Narrative and characters

There are 5 narrative stages in stories, books and movies.

1. equilibrium
2. disruption
3. complication
4. resolution
5. new equilibrium

Showing the 5 stages in 'Jaws'

1. equilibrium = everyone is happy at the beach
2. disruption = a dead body is found
3. complication = Sharks in waters. Closing or keep beach open? Will more people die?
4. resolution = beach is kept open, they go out on the sea to catch shark!
5. new equilibrium = shark is killed - everything is back to normal but things are not exactely as before the shark appeared, things changed and people died, therefore -> NEW equilibrium

Character theory by Propp  
Propp claims there are always certain characters in each story, movie or book. Which are...

• the hero
• the villain - causing disequilibrium
• the helper - person who helps hero on their quest
• the victim - at mercy of villain
• the doner - he has something special to help hero

Example of 'Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban'

• Harry
• Voldemort
• Ron and Hermione
• Sirius Black
• Dumbledore

Horror Movie Conventions - Opening of' 'Scream'

Conventions in a movie are certain film components that regularly occur related to a genre. It's also something that the audience will expect to happen or to see on screen, in this case when watching a Horror movie. Usual conventions are:

• blood, death, murder, violence
• hero\villain, protagonist\antagonist
• darkness
• forest
• quite suburbs
• old, big, abandoned house
• basement, attic
• weapons, chainsaw, knife
• ghosts
• dolls, clowns
• freaky children
• car break downs
• blonde sexy women are victims
• characters introduced in beginning will die
• the most quite and unobstrusive character is bad guy
• electrical power outage
• silence
• isolation
• hiding
• kidnapping
• sounds: panting, slow scary music, telephone ringing(and no one's there)

Looking at the opening sequence of the cult horror 'Scream' with Drew Berrymore, the following conventions from the above are represented:

• night time
• character playing with knife
• big house (more places to hide) in the middle of nowhere
• blonde yound pretty woman alone at home
• locking the doors -> danger impending
• telephone ringing
• shut curtains waving in breeze

sounds that create fear and suspense:

• dogs barking
• sounds of squeking swing in the garden
• breeze outside

Shot choices: tracking, canted, zooming in to close-up + reaction shot

Characters:

• dumb, innocent, pretty blonde that is going to die

Denotation\Conotation of Thriller Images

Denotation: the literal analysis of a picture, by saying what you see in the picture without giving opinion.

Conotation: is where you give your opinion and give your interpretation of the image.

 

Denotation: Person in white mask, black cloak/cape holding a knife looking through window at a blond woman on a phone.
Connotation: Knife symbolises danger, woman may be on phone to police, Mask covers his identity. Perhaps a murderer breaking into the womans home. Mask hides idnetity therefore creating fear of the unknown.

Still from Pyscho
Denotation
Lady in shower, wet due to water. Open mouthed. Black and white still.
Connotation
May be being shocked in shower, screaming naked highlights her vulnerability and how she has no protection. Scared look on her face. Black and white still symbolises old movie.

Still from Gothika
Denotation
Woman in tracksuit in front of wall with red writing on it. Reading 'Not Alone'.
Connotation
'Not Alone'symbolises how she may not actuallyp hysically be alone or mentally. Highlighting mental problems or to contradict that she isnt the only person in the still. Her tracksuit highlights simpleness. The red writing may be perceived as blood, therefore showing murder and death.

Still from Friday the 13th Denotation
Car Park shot of emptyness, long black coat on man in distance. Woman shot from behind, she is closer to camera.
Connotation
Empty car park creates eerieness, woman closer to camera highlights how she may be the protagonist. Unknown danger of man in the background.

Still from The Exorcist
Denotation
Girl with scabby and rotting face. long red hair and glaring eyes. White laced dress.
Connoatation
White nighty contrasts her red hair. Red hair symbolises danger. White dress highlights innocence and child like nature.

Still from The Ring
Denotation
White room, white dress. Microphone on the floor. Black shoes, and long black greasy hair.
Connotation
Whiteness highlights innocence and in the background surroudings, a clinical environement. e.g. hospital, mental institute. Black hair highlights darkness within a character. Dirtiness of hair also symbolises how she is unkempt.

Still from The Omen
Denotation
Small boy in black suit with a white shirt and black hat. In a graveyard with white crosses.
Connotation
White symbolises good. Black suit contrasts to grave stones. Signifying danger, crosses show religion.

Still from It
Denotation
Man with a painted face, with red hair and sharp teeth.
Connotation
White face symbolises a 'Clown'. Red hair shows danger - contrasting with the white face, when white usually symbolises innocence. Clowns also symbolise fun and happiness which juxtapposes with the sharp teeth. making him look threatening and dangerous.

Still from Halloween
Denotation
Man with a white face, looking over a banister holding a large knife
Connotation
High up shot shows his imprtance and hierachy. Knife= danger.

Still from H20
Denotation
Man with white mask, mask looking through window to woman with her mouth open.
Connotation
Woman is shocked or scared by seeing him. Highlights his danger. Yet she is protected by the steel. Rounded wondow symbolises a submarine. Blue colouring highlights the movie name of H20 which is the chemists name for Water. Also teaching the audience that it may happen underwater.

Moodboard - WHAT SCARES PAULA ?

blood...
churches...
darkness....
syringes...
extreme religion...
apocalypse...
terrorism...
paranormal activities...
freaky children and dolls...
Pan's Labyrinth...
war...
spiders...