Key: HL = Hyperlink to.
RED HL = General links (such as YouTube and earlier posts),
GREEN = Film Info (via IMDb),
Yellow = Info about... (e.g. director)
BLUE = Film Character's Info (via IMDb/Film's website)
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This is mine and James Kent's final edit to our "Opening to a New Thriller Film".
Our final edit has used feedback from questionnaires which were conducted to show possible improvements which myself and James Kent could change and/or add.
Myself and James Kent have implied these suggestions for our final edit when editing together. One suggestion which kept recurring was the size of the titles and adding a few more transactions between clips. Myself and James have carried out these suggestions for our final edit. We believe that these suggestions have greatly impromoved our final edit.
The videos below are mine and group member James Kent's edit to our "Opening to a New Thriller Film".
We have both explored different techniques to editing our clips. Our outcomes have been very different and also very unique. This leaves us with a better choice to decide on our final video to present to the exam board.
I like the choice of soundtrack in James' edit (same soundtrack - different section). This is because this section of soundtrack sounds almost religious and 'church-like'. This adds a ghostly feel to the atmpsphere in the opening sequence and also a chilling mood.
My edit, however, uses a more 'up-beat' section of the soundtrack. I particulaly like the drum beats and paste. The rondo is very similar to the rondo used in the soundtrack for "Jaws" (1975).
'Femme-Fatatles' often meet a dramatic end within cinema, which was often found in classic Film-Noir titles. The possible reason for this explanation is that the directors and produces of these films wanted to send a message to women of that era. If women acted as the women characters found in their films - seductive, glamorous, and other such characteristics, then they would also meet the same dramatic and an un-glamorous end.
Please ignore the soundtrack used in these video(s) below.
I could not find the correct clip, however, they have the correct elements/scenes from the film which I will be explaining in this post. I will be labeling these sections.
Please watch the video(s).
The character shown in the extract wears a bright red dress for costume. The colour red could possibly represent 'the Devil inside' of her.
This could represent how she leads men into dangerous situations. An example of this dangerous situation is how her attractiveness leads a young German soldier to his death.
An example of a sedctive, dangerous woman wearing a red dress who meets a dramatic end is from "Sin City" (2005).
Shosanna Dreyfusstarts to put on makeup and red lipstick in a range of medium and extreme close ups (0:54). The makeup and lipstick are an aspect of the character's costume. The red lipstick and makeup could represent the character has a seductive charm about her.
The character's hair colour is blond. Hair colour is also part of a character's costume. The possible reason behind using blond hair is that it is often used to represent a glamorous Femme-Fatatle within the genre. Blond hair suggests that the character is looking for a 'good time'.
Below are two images which portray the type of font which I will be using in my edit for the "Opening for a New Thriller Film". I have typed out the alphatbet in both capitals and lower case to show the differences between the two. This is very important because then I can choose either to have the titles in capitals which would be very bold and eye catching or 'normally', by using a capital and then lower case. For example, I will use the name "working title" to visually show the difference.
"WORKING TITLE"
"Working Title"
The font is called "321impact". The font is very bold. This is useful as then it'll hopefully capture the audience's adtention. The font choice was inspired by the font and style of the mise-en-scene used in the title sequence of "Essex Boys" (2000). The style of font which I have chosen is very 'gritty'. The look of the font can be represented as if a teenager has used a spary can to display the words onto a wall as graffiti art. Much like the vertical lines used in the title sequence of "Essex Boys" (2000).
I've found great soundtracks from http://incompetech.com/m/c/royalty-free/. I have found a piece of music which is called "Interloper". All soundtracks/music scores are produced by Kevin MacLeod, unless otherwise stated. The below images are evidence of investigating soundtracks and a few common Q&As (questions and awnsers) which Kevin has created which may possibly affect my group's opening to a new thriller film production. Please click on each image to enlarge them so they are then readable.
The video below is my version of editing of my group's "Opening to a New Thriller Film". This is our second edit so far. This edit includes our most recent shots that include the snow.
I plan to add more titles and effects, such as video transitions to finalise this version of my edit. There are a number of cuts which are to be made as the 'snow' scene felt as if it has just been put into the opening to make it longer. Prehaps I could add titles between each shot to make it look more dramatic and professional.
Tarantino's use of Intertextuality in "Kill Bill Vol.2" with
"The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly"
Intertextuality:
Intertextuality in films is used to enhance a meaning and purpose within a clip and to communicate with the audience about possible upcoming events. The intertextual reference can reference almost anything from a media production such as film, T.V show, drama production, musicals, books and even comic books!
An intertextual reference could be the film itself aswell. For example, "Donnie Darko (2001)" was filmed within 28 days. The amount of time is important as it is an intertextual reference to what Frank - The Bunny Rabbit tellsDonniewithin the film. Frank tell's Donnie that he only has 28 days until a doomsday event.
An example of a 'comic book' reference can be names of character's. In comic books, the names of characters often use the same initials for their first and second names, a technique used by writers to make sure you remember a character. For example: "Donnie Darko", "Joanie James", and "Sean Smith". Resemble much likeness of the names "Peter Parker", "Black Blot" and "Madame Masque". By using the same initials the character(s) are being represented as superhero-like individuals.
Intertextual references can often include:
Similar scenes
Representation of a character
Sound
Same soundtrack
Iconic camera angles - such as Quinton Tarantino's "low angle car boot shots"
Plot
Dialogue
Costume
Location
Quentin Tarantino:
Quentin Tarantino for example uses many intertextual references in his films. He frequently references to cult movies and television, such as the Spaghetti Western and part of the "The Dollar's Trilogy" - "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (1966)" which is directed by Sergio Leone. Tarantino also refers to films which he has directed himself. He often includes a low angle shot which feature main characters looking down directly at the camera. These characters tend to be looking into a car boot or suitcase. This is Tarantino's iconic shot which he tries to use in all films he directs - the shot then communicates with the audience to tell them that the film is decided by Tarantino. This type of shot is his 'trademark'.
Quentin Tarantino also tries to include a "Mexican Standoff" in each of this films. Thus referring to the ending of "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (1966)" when it was introduced into films. The "Mexican Standoff" is when three or more individuals engage in a confrontation where each participant holds power over an opponent, yet is at mercy with another opponent. Below are examples of Tarantino'sreference:
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
True Romance (1993)
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Graveyard Scene in Kill Bill Vol.2:
Tarantino'smost recognizable intertextual reference to Sergio Leone's films is the use of the soundtracks from "The Dollar's Trilogy". The first soundtrack is used in the opening sequence of the "Graveyard" scene in Kill Bill Vol.2when The Brideconfronts Bud. The soundtrack is called "A Fistful of Dollars" which is from the first film in the trilogy. It's very powerful and heroic. It represents The Bride's entrance being associated with the heroic-ness of "The Good" (Blondie), but then being kicked back down to a low hierarchy statues by Budbecause he is seen towering above her while she is laying on the ground.
Tarantinouses a graveyard to establish the surrounding area as being lifeless, barren-like and desolate just like a desert. By doing this, the character The Bride is represented as if she has no chance of being rescued. She is at the mercy of a character called Bud (Bill's brother) whose archetype is represented as being "The Ugly". Just like how Tucocaptures Blondie, and then forces him to walk across the desert - which is lifeless, barren and desloated, just like the graveyard.
"The Good" -Blondie.Blondieis the main hero of the film. InKill Bill Vol.2,The Brideis the hero and thus being represented as "The Good". This archetype is the 'good guy'.
"The Bad" - Sentenza (aka "Angle Eyes"). Sentenza is the main villain of the film and emery to Blondie. In Kill Bill Vol.2, Bill is represented as being "The Bad". He is emery to The Bride. This archetypeis the 'bad guy'.
"The Ugly" - Tuco. "The Ugly" is full of greed and is found between "The Good" and "The Bad". This is Bill's brother Bud.
The location of the graveyard in Kill Bill Vol.2can be seen as an intertextual reference because the scene then cuts to a graveyard in the 'middle of nowhere' - a barren-like area. This could also be seen as an intertextual referecne to "Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" (2007).
'Jesse James' is mainly set in fields and barren-like locations, much like "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" aswell as in the graveyard scene of "Kill Bill Vol.2". It is an intertextual reference because of the use of a descent-like area as a location.
The costume in 'Jesse James' is also very similar to the type of Western costume used in "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly", perhaps it inspired the costume for 'Jesse James' and many other westerns.
The costume which The Bride wears during the graveyard scene in "Kill Bill Vol.2" is a slight intertextual reference to Blondies' costume. The close up shot of the 'cowboy' boots The Bride wears this is intertextual reference, which 'film-buffs' look out for within Tarantio's films. By wearing these boots, the reference is to portray the heroic statues of Blondie - the 'shoes which The Bride is trying to fill. The non-deigetic soundtrack is very heroic and powerful, this too also represents the states of Blondie.
Tarantion's second most recognizable intertextual reference to Sergio Leone's "The Dollar's Trilogy" is by using a second soundtrack from the trilogy. This non-deigetic soundtrack is called "Ecstasy of Gold", and is from the ending scene of "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" during the Mexican standoff. The soundtrack, "Ecstasy of Gold" is very musically rondo. The rondo within the soundtrack could possibly represent the constant battle between the three main characters during the Mexican standoff - the soundtrack will not change until one of them 'makes a move' on another.
In terms of relating the non-degetic soundtrack to the graveyard scene in "Kill Bill Vol.2", the battle is between The Bride and Bud as The Bride has no dialogue which is spoken towards Bud throughout the entire film. This resemples much likeness of the silence during the ending scene of "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly". "Ecstasy of Gold" is often used within the Western genre as a tribute to "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly". For example, Adam Oxsen's film is named after the soundtrack - "Esctasy of Gold" (2009) and includes very simliar scenes from "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly".
