Research: Shutter Island Opening

1. What does the set up reveal to the audience about setting?
   The first shot we get of the film is Teddy’s head halfway down a toilet. After this he walks out onto the deck of a ship. From this we can see that the are travelling to somewhere desolate or very hard to get to. Finally they give us a shot of an island covered in trees with only one way on and off. Proving it to be an island in the middle of nowhere, because of this we know that something very important is on the island. 
2. What does the set up reveal to the audience about characters?
   At the start, the first character you see is Teddy, this makes you feel that his is of a large importance to the film. This is then established as true because he then goes out to see his new coworker who addresses him as ‘The great Teddy Daniels’ and asks ‘you okay boss’ from this we can see that Teddy holds a great deal of power in the world of which he world. Although you also get the feeling his isn’t telling the truth about what happened to his wife/girlfriend because when he says she died in a fire it cuts to a shot of the water (which also can explain his unease at being out at sea). 
3. What does the set up reveal to the audience about interrelationships between characters?
   At first from the mannerisms of the two agents, you feel, even though they are new to working together that they will be professional and work well together. However when Teddy and his co-worker are asked to surrender their weapons Teddy does so in a quick and easy fashion unlike his coworker who fumbles. Making us feel that Teddy is who he says he is whereas his coworker is not.
4. What is this ‘world’ like?
   From the set up we can see the ‘world’ is not safe. This is shown buy the eerie music that is played as the boat gets closer and closer to the island. However it suddenly hits a crescendo. This adds to the sense of panic and fear. There is juxtaposed feelings on both the boat, where everything seemed calm. And the island, everything is tensed and gives a sense of panic. This is convincing enough when the guards are brandishing their guns as if they have been told to not trust anyone and everybody is a suspect, even the marshals. Which shows this ‘world’ is not safe and to get out as soon as possible 
5. What possible conflicts or strains are there that will become part of the story later on?
   A possible conflict or strain is that Teddy and his partner have never worked together before, therefore they do not know what they are going to be like or how they work. This is shown when Teddy’s partner asks him if he has a ‘girl’ this shows particular strain as Teddy is forced to remember something he doesn’t want to remember showing that his partner doesn’t know his backstory therefore could ask some question which could effect how Teddy works and acts around him.
6. How does this film opening fit with the codes and conventions of Thriller films?
   This film fits perfectly with the codes and conventions of a Thriller in many ways. Firstly it has many unanswered questions that the audience wants to be answer, for example What really happened to Teddy’s girl? Why cant the Marshal take off his gun easily? Who is the woman who puts her finger to her lips? All these questions make the audience confused but make them keep watching. Also the use of suspense and tension is a key code and convention, this is shown when all the guards of the island hold their guns close to them as though they are fearing the marshals or do not trust them. The use of Camera, Sound, Mise en Scene and Editing are all used to create the atmosphere and tension specific to a Thriller film. Flash backs are common in Thriller films and it is used here to flash back to Teddy’s past and his ‘girl’ although it doesn’t really give us much information. Therefore the films opening fits well with the common codes and conventions of Thrillers.
   

Research: The Use of Setup In Shutter Island

What does the set up reveal to the audience about setting?
During the introduction (scene set up) we are provided with certain pieces of information that help to give the audience an idea of the setting. The first suggestion of the scene setting is when straight after the intro credits we are given the scene setting text that reads ‘Boston Harbor Islands 1954’ this instantly tells us a large amount the scene setting, but without context, its meaning or significance we don’t know why the film is set and starting here. The second suggestion of the scene setting directly follows the scene setting text, we are set in a foggy scene, with the first thing we hear being the waves against the boat, and then the faint sound of the ships horn. Following this the ship appears through the fog giving us our first glimpse of the visual starting scene. 

What does the set up reveal to the audience about characters?

Following the setting of the scene the first character we are introduced to is Teddy. Our first instance of meeting Teddy is him vomiting In a cabin below deck on his own. The first thing that Teddy mutter to himself is “Pull your self together Teddy, pull your self together” and then the key thing he says which follows this is “Its only water” Through the tone of his voice we can tell that he has a history with water, and it starts to make the audience question why he doesn't like water and why is it causing him so much Suffering. Whilst we are being introduced to Teddy the background noise is that of a creaking old ship, this ambient noise could connote back to the feeling that Teddy is uneasy, and worried. 

What does the set up reveal to the audience about interrelationships between characters?

In the opening scene of Shutter Island the set up reveals key information about the first interrelation between two of the films main characters, Teddy and his partner. From the first line of dialogue between the two we are instantly given an idea about the distribution of power, Teddy’s partner asks him “You okay boss”. The connotations of the word ‘boss’ mean the person with power, the person who has the final say. This shows us that we should presume that Teddy is the more powerful of the two in the relationship. The power In this relationship isn’t all it seems to be, when later in the film we learn that Teddy is not a marshal, but really a mental patient that his ‘partner’ was just looking after.

What is this ‘world’ like?

Even from the set up of Shutter Island the ‘world’ can be seen that it is by no means safe and is most likely dangerous. The first thing in the setup that suggests this is the opening music and sound effects. It starts reasonably tense, but slow tempo at the same time then as they ship approaches the island the music gets loader and faster paced. This connotes that their is danger on the island, the fact that the characters become more panicked as they approach the island also suggests this. The second thing in the setup that suggests the world is most likely dangerous is when they reach the island the guards are really on edge and looks like they are expecting danger, they are also holding guns which also connotes to the fact that the world could be treacherous and dangerous.

What possible conflicts or strains are there that will become part of the story later on?

One of the first possible conflicts that could appear later on in the story is the fact that this is the first time that Teddy and his partner have met and started working together. This means that they don’t really know what to expect from each other, and from the set up you can see that their will be some problems between them. Teddy’s partner asks him ‘Have you got a girl’ and of course Teddy lost his girl for a reason that isn’t clear to us yet, this shows how little they know about each other from the start. Another possible strain could be related to water, from the beginning we see that Teddy is uneasy around water and their is bound to be a reason to this which could effect an event that occurs later on in the film, either restricting or impeding the event.

How does this film opening fit with the codes and conventions of Thriller films?

The opening of Shutter Island fits with the codes and conventions of thriller films in various ways. The first reason is due to the use of suspension and tension throughout the film, In the opening of Shutter Island many different questions are started to be asked by the audience (Where are Teddy’s cigarettes? Why is Teddy so nervous around water? Etc.) these questions remain in the audiences mind and helps to build to the atmosphere that we don’t really know what is going on in the film. In thriller films the atmosphere is very important, to build up specific atmospheres in a thriller film different aspects of sound, camera work, dialogue and Mise En Scène are used. A very common aspect of thriller films is used in the opening of Shutter Island, which is flashbacks. They provide information about the characters past, be it their own interpretation of the past, or what really happened. In this case the flashback is of Teddy’s wife, where we see them in a high contrast flashback being happy together. The two detectives (Teddy and his partner) are dressed like typical detectives from a Film Noir thriller film, this use of Mise En Scène helps to establish that it has elements of a detective thriller but with a twist.

Research: Three Key Ideas

Top 3 Ideas for our Thriller film.

 

Emily Strickland:

This activity was very useful as it enabled us to bring all our ideas together and see which are realistically plausible, for example the second idea is set in Antarctica and involves a polar bear, unfortunately no matter how amazing we make this we can't go ahead with it because we can't realistically go to Antarctica and film a polar bear. I like idea three and it's conceivable considering our budget (being nothing!) and local areas, however the narrative event seems a bit common as many thrillers include someone/thing being buried by an old man, we could use the location and adapt the narrative event to make the opening a little more interesting and individual. I really like idea one but filming in prison is going to be near to impossible, despite this it may be possible to use an outbuilding that looks like a cell and edit in the outside of a prison into the opening. The diary seem like an interesting prop that could be a creative way to reveal information about the narrative to the audience, but also allows us to conceal information leaving the audience in the dark about what is being written. Using flashbacks is a good narrative event as it's a common thriller convention.

Molly Baker: 

I found this activity useful as we could finally bring all our ideas together and create one final idea. Also we could see how unrealistic some of our ideas were. An example is the second idea which includes a polar bear and traveling to Antarctica. We decided this maybe wasn't the best idea as even if we could get to Antarctica I have a funny feeling that we wouldn't be able to get a polar bear to act for us. I feel the final idea is the most plausible as the locations are accessible as well as the actors. However my favourite idea is definitely the first one, as it is the most enigmatic yet again getting into a prison and being able to film is going to be impossible. I feel that if we could incorporate the idea one with idea 3 we could have an interesting plot which can become film able. 

Research: Draft Ideas

Final draft of Thriller ideas:

Molly Baker: From this we got the basic narrative ideas towards our thriller film. We chose quite stereotypical ideas as they are proven to be the most effective. For the dialogue we knew that we didn't want much as then it takes away from the suspense and tension, so we decided in the end for brief short statements failing that just sounds of the characters movement. Naming the thriller is definitely going to be the hardest; we do not want to give away what happens during the opening however we want it to be meaningful and have a big impact. The locations we brainstormed are also very stereotypical as they are the places that we as a group thought were the creepiest and had the most disturbing atmosphere.

Research: How Set Up is used in Shutter Island

Through the introduction of Shutter Island, we get an idea of setting.  We are first given hints as to where the first scene will be set, through the use of sound. We can hear the faint sound of a ship's horn in the distance, foreshadowing a possible location of the Set Up.  Furthermore, know exactly where the scene is set due to the text after the opening credits which reads 'Boston Harbor Islands' Because of this credit we know the setting, but not it's significance or meaning. 

The first character the audience meets is 'Teddy.' The set up reveals that he doesn't like boats or water.  We first see him in a cabin alone, vomiting and muttering to himself about how there is 'a lot of water.' Through the tone of his voice we can tell this isn't a good thing which could, in turn hint at things to come.  For example, could water be his downfall, or has it been his downfall in the past?  This also gets the audience wondering why he doesn't like water and why he is in such a bad state.  The music used creates a tense and uneasy atmosphere, telling the audience that something isn't right, this music could also suggest to us that Teddy is feeling the tension and uneasiness, therefore begging the question why is he tense/on edge etc.

Through the opening scenes of Shutter Island, we are introduced to the beginning of a relationship between Teddy and his partner.  Right from the offset a line of dialogue in which Teddy's partner asks: 'you okay boss' gives us an idea of power distribution.  Because Teddy gets called 'boss' we instantly assume that he is the more powerful and important of the two in the relationship.  However, this is juxtaposed by the way Teddy is hunched over, pale looking and afflicted.  Whilst his partner is standing tall and looking over Teddy and showing concern for him as if he is caring for him.  This contrast signifies the apparent change of power later in the film, where Teddy 'realizes' he is not a marshal but in fact a mental patient, of whom his 'partner' was just watching over all along.

From the Setup, we can tell that the 'world' is not safe and possibly dangerous.  In the very first scene, music is used to create a slight sense of tension, as the boat gets closer and closer to the island; the music gets louder and faster which contributes to an even more tense and suspenseful atmosphere.  Because of the way the atmosphere builds and builds as they get closer and closer to the island, we can tell that the island isn't a safe place.  Also, due to the sudden change from the atmosphere on the boat (reasonably calm) to the atmosphere as they approach the island (Tense and panic ridden) the audience can see a big change between the two settings and their respective safeness.  In addition, as they get onto the island, the guards are all brandishing guns, (a sign that they may be expecting danger) and their facial expressions tell us that they are on edge, tense and don't feel safe.  All this contributes to a treacherous and precarious atmosphere, heavily suggesting a lack of safety in the 'world'

The Shutter Island opening fits in with the codes and conventions of thriller films as of many reasons.  Firstly, because of the buildup of tension the audience is kept on edge, hanging on for the next major event.  Build up of atmosphere is vital in thriller films and is achieved by: sound, dialogue, camera work, editing and Mise en scène. Also, many hints and clues are laid out in the opening of Shutter Island, of which may or may not foreshadow narrative events and important developments later on in the film.  Lastly, techniques such as flashbacks are used.  Flashbacks are often seen in both the openings and endings of thriller films as they can explain events that happen in the film, resulting in us piecing together all the important information we are given throughout the film.  This is so we can fully understand the film, only at the end and not before (keeping us on edge and guessing throughout the thriller.) We may see a flashback at the start of the film, for example 'Teddy's wife' and not understand it, but when we are shown it again at the conclusion of the film, we usually understand what actually 'happened,' (although this is often still up for debate!)

Research: The Thriller Genre

Research: Narrative Conventions

Todorov's Theory of Narrative:

Starts at an equilibrium progresses onto a disequilibrium after a problem arrises, solving of the problem and then arrives back at a new equilibrium (very similar to the original equilibrium).

The Three Act Structure:

The three act structure, the beginning (introducing the characters setting the scenes), the middle (tension rising, a problem exists), ending (the climax of the story, can end as a happy ending, but is not generally the case with thriller films).

Levi Strauss:

French theorist, decided that every thriller film has to have a binary opposite, you can't have a hero without a villain.

Examples:

Man vs woman

White vs black

West vs east

Plot Twists and Turns:

Complex and isn't as simple as it first seems, makes the audience of the film have to pay attention and work to understand the film.

Flashbacks:

Dark past of the characters can be revealed, adds to the information we know about the characters, also confuses the audience.

Red Herrings:

Ploys throughout the film to try and confuse the audience and again make the audience work to understand the film and see through the lies.

Chases/Pursuits:

Adds to the tension throughout the film, and also it builds on the excitement and adrenaline.

Mysterious Characters:

Characters with a shady past, unsure of the intentions of the character, keeps the audience guessing.

Deadlines:

Bomb timer adds to the tension and pressure, random demands achieves the same and time keeping adds to this.

Morally Complex Characters:

Makes the audience work to understand the characters.

Misdirection:

Confuses the audience and makes them take the wrong path and makes them work to understand what is happening.

Enigma Codes:

Little hints thought a film that references something that is important for the film, or hints at story lines for future films (like the batman film trilogy).

Narrative Retardation:

Is the holding back of key information so that the audience is unsure what is happening and must continue to watch to find out.

Research: The Third Man (Mise En Scene)

In this first photo you can see that Mise En Scene is used by the body shape which has connotations of vulnerability of the character. The location of this scene is especially important as it creates the effect of claustrophobia and the fact that the character cannot escape from this and that it will be his downfall down in these tunnels. These conventions fit perfectly with that of the typical film noir conventions.

In the second photo you can see that the key part of Mise En Scene is the location and props. The location is on a frozen river with a half sinking boat, this has connotations about the war and how it isn’t a nice place to be. The props that are visible, is the dead man on the middle of the ice, which again has connotations back to it isn't a nice place to be in the post war setting during winter.

In the third photo you can see that the key part of Mise En Scene is the use of shadows and lighting. With the clear shadow visible on the wall next to the stairs it connotes to a semantic field of mystery where we don’t quite know everything about the character. The direction of lighting in this scene is used to create the shadow. The camera shot in this scene is looking down which creates the sense that he is below us.

In the fourth photo you can see that his hands are reaching out into the world (desperation to escape). The use of light on the outside world creates a contrast from the darkness we know is below. The light on his finger tips shows the viewer that he is so close to escaping the darkness of the tunnels. The camera angle is set very low along the street floor which emphasises to the audience that he is powerless and helpless.

Research: Survey

Research: The third man

By the facial expressions in this screenshot, we can see who is the more powerful character and who is in control of the situation. The man on the right of the image is seen as superior due to the way he is holding the other man’s coat and looking directly into his eyes. The man to the left looks to be intimidated, this idea about superiority is also backed up by the way they are standing, the man to the right is leaning forward into the man on the left who leaning away. Lighting is also used in this scene to convey a sense of power. The face of the man to the right is fully shown in bright light for everyone to see, whilst the man to the left has shadows across his face, which further connotes the sense of his inferiority to the man standing above him.

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By the way he is standing; (with arms out wide), we can see the actual size of the tunnel, which creates the feeling that he is trapped and the sense of claustrophobia, this could suggest that he is panicking, which is further backed up by the fact that he is standing dead still. Also, due to the chiaroscuro lighting we see a bright light at the end of the tunnel which is of huge contrast to the dark black tones in the foreground. This lighting conveys a sense of his panic similar to a ‘deer in the headlights.’ The bright light at the end of the tunnel (a symbol for hope) juxtaposes the darkness that surrounds and engulfs him. This paints a picture of just how bad his situation is, due to the direct contrast between light and dark (where he wants to be, and where he is.) This further reflects the reasons for his panic and desperation to escape.

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 The way his hands are stretched out into the outside world, really captures his desperation and hunger to escape. Use of light creates a direct contrast between underground and the outside world. The light shining on his fingertips shows how close he is to escaping, but his body still remains in the dark. Because of the connotations of light and dark, the audience understands his aim which is to escape, because the outside world is light and the below the grate is shadowed in darkness. The light in the street heavily juxtaposes the the tunnel and it’s darkness which, along with the desperation shown through his hands, emphasizes the severity of his situation and just why he is so desperate to escape. The camera angle used gives the audience a first hand experience of the man and his situation. We see the street at a very low angle, looking up to the world, this way the audience can empathise and are more able to see the helplessness and powerlessness that he feels.