is the 'Low Angle' technique. Low angle is when the camera is positioned below the object, making it look better. We would like to include this technique when Bettie has finished killing Kane and walks away, we see her footsteps crunching on the leaves as she walks away. We have chosen this so that the audience can see how over-powering Bettie is and to represent her dominance over all the remaining characters. By this we hope to portray the vulnerability's of the other characters and this technique will show how over powering and dangerous she is in comparison to other characters so that this will all show how dominant she is. This is conventional to a thriller genre because as the angle that the camera is adjusted to, creates tension because they feel intimidated by the overpowering characters which is where the tension is created towards the audience which is a key element towards the thriller genre. they will help build relationships between the characters and the audience better because the audience would have a better understanding of the characters which then enables the audience to understands the characters views and create a stronger bond between the two sets of people. From this audience will be able to identify the contrast in roles and would naturally be cautious of Bettie as they are spectating her dominance.



Zooming In

The second cinematography technique to be used is the 'zooming in' technique. Zooming in is when the camera moves in to an object to create importance and draw the audience in to a closer relationship with the object. This will be shown where the sequence reveals Bettie's face after she turns around and the camera starts zooming into her face, particularly into her mouth which is where all the blood around her mouth would be. We have chosen this technique at this particular moment so that the blood round Bettie's face can be emphasized and to represents the power that she holds and display how dangerous she is. Furthermore the audience will then understand that she is the antagonist in the sequence. We hope that this technique will help portray a clear display the inferiority of the victim. This technique is conventional to the thriller genre because as the camera zooms in, the level of tension is gradually building up. The amount of tension there is, is dependent on how fast the zooming in is e.g slow zoom creates more tension. Furthermore while this technique is taking place the level of suspense is also rising because it's creating a more mysterious aura and feeling. This technique will help the audience build a relationship with the characters better as now they would be more knowledgeable and educated of the scenario and the contrast between the characters by becoming more understanding who is the antagonist and who is the protagonist. In addition, they will be more aware that Bettie is a threat to the remaining characters and the audience would start to feeling weary and sympathetic for the remaining and vulnerable potential victims.


High Angle 

The third cinematography technique that we would like to include within our sequence is the 'High Angle'. High angle is when the camera is positioned above the object, making it look smaller. We find that this technique would be efficient to include at the start of the sequence when all of the characters are talking between themselves and are walking through the forest. We find that this is a reasonable section to include this technique as from here because it will display the camera looking down on the characters and making them look small which will define their vulnerability and make them look like they are in a dangerous situation. We hope that this will portray that the characters are in a dangerous and vulnerable position. Furthermore because the camera will be looking down on them, it will give the idea that they are being watched be an evil omen and in a threatening position. This is conventional to a thriller as it builds up the tension because we now know that they are in a difficult position so the tension starts to build up as we do not know what's going to happen. Moreover, the level of suspense will rise as the audience are not aware of what is going to happen so while they are sitting eagerly awaiting for the danger to be revealed the suspense levels rise. This technique will help the audience build a better relationship with the characters as the audience will be more fearful of the events that are going to happen to the characters so they start to feel paranoid an sympathetic towards them as the audience don't know what is going to happen to them but they know that they are in danger making them vulnerable.


Close Up

The fourth technique that we would like to include within our sequence is the 'Close Up'. Close up is when the camera shows a smaller part of the sense to emphasise on something. We plan to use this technique after Bettie's face is revealed when the other characters discovers that she is an antagonist, and the camera would be on the remaining characters. The reason we would like to use this technique on the remaining characters is because the majority of the attention is on Bettie and Kane and we do not want the audience to forget about the remaining characters and their vulnerability. Furthermore, we want to display a focus on the remaining characters for a short time to emphasise the expression of fear in their faces so that the audience can see how frightened they are and show that they are now aware of Bettie's behavior. We hope to portray the terror and panic that the remaining characters are feeling by the close up of their facial expressions. This is conventional to a thriller as it builds up the tension as we are not aware of how the remaining characters are going to react and whether they will escape her or not. Furthermore, it will build a small surprise/shock as maybe the audience was not expecting the characters to be aware of Bettie's abnormal behavior and just thought that she would target one person and then leave the rest alone but instead she carries on while the remaining characters are aware of the scenario. This help build a better relationship between the audience and the characters as the audience can now see in a close up view of how scared and terrified the characters are so naturally the audience feel paranoid and sympathetic as they do not know what to expect.


Eye Level

The fifth technique that we intend to use within our sequence is the 'Eye Level'. The eye level technique is when the camera is positioned at eye level with the audience. We plan to use this technique towards the start of the sequence when the group is talking among themselves. The reason this technique is to be used here is so that it would feel as if the audience are in their positions and so that audience can have a general idea of what each characters personality is like. The characters would only be having a casual conversation so it would give the audience a rough glimpse of their personalities so that they can start to build relationships with each character. We hope that this will portray the basic personalities and representations of each individual. This is conventional to a thriller genre as it will build up the suspense as the audience would feel more cautious as they are waiting for the unexpected to happen as this is based on a thriller genre, and if the characters are acting normal then the audience feel more paranoid and peculiar as this is strange behavior so the suspense builds up. This will give a better relationship between the characters and audience as the audience would be more aware of the scenario and what each character is like so the audience would straight away start judging them based on each representation. Furthermore, it would make it easier for the audience to build the relationship as because it is eye level it makes the audience feel like there in the characters shoes so they would feel more involved in the sequence,


Panning

The last technique we intend to use within our sequence is 'Panning'. Panning is when the camera moves from side to side to follow a moving object. We are planning to use this technique when a stick has been thrown for the dog and the camera moves at the rate that the dog is running at. While the camera is following the dog, we will be able to see the setting as well within the frame. We have chosen this technique to use at this point so that the audience can acknowledge the dogs behavior and also spectate the setting aswell. The setting would be an isolated forest so this will cause a lot of fear within the general atmosphere and also make the audience more aware of the location of where this is all taking place.This technique is conventional to a thriller genre as the setting would be isolated so the audience would be more aware that if anything dangerous was to happen to any of the characters then there would be no one to help them so this creates a lot of tension. Furthermore, this will create a suspense as the lonely location would have no surroundings so the general atmosphere would be quiet and lonely making the audience cautious of what is to happen. This would help create a better relationship between the audiences and characters as the audience would feel more paranoid and sympathetic towards the characters as their natural instincts would be notifying them that something bad is eventually going to happen to them so would make the audience more aware of the situation and especially the location of where this is all taking place.


As a result, I believe using these cinematography techniques would have a bigger impact as various emotions and reactions would be created throughout so it wouldn't just be one general mood throughout otherwise it wouldn't be as interesting to watch whereas if there is a variation then the audience would be more captured into the sequence. For example when Bettie's face is shown there may be possible anger within the audience whereas when we see the fear on their potential victims who are the remaining characters the audience would feel sympathetic and not as angry. This would help build effective relationship between the audience and each individual character. All the cinematography techniques are conventional in relations to a thriller genre as the key elements are always being created by each technique which is vital so that the sequence would fit into the thriller category and have the impact that any thriller should have on the audience e.g tension, surprise, suspense, shock. Moreover, the cinematography techniques would be combined with other techniques to make the sequence more effective an have a bigger impact on the audience e.g sound, editing.I have found the planning helpful in preparation for the filming as it gave me the chance to sit down with my group and discuss all the potential ideas. Although we all had different ideas, we had the ability to combine all of our ideas together to create a better impact on the audience. If either of us had any slightly weaker ideas, because we was sitting as a group we was able to help one another and turn turn the weaker ideas into a more stronger, effective idea. Furthermore, it makes it easier for us when it comes to filming as we know exactly when and where we are going to use this techniques so that the sequence will flow easily.