MORE research

 Monday, February 26th, 2024

Extra Research

Honestly, all this research feels overbearing. I just want to get to the point of filming, though, I did come upon a film that relates similarly to my approach and gave me other unique ideas that I can tweak and incorporate into my own. 

The film, "The Girl Who Escaped," directed by Simone Stock, follows a storyline about a 15 year old girl, Kara Robinson, who was suddenly approached by a man in her friends front-yard, who puts a gun to her neck and forces her into his car. In order to set up the real storyline of what will be happening throughout the remainder of the film, which will pique the interest of both drama and mystery enthusiasts, I want to use this feeling of normality before a drastic shift in the events of the story. I thought that by keeping things mysterious, viewers will be enticed to stick around to see how things roll out in the end. I also love the idea of having the protagonist as a young, vulnerable, teenage girl, since my representation leans towards the thriller element of the genre we chose and produce a tension that keeps the attention on the female protagonists, who are crucial to see in films since they aren't yet well-liked enough in Hollywood to feature on their own. 

This website goes more into depth about the overall storyline of the film: 

Serrano, V. a. P. B. P. (2023, May 18). The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story (2023 lifetime). Lifetime Uncorked. https://lifetimeuncorked.com/2023/02/10/the-girl-who-escaped-the-kara-robinson-story-2023-lifetime/

I then researched the importance of Mis-En Scene-Elements in my specific genre, and came upon several examples and representations which portrayed this very well. 

1) Lighting & Color: Lighting and color play crucial roles in setting the tone and atmosphere of a scene. By manipulating lighting, one can convey the genre to the audience; for instance, low key lighting often creates a mysterious or suspenseful ambiance, ideal for thrillers. Similarly, color, as part of mise en scene, evokes specific emotions and connotations. For instance, red commonly symbolizes love, rage, and blood, which can be effectively utilized in thriller settings to evoke tension and danger. In my own thriller, I intend to utilize varying levels of low key lighting and a color palette dominated by dark greys, black, and red to enhance the sense of foreboding and intensity.

2) Costumes (make-up/hair): Costumes, makeup, and hair styling are essential elements that bring characters to life on screen, influencing how the audience perceives them. Costumes encompass attire, accessories, and hairstyles, shaping the character’s visual identity. Makeup can enhance actors’ appearances, portraying them as glamorous or everyday individuals. In the early days of cinema, makeup was crucial for emphasizing facial features due to the limitations of black and white film technology. For example, in thriller films, smudged makeup can effectively convey a woman’s fear and vulnerability. Costumes also play a vital role in portraying characters, suggesting their roles or identities.

3) Expressions/Body Language: Facial expressions and body language are powerful tools in conveying characters’ emotions and inner states. These encompass gestures, postures, and facial expressions through which individuals communicate physical, mental, and emotional reactions. Nonverbal communication allows the audience to infer characteristics about the characters and their emotional states without explicit narration. For instance, signs of fear, such as body language cues, proximity shifts, and other paralinguistic signals, provide viewers with insights into characters’ feelings and experiences.

4) Setting/Props: Setting and props are crucial elements in filmmaking, shaping the atmosphere and narrative. The setting refers to the location where a scene takes place, whether indoors or outdoors, and often establishes the genre’s conventions. In a thriller film, typical settings might include a haunted house or a dark alley, evoking a sense of suspense and danger. Props, on the other hand, are objects used by actors during filming, playing a significant role in shaping the narrative, character identity, and genre. In my film, I aim to initially establish a sense of normalcy by depicting everyday scenes, such as working at a restaurant, to introduce the protagonist’s daily life. However, as the story progresses, the setting transitions to a dimly lit street, creating a feeling of unease and foreshadowing the unfolding tension.

5) Positioning: The positioning of characters and objects within a frame holds significant narrative and thematic implications. It provides insights into characters’ dynamics, power dynamics, and objectives. The arrangement of characters in terms of centrality, angles, and staging can convey levels of dominance and hierarchy. For example, in murder scenes, the positioning often emphasizes the dominance of the killer over the victim, with staging and spatial relationships highlighting this power dynamic.

Connotations are the associations we make with certain things. The text serves as a canvas, with its elements conveying connotations agreed upon by society. However, these connotations can vary across different societies and individuals due to differing perspectives. For instance, when considering a thriller, common associations include murder, blood, and psychological tension. Similarly, the use of color carries different connotations in various cultures. In film, colors are utilized to adhere to the typical conventions of the thriller genre, often employing base and natural tones like black, dark greys, and white.

Ex:

White – innocence, purity, sterility 

Green – health, fertility  

Black- submission, power

Red- power, energy, danger, love 

Blue- Cold/ sadness/ depression

Yellow- playful, caution/danger, vitality (can be overpowering on screen) 

As I grasped films with heavy mis-en-scene elements I came across Kill Bill Vol 1: 

Upon analyzing this picture, the vibrant yellow hue of the central character immediately draws the viewer’s attention, set against the backdrop of darker figures clad in black. This contrast is striking, allowing the audience to easily distinguish the central character from the rest. The juxtaposition of colors is key here, with black typically serving as a foundational background color, while yellow, in any shade, inherently stands out as bright and attention-grabbing. In my film, I plan to outfit my protagonist in a bright yellow shirt to ensure she stands out prominently amidst the darker hues surrounding her, drawing the audience’s attention directly to her character.

In the picture from “Reservoir Dogs,” the characters almost blend into the background due to the similar dark tones, creating a challenge in distinguishing them. This could be a deliberate choice by the filmmaker to convey unity or highlight particular themes or emotions.

Connections to MY film:

Props: When considering the usual utilization of props in the beginning of a thriller, items like weapons often come to mind. In my scenario, incorporating props such as a rope or duct tape could indicate the presence of a killer. Additionally, other props can be used to convey character traits; for instance, a female character might carry a handbag.

Setting: The dimly lit street setting typically evokes the atmosphere of psychological and crime thrillers, providing a backdrop where murders and conflicts can unfold. Conversely, the brightly lit and colorful wall design in the restaurant creates a feeling of happiness and vibrancy. This contrast serves to highlight the discrepancy between the outward appearance of the young girl’s life and the reality of her situation, which is explored throughout the film.

Costuming/Make-up: In adhering to the stereotype, any female character portraying girly or seductive characteristics would be dressed accordingly. For depicting injuries, fake bruises can be created using the appropriate makeup palettes. As for the protagonist, there’s a deliberation on whether to include a bruise to visibly convey the domestic abuse she endures. She’ll wear light makeup, with bold red lipstick to exude confidence while also concealing the bruise, albeit subtly showing it. The choice of a vibrant yellow shirt aims to draw attention to her, both in the restaurant and while biking through the streets at night. Complementing this, she’ll wear a black, short skirt to accentuate her girlish appearance.

Body Language: In thrillers, characters often convey suspense or fear through their facial expressions and body language. This includes signs of nervousness such as sweating, heavy breathing, and being hyper-aware of their surroundings. They may exhibit gestures like constantly looking behind them, wide eyes, and open mouths to signify their heightened state of alertness or apprehension.