Planning Cinematography - Miss Miller

Planning Cinematography

Cinematography is extremely important within films as each shot, angle and movement creates variation and simply has to be existent in order to create a film. Every aspect in cinematography is used in order to make a film successful by complying with the conventions of a film's particular genre. Planning cinematography is required in order to produce excellent sequences because each cinematography aspect needs to be thought of gingerly before included in a film. Different cinematography techniques create different feelings and images for the film, this is why it is vital to have in mind when trying to portray the genre clearly.

This is evidence of my group planning cinematography:

Firstly, one of the camera shots we are going to include in our sequence is a long shot - an example is shown to the left. A long shot ensures that as well as the characters (full body length), a wide view of the setting is also shown on screen. In our sequence, this shot will be used on various occasions but mostly when the protagonist is walking in the forest. We have chosen to use this type of cinematography because it allows not just the facial expressions and hand gestures to be seen, but also body language too. Therefore, the character's personality is portrayed more clearly and signature movements of their own become realisable. Furthermore, a large proportion of the screen in a long shot is taken up by the surrounding setting, which will allow the audience to feel more aware of the surroundings and situation in which the character(s) is in. In addition, you can experiment allowing a focussing feature to be emphasised through positioning in this shot - the example emphasises the character shown slightly to the right, making the audience focus on this part of the screen. These are the reasons as to why we have chosen to include this shot. Through the way that more of a character is visible, it allows the audience to build a relationship with them as they can witness characteristics of the character that other types of shot may not be able to illustrate. This will mean that they are more knowing of the character and also make the audience feel as if they are in the scene with the character's in the setting on screen. This connection will help build more suspense, shock and surprise in our sequence as there will be more of an impact created when something bad happens to a character. From the relationship that the audience has built and developed with a character, they feel more worried and hurt genuinely affecting them more when this character is harmed in some way. These reasons are as to why this type of shot is conventional to the thriller genre. Furthermore, the setting in a thriller is vital as it contributes to the elements of suspense, shock and surprise. With this shot, the setting is able to be shown therefore, this is a further reason as to why it is conventional. 

Another shot we will be using in our thriller sequence will be an over the shoulder shot. This shows what is in front of the character but also keeping them in shot, reassuring the audience of their presence. It can be of more than one character, for example in the screenshot to the left, however is most commonly used just over the shoulder of one character. We will be using this shot in our sequence where the antagonist is behind the protagonist but the protagonist is unaware of the antagonist's presence. We have chosen to use this type of cinematography because a more tense atmosphere is created through it as the way in which we will be using it, the audience sees more than the protagonist does. This creates a sense of foreboding as the audience will know that the antagonist isn't far from the protagonist and so know that something bad is going to happen - especially as the protagonist is unaware. The audience also feel sympathetic towards the protagonist as inferiority of the victim is portrayed. This type of cinematography is conventional to the thriller genre as it builds tension from the way the shoulder's restrict some view but the main focus is what is in-front of the character. Therefore, this unknowing feeling creates suspense and then shock and surprise when something finally emerges from the unknown. 


Thirdly, a handheld movement will also be used in our opening sequence. This particular movement makes the camera appear precarious and is literally named as the way it is carried out - hand held. We will use this shot when the protagonist is running through the forest, so the sense of panic created through this shot is reflected onto the viewers. Therefore, this shot has been chosen to be used in our sequence as it's jerky movements will mirror the emotion of the protagonist. This will then mean that the audience feel more empathetic towards the protagonist and the situation they are in. When anything bad happens to the protagonist after these shots, the impact is greater as there is more of a relationship built between the audience and the protagonist and so the audience are more worried and attentive to what happens to the character. Viewers also feel as if they are in the scene giving the illusion tat they are holding the camera. The shot then is conventional to the thriller genre as somehow the shock and surprise elements are supposed to get across to the audience. Through the use of this shot, the emotions of the character's are a lot easier to read along with the atmosphere of the scene being a lot clearer too. Therefore, shock, surprise AND suspense is created - key elements of a successful thriller. 

A panning movement will also be used in our opening sequence. Panning shots are where the camera is moving left, right, up or down, which is difficult to show through a screenshot, but to the left demonstrates a panning shot screen-shotted. We will use this movement as the protagonist runs and the antagonist follows and also when the protagonist is looking around suspiciously. This will compliment the actions within the scene and therefore make the sequence more clear and easy to follow. The use of panning also allows for more of the setting to be witnessed through the use of just one shot. Moreover, the way this shot is used makes them feel as if they are part of the scene following the characters intricately and are able to witness every detail in the scene. This builds a relationship between the audience and the characters as they feel more knowing of the characters and quite personal at this point. Therefore, this is conventional to the thriller genre as the setting is key and through use of this shot a lot is visible in the shot. It also represents movement clearly and in thrillers, viewers need to be able to keep up with the narrative and what's going on to make it as clear as possible. The speed of panning also determines the atmosphere and so the quicker the pan, the greater build up of tension and suspense created - another reason as to why it is conventional to the thriller genre. 

A further shot that will be included in our opening sequence will be a point of view shot. This literally allows for the view of a particular character to be portrayed on screen. In the example to the left, the shot is from the view of the character looking out the back window of a car in rainy weather. We will use it when the protagonist is frantically looking about her surroundings of the forest. It will portray a lack of hope as when she will be looking around there will be nothing in her sight, therefore, the audience are witnessing exactly as she is. A relationship is built between the protagonist and the audience as the audience feel extremely empathetic towards the character through the use of this shot. The audience are able to witness the current scene and situation through the character's own eyes and so feel as if they are a part of the scene. Therefore, this shot is conventional to the thriller genre , because suspense, shock and surprise are created, as elements in the scene that the character may not be aware of - the fact that something could 'jump out', also makes the audience unaware. This also makes the scene unpredictable which is exactly what you want a thriller to be like so that when the climax of suspense occurs, it has a greatest impact possible. 

A close up shot will also be used in our opening sequence. This is basically just a shot of something really close up - exactly how it is named. We will use this to demonstrate the protagonist's facial expressions but also when filming iconography such as a knife and as well as this, parts of the antagonists face to keep the identity hidden. A connection will be created between the characters and the audience from the way a close up emphasises a particular something and so causes this to be the focus of the shot. This makes whatever is in the shot to be memorable, such as a knife for example. It also creates a sense of foreboding as a lot of one particular thing is in shot and so the audience are oblivious to whats going on outside of this shot in the scene at this time. Certain elements need to be emphasised in thrillers as they are symbolic or play a vital role in what's to come. Taking the knife for example, dedicating a close up shot to this object alone emphasises its presence and so creates a sense of foreboding as it is assumed that it will be used soon after the shot. This is why this shot is conventional to the thriller genre - elements need to be emphasised and this shot allows this to happen. 


One of the angles we will be using in our sequence is a low angle. This is where the camera is positioned at a low angle to whatever is being filmed. Using this type of cinematography makes whatever is being filmed appear larger and can be used to show variation in dominance and status. In the example screenshot to the left, the two males appear larger which suggests a high amount of dominance. This is how we will use this angle in our sequence - to portray levels of dominance. We will use this angle when the antagonist is seen chasing the protagonist and also on some of our rewinds. This will ensure that the lack of dominance of the victim is clearly portrayed, compared to the highly dominated antagonist, reflected from the narrative. This will help to build a relationship between the audience and the protagonist particularly because they are more familiar with their status at this point in the sequence. Therefore, they will feel sympathetic towards the character from the lack of dominance they possess. This shot is conventional to the thriller genre as there are many characters in thrillers, many with a variation in dominance levels between them. This shot helps distinguish each status of a particular character, helping the audience to feel suspenseful towards certain characters wondering as to how and why they have their level of dominance. 

Through the use of cinematography, I think our sequence will be more effective as it will help to create the atmosphere's in which we intend to create. Moreover, the personalities of our particular characters are more clearly reflected onto the audience making them connect not only with the characters but the sequence as a whole, keeping them on edge for the majority of viewing. All the cinematography can be used to demonstrate conventionality of the thriller genre through the different ways it can be complimented with other features such as lighting, for example. I have found this planning extremely helpful in preparation for filming as it is clear what we want to film, why and how we are using certain cinematography in certain ways to keep to the thriller genre.