Genre Research: Split

Though Kevin has evidenced 23 personalities to his trusted psychiatrist,

Dr. Fletcher, there remains one still submerged who is set to materialize and

dominate all of the others. Compelled to abduct three teenage girls led by the

willful, observant Casey, Kevin reaches a war for survival among all of those

contained within him -- as well as everyone around him -- as the walls between

his compartments shatter. When I say that this movie fits PERFECTLY into this

category, it truly is the epitome of thriller films. 

In Split, the camera angles that were in the movie were all used to create a feeling

that the director wanted the audience to feel. Example of camera angles include:

Close-up shots, high angle shots, and low angle shots. Costumes used in the movie

changed whenever the main character changes his personality. Lighting used in the

film changes from the mood and tone of the scene. For example, throughout the whole

film there is a blue, white hue that stays in order to make the audience feel uncomfortable.

There is the main actor throughout the film that the movie revolves around. The makeup

of the movie changes when the main character changes his personality. It can be when

he changes into a girl or stays a man, the makeup follows with him. The props used in

the movie were based on the setting of the scene. For example, when the scene was

set when he was kidnapping his victims or doing things that his main personality does.

Since Split is a thriller, the editing reflects that. The editing has jump cuts, flashback

sequences, and some match cuts. The editing stays somewhat the same throughout

the movie to build the suspense and tension that the audience feels. The sound

throughout the movie is dialogue, diegetic sound when outside, and non-diegetic

sounds. 

There are many things I liked about this movie. Since I gravitate more towards

movies that fall into the genre of thriller, I almost always can conclude if it’s a good

movie that fits into its genre or not. However, I feel that Split does fit into its genre

of thriller. There is a HUGE psychological factor that comes with watching this movie,

the way he changes his personality and other things that are apart of this movie is

creepy and eerie. It truly fits the thriller genre

Genre Research: A simple favor

Stephanie is a widowed, single mother who works as a vlogger in

Connecticut. Her best friend, Emily, seems to have it all -- a successful

career, a loving family and a glamorous lifestyle. When Emily mysteriously

disappears one day, Stephanie launches her own investigation by digging

into her friend's past -- and finding a few surprises along the way. Even

though this movie was a low-key film, it’s one to not miss. In A Simple Favor

the camera angles that were used in the movie were all used to create a feeling

that the director wanted the audience to feel. Example of camera angles include:

Close-up shots, high angle shots, and low angle shots. Costumes used in this

movie range from middle class clothing to high class clothing depending on each

character in the movie. Lighting used in the film changes from the mood and tone

of the scene. For example, in the beginning of the film, the mom has her life with her

kid but everything is normal,  therefore the lighting is going to reflect that being bright

and warm toned. As the movie goes on, the lighting reflects how the protagonist feels,

shook that her friend has disappeared is going to be reflected through the lighting of

the scenes. The actors suit the roles they play. The makeup throughout the film matches

each character. The props used in the movie were based on the setting of the scene.

For example, when the scene was in a very expensive home, the items inside the home

were expensive. The editing has jump cuts, flashback sequences, and some match cuts.

The editing stays somewhat the same throughout the movie to build the suspense

and tension that the audience feels. The sound throughout the movie is dialogue,

diegetic sound when outside, and non-diegetic sounds. 

I liked this movie a lot. The majority of the movie is a mystery until the end of it.

It truly sticks to the thriller genre because of the plot twists and the dramatic irony.

Genre Research: Halloween

On halloween night in 1963, six year old Michael Myers brutally murdered

his 17-year-old sister, Judith. He was sentenced and locked away for 15 years.

But on October 30, 1978, while being transferred for a court date, a 21-year-old

Michael Myers steals a car and escapes Smith's Grove. He returns to his quiet

hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois, where he looks for his next victims. Halloween

made many sequels and even prequels through the past years. I focused more on

the most recent one that came out in 2018. 

In Halloween, the camera angles that were used in the movie were all used to

create a feeling that the director wanted the audience to feel. Example of camera

angles include: Close-up shots, high angle shots, and low angle shots. Costumes

used in Halloween are modern clothes that people in 2018 would wear, this includes

day clothing and of course halloween costumes.. The exception is Michael Myers

himself because he is wearing the old worker clothes. The lighting varied from scene

to scene in order to create the feeling that the director wanted the audience to feel.

For example, throughout the whole movie there is a continued white and hues of gray

lighting in order to give the eerie feeling of what was happening. The actors in the film

included those of the films of the past Halloween movies but also had new actors.

The makeup of the movie was the makeup of the time. The editing has jump cuts,

flashback sequences, and some match cuts. The editing stays somewhat the same

throughout the movie to build the suspense and tension that the audience feels.

The sound throughout the movie is dialogue, diegetic sound when outside, and

non-diegetic sounds. 

Re-watching this movie was a real treat. I first watched this movie in the theater
BEFORE it came out. My sister and I had won tickets to see Halloween from a
radio contest. I’m biased towards this movie. I think that the movie was very well
done and stuck to the conventional thriller elements.

Genre Research: Get Out

Get Out is about Chris and his girlfriend, Rose, that have reached the

meet-the-parents milestone of dating. She invites him for a weekend

getaway upstate with Missy and Dean (her parents). At first, Chris thinks

her family's overly nice behavior to try to deal with their daughter's interracial

relationship. However as the weekend goes on, weird things lead him to a

something that he never could have imagined. Get out is a thriller that did very

well in theaters. 

In Get Out, the camera angles that were in the movie were all used to create a

feeling that the director wanted the audience to feel. Example of camera angles

include: Close-up shots, high angle shots, and low angle shots. Costumes used in

the movie ranged from inner city clothing to rural clothing as the movie goes on.

Lighting used in the film changes from the mood and tone of the scene. For example,

in the beginning of the film, the boyfriend and the girlfriend are a happy couple, therefore

the lighting is going to reflect that being bright and warm toned. As the movie goes on,

the lighting reflects how the protagonist feels, cold and scared. The actors in the film

fit the role that they were meant to play. The makeup in the film is nothing out of the

ordinary, normal makeup for the time period the movie was set in. The props used in

the movie were based on the setting of the scene. For example, when the scene was

set in the rural upstate where the girlfriend’s parents were, the props were farming tools.

Since Get Out is a thriller, the editing reflects that. The editing has jump cuts, flashback

sequences, and some match cuts. The editing stays somewhat the same
throughout the movie to build the suspense and tension that the audience feels. The sound throughout the movie is dialogue, diegetic sound when outside, and non-diegetic sounds. 

There are many things I liked about this movie. Since I gravitate more towards

movies that fall into the genre of thriller, I almost always can conclude if it’s a good

movie that fits into its genre or not. However, I feel that Get Out does fit into its genre

of thriller. There is a HUGE psychological factor that comes with watching

this movie, I love that.

Genre Research: The final decision

The genre I chose to go with for my movie is the genre thiller.

The reason I chose thriller as my genre because it best suits the vision I

have for the movie. Since I want to make it about a serial killer, a

psychological aspect is kinda needed. Making it a thriller, I have my work

cut out for me. Since I’m working alone for this final project I have to use

all of my brain power in order to execute how I want my movie to come out.

I fully understand how it can be difficult to get all of the necessary elements

of a thriller in a clean cut movie. However I think I can do it. 

Genre Research: Two potential candidates

After deciding what pitch out of the three pitches I came up with, it was

time to try and figure out exactly what genres would best suit the pitch

chosen. After research, the two genres that would best suit the movie would

be thriller and horror. When researching the two different genres I came

across the definitions that belonged to the two. For thriller, the definition

that I came across was ‘a psychological film that requires more thought and

explanation as to what happens. For horror the definition that I came across

was ‘a film that seeks to elicit fear for entertainment purposes.’ Basically, a

thriller film has a deeper meaning and can have a dramatic irony aspect to it.

While a horror film is plain gore and it’s main purpose is to scare its audience.

To decide exactly which genre I wanted my film to be, I thought it’d be best to do

some research and see what it takes to make each film. 

The common codes and conventions for a thriller movie are very unique. The

common lighting in a thriller film is typically low lighting in order to create tension

and suspense. Camera angles that are used in thriller films include high angle shots.

Camera movements in thriller films include close-up and extreme close-ups.

Elements of a thriller film include suspense, tension, and excitement. The common

mis en scene in a thriller film is mostly the props used which are guns. Examples of

thriller films include Get Out, The Silence of the Lambs, Split, and Halloween.

Common sounds used in thriller films are diegetic sounds that relate to the situation

of the scene. An element of thriller films that I like is the psychological factor that it

brings. An element of thriller films that I don’t really like is the tension feeling that some

movies make you have. 

The common codes and conventions for horror films are used in almost every movie
but are unique. The common lighting in horror films is silhouette lighting, spotlighting,
and underexposure. Common camera angles used in horror films are high angles, bird’s
eye, and close-ups. Camera movements in horror films include pan movements. Elements
in horror films include gore, blood, and plain scary things. Common mis en scene in horror
films is predominantly the setting. The setting includes dark, rural locations. Some examples
of horror films are It, Us, and The Cabin in the Woods. Common sounds used in horror films
are whispering voices, shrieking violins, and unrelenting synth beats. An element of horror
films that I like is the suspense that it can create. An element of horror films that I don’t like
is the blood and gore. 

Genre Research: Comedy

When researching this genre I found many aspects to what makes 'comedy', comedy. This includes the camera, angles, movement, sound. It also includes the different mis en scene that in films of comedy. The costumes, lighting, actors, make-up, and setting all make comedy films what they are. Through research, I also saw many different movies that fall under the genre 'comedy'. There are different aspects to comedy that I enjoy and some that I don't. Aspects that I enjoy from comedy are the different ways it can appeal to different audiences. Aspects that I do not like about comedy are the crude jokes that comedy movies can display.