Aims and Context

Context: A short sequence from the film 'Double Crossing'. The Film is based on the genre Film Noir. It focuses on two main characters and expresses themes of Sex,Lust and Desire.

Aims: Using Cinematography and Mise en scene to portray the underlying issues of the sequence. By using the coventional low angle, dutch angle shots to convery the disorientation of the narrative and both characters. In addition to this using reflective shots through mirrors will represent the Femme Fatale character within my film.

By using Mise en Scene i will be able to express the mood and tone of the short sequence. Film Noir is known for it's striking visuals. So with the use of costume and props i will be able to conventionally stick to the stylistics. Another is lighting which casts shadows across the interior of my chosen place to film. This is known as chiaroscuro.

I also aim to use flashbacks as this links to the disorientation of the films narrative and disrupts the connection from one scene to another.

The target audience for my film is 18+ as the storyline can be confusing at times and also expresses sexual desire. This is something people can relate to as desire is a common feeling within society.

Convetions of Film Noir

Conventions of Film Noir

When looking at Film Noir there are many stylistics and thematic that accompany each other to create this iconic genre. Over the years there has been many controversy whether to label this ‘art form’ a genre because of it’s classic independence.

When looking at the classic visual style of Film Noir they are associated with low key lighting, contrast of light and dark and dramatic shadows of lines and patterns, this style also known as Chiaroscuro. These shadows of Venetian blinds or banister rods reflect upon a character, wall or the entire room and is an iconic visual within Noir. Visual style is shown through Cinematography in film noir and is easily recognisable because of its expressive lighting, deep focus of depth of field camera work, disorientating visual schemes, jarring editing or juxtaposition of elements, ominous shadows and skewed camera angles. Shots of characters reflected in one or more mirrors, shots through curved or frosted glass.

These cinematic choices emphasise the story’s themes and moods. Film Noir presents themes of anxiety, pessimism, suspicion, alienation, disillusionment, disenchantment, good vs evil, moral corruption, desperation, paranoia, cynical attitudes and sexual motives.

When looking at the storylines of Film Noir they were often elliptical, non linear and twisting. Narratives were frequently complex, maze like and convulted and typically told with foreboding background music and flashbacks. The flashbacks were shown through dissolves, wipe of fades. The plot and feelings of characters were narrated through voice over’s as a narrative structure device.

The plot is always a crime usually murder and is an element of most Film Noirs. The motivation of the crime is usually due to greed, lust and jealousy. In other common plots the protagonists is involved in heists or murderous conspiracies often involving adulterous affairs. In the heart of various settings Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco. Chicago. These high class places famous for wealth and beauty is turned into the underworld where Film Noir expresses the dark side of the human mind.

The most iconic characters within Film Noir is the Main Protagonist who is presented on screen as lonely and easily led. He captures the eye of a Femme Fatale who leads him into her manipulative and corrupted schemes leaving him to take the blame.

The use of mirrors and the framing of objects link to the conventions of Film Noir. It also brings you to attention that this film is about double crossing characters with only certain things on their mind. Murder and Sex.

Storyboard Influences

I recently watched Sin City directed by Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez, 2005. I purposely knew that it origins from Film Noir and German expressionism. Looking at the harsh contrast of black and white certain scenes within the film have influenced the creation of my storyboard. For example;

These two images are the same shots in the comic and the film. As you can see there is not much difference between them both and have a clear visual link to german expressionism. The disorientation of the image links to the storyline of Sin City and also the conventions of Film Noir. The iron bars create height emphasising the entrapment of the character.