Target Audience Profile

A typical audience member for my film opening is a 25-35 year old male who is middle class with A-levels and possibly a degree. In his spare time he would read and do puzzles, watch old films and socialise with friends. He would listen to swing music and like the Rat Pack and Frank Sinatra and like bands like The Who, Yes, The Beatles, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and the Arctic Monkeys. When watching TV he would watch detective dramas like CSI,The Mentalist, Monk and Psych. When on the internet he might go onto websites like FaceBook and Wikipedia. He would like old films and be a fan of directors such as Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez and Martin Scorcese, he would also like poetry. To sum-up a typical audience member I would use the words slightly-nerdy.

Genre Research Summary

The titles in noir films are generally basic. They are mainly one same font throughout the sequence and have a plain background that doesn’t change much. The transitions are usually the same throughout the sequence too and the pace is relatively calm. We will mirror these aspects in our film so the audience are aware of the genre from the start of the film.

The usual non-digetic music is quite slow and classical. It is usually slow paced however some neo-noir films have fast paced fun music during the titles and background music. For digetic music there is almost always the sound of a gunshot that does not show who shot the gun or where the bullet is aimed. We will use this technique to keep the noir techniques. We may use fast faced music as the time period is more modern and not used to slow classic music.





The usual characters are in suits and have guns. The main character is a man, probably with a lady. Quite often the camera is at a low height and high angle towards the main character. The leading lady is usually shot from the feet first and then pans up the body.

The main mis-en-scene feature is the use of chiaroscuro. This is when there is high contrast, it creates big strong shadows and adds to the low lighting effect. There are many guns and suits possible drug props or other crime related props to add to the danger/crime theme. The most dominant technique is the use of black and white rather than colour. However neo-noir films use colour to make the film more viewable by the modern audience.

During the narrative the hermeneutic code is very prominent as the crime is partly shown at the start of the film, leaving the audience in suspense till the last few scenes when it is revealed. The proairetic code is shown by the use of guns and dangerous characters, it makes the audience believe the situation will escalade. The semantic code is not well shown in noir films however they might use shots to make the audience believe there is danger when there is not like the shot in Pulp Fiction during the boot shot. The binary oppositions are usually the characters dangerous and exciting lives against the ordinary boring life.

The genre is established mainly by using lighting to create chiaroscuro, low lighting and black and white. Seeing the leading lady by the feet first then panning up the body also shows the audience it is a noir film. The characters are usually similar as they are usually a man who might be a usual man who has been lured into a life of crime to protect or save a lady.

Research and Planning: Title sequence and Opening Scene Analysis

To analyse the opening scene and title sequence of Pulp Fiction, a modern noir film, made in 1994 and directed by Quentin Tarantino I will look at many aspects. These aspects should create character, narrative and genre.

To set up genre they have used classic noir techniques such as low lighting while they are stood by the boot, this creates a mysterious scene. Also during the boot shot there are many big shadows surrounding the two characters this also adds mystery to the scene. The costume and props sets up character. Suits are popular costumes for noir films as they show that the character is serious, this is slightly ironic as the men’s conversation is mainly about Europe being “strange” and McDonalds in France. The guns are also a popular prop for main characters in noir films, it again show the character is serious and also dangerous.

During the narrative, Barthes’ codes can be recognised. The hermeneutic code is mainly seen during the pre-title scene. The audience would ask many questions during the scene such as who is this man? Who is this boy? Who was his dad? Why is the watch significant? This adds mystery to the story. When the audience see the two new characters more questions would be asked for example, who are they? Where are they going? How are they linked to the young boy and man? Again adding mystery to the story. The proairtic code is mainly seen during the last few minutes while the men are preparing their guns and going into the building. This series of events suggests to the audience that a possibly dangerous event will happen soon. The semantic code can be found while the men are stood by the boot. The shot is looking up at the two men from inside the boot, this suggests that there might be somebody inside the boot that the audience are unaware of. Also during the narrative, Levi-Strauss’ theory of binary oppositions can be found. As the story is only at the beginning it is difficult to decide the exact binary oppositions however the most obvious so far is the lives of the two men, which are exciting and dangerous and out of the ordinary compared to the boring and ordinary lives of average people.

The title sequence is very contrasting. The titles and background is very boring, the background is black, the title is orange and the wording is white. There are some effects but are very subtle and calm. On the other hand the music is very fun this suggests that the film is not serious like the men’s conversation. The use of a radio dial changing the music is very strange and quirky also suggesting the film is not serious. It changes to another fun song which fades to the men talking in the car. The contrast between the fun music and boring titles could represent the binary oppositions, the music might represent the two men and their lives and the titles may represent ordinary people and their lives.

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Research and Planning: Neale Quote

Neale declares that “genres are instances of repetition and difference” (Neale 1980, 48). He adds that “difference is absolutely essential to the economy of genre”.

This means that a film has the same aspects as other films with the same genre but it must has some differences to be successful.

In Brick, a film noir film, it is the same as a usual film noir film, as the narrative includes many aspects that are included in film noir films, for example crime and drama. However it is very different as it is set in modern day.

It follows usual film noir aspects because it has the usual characters, the main character is an average person lured into a life of crime. It also involves drugs and guns. However, it is different than usual film noir films as it is set in modern day and involves a young man. Most film noir films are set in the 1950’s with men aged 30+.

Research and Planning: Narrative Theories

Roland Barthes created a theory about narrative codes. A code is combinations of technical features that are meant to have a specific meaning. The first code is the Hermeneutic Code, this is when any element of the story is not fully explained and therefore leaves the viewer guessing and therefore intrigued, until the final scenes where all is revealed and closure is achieved. For example, in Dexter the use of close ups and making normal actions seem odd and set up mystery. This makes the audience ask questions like who is this man? and why are we following him? The second theory is called the Proairetic Code which builds tension and refers to any action or event that suggests something else is going to happen and therefore getting the viewer to guess what is going to happen next. For example, in Dexter the use of close ups, non-diegetic music and the blood dripping in a sinister way suggests that something unpleasant is eventually going to happen. The third code is called the Semantic code, this refers to the way images and/or music might be used to mean something else than the thing is shows. For example, the close ups give each action and alternative meaning, the images could be seen as something else is filmed differently.

Levi-Strauss introduced the theory of binary oppositions as a way to consider the meaning within the narrative. He said that the elements in a story are paired. For every element which represents something there is another one with the opposite or different representation. Some examples of popular binary oppositions are good vs evil, rich vs poor, hero vs villain. In Dexter, the binary opposition is Dexter's life vs ordinary life. We see Dexter performing everyday tasks however the way they are filmed give an insight into how he sees the world. It is quite dark and aggressive and suggests violence constantly.

Research and Planning: Title Sequence Analysis

In order to analyse James Bond The Spy Who Loved Me (Lewis Gilbert, 1977) I will need to look at many aspects to see how they are used to set up character, narrative and genre.

The details of the cast and crew fade in and out, like the images, during the title sequence. This compliments the music. One of the first names we see is Roger Moore, he is a very famous actor most famous for his roles as James Bond. We then see the title, The Spy Who Loved Me. It is written in very plain writing however it is accompanied by silhouettes of Roger Moore and an unknown woman, possible wearing an ushanka, with a backdrop of a Union Flag. Throughout the title sequence there are silhouettes of guns and women. This may suggest the expectations of the audience, they may expect lots of guns and women throughout the rest of the fim and possibly a Russian influence.

The first few minutes of the film establish the main character very quickly. We see James Bond first with a woman, then being chased by men with guns this shows he is a “ladies man” and dangerous. We also hear him say England needs him and him using a parachute with a Union Flag on it, this shows he is very patriotic. The setting adds a mysterious outlook as we do not know where he is but he seems very comfortable in the location this may suggest he goes to many different places throughout his daily life. The audience are not aware of the year the film is set from the scene.

The first few minutes of the film create an action-packed mood with lots of patriotism. This is created by the use and sight of guns, the Union Flag and women. The “James Bond Theme” is one of the most famous theme tunes in the world, this can be heard during the pre-title scene until it eventually starts during the famous gun barrel shot. During the title sequence Nobody Does It better by Carly Simon (who is now in the Songwriters Hall of Fame) is used. As a running theme, famous artist are asked to create and perform the new Bond Song.

From the pre-title scene and the title sequence, the audience can see that the genre of the film is an action. It is action-packed including guns, skiing and danger. It is very male targeted, as there are many images of women with guns. The pre-title scene creates many questions that would intrigue the audience and therefore be more likely to continue watching. These questions might be “Why is he being chased?” “Who are they?” “What is his job?”.

The most obvious aspect is what the audience are likely to expect. From the pre-title scene and title sequence it is easy to see the running theme is women and guns and action. The editing is very fast-paced to exaggerate the action, this will most likely continued throughout the film. The mis-en-scene also shows what is expected to continue for example the use of props like guns and gadgets. Also the use of colour to determine the “bad guys” during the pre-title scene, which shows the “bad guys” wearing black, will be likely to continue. The use of close ups, point of view shots and long shots will be echoed during the film. The use of close ups shows the emotions of the character, this has many benefits including showing the female leads face, the male leads face and possibly the “bad guys” face so the audience are aware what they look like and are not confused during the fast paced cutting. The point of view shots show the action from the leads point of view. The long shot allows the audience to be fully aware of the location.

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Genre Montage

Research and Planning: Introduction to Task

In this task I have chosen to work with Francesca Hickman and Jack Godfrey. We have to create the title sequence and first few minutes of a film of a genre of our choice. We have decided on the genre of film noir.