P1: apply approaches to analysing films with some appropriate use of terminology.

M1: apply approaches to analysing films coherently with reference to detailed illustrative examples and generally correct use of subject terminology.

D1: apply approaches to analysing films critically, supporting points with arguments and elucidated examples, consistently using subject terminology correctly.

Chosen Director: Quentin Tarantino

film theory: Auteur theory.

Quentin Jerome Tarantino was born in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1963, Tarantino directed and co-wrote his first film "My Best Friends Birthday" in 1987. He has made countless films over the years; some of his most notable is Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill Vol 1 and 2.

Tarantino usually has complete management over films and is very much involved in every facet of film-making, as for his visuals, Tarantino uses a very distinctive tone that cannot be matched simply. Famous for long intense dialogue with violence, humour and a nonlinear script, most of his films follow a certain theme, the revenge plot, exemplified in films such as Kill Bill, Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained, among others. He also uses a variety of continual parts such as similar camera angles (POV shots, Mirror shots etc.,) the usage of black and white shades, dance scenes and Mexican standoffs, recurring props such as samurai swords and televisions. Tarantino also frequently uses the same actors in his films some examples are, Uma Therman, Samuel, L, Jackson, Christopher Waltz and Michael Madsen, Tarantino himself has also had multiple cameos in his films. Similar in a sense to Alfred Hitchcock.

A key element of Tarantino’s directorial style is the use of a non linear narrative this compels the audience to invest more attention to the overall development of the film because a non-linear narrative is generally harder to follow along with

Film analysis: Kill Bill Volume 1:

Kill Bill follows a woman known only as the Bride in Kill Bill volume 1, an assassin who is shot at her wedding by her ruthless employer after the massacre of the people attending her wedding, 4 years after this she awakes from a coma, seeking revenge on the four Assassins that played a role in the Massacre.

with this film Tarantino wanted each chapter within the film to provide the audience with a different feeling as it explored various Genres such as western, melodrama, horror and many others the uses or oriental settings and props such as samurai swords, different variety types from kung-fu movies and a few individual animation scenes is a reference to the cinematography of the Asian culture, however the usage of guns, deserts and cowboy attire, all whilst being set in Texas during the massacre scene captures the essence of a western film.

An image of a scene set in a western location           an image of an animated scene

Tarantino uses very dynamic camera work as an obstructive technique that creates less realism and immersion in the film, however it creates more aesthetically pleasing scenes using shots such as Birds eye angles. Long tracking shots and zooming into extreme closeups

    There are several instances in which lighting and sound  is used for the effect of creating a certain atmosphere in the film, for example black and white scenes at the start of the film just before the massacre combined with heavy breathing coming from the main character referred to as “the bride” results in a extremely tense scene where the audience is left wondering what’s gonna happen next until it actually happens.

There are a variety of different set designs within the film, some of the most notable are the western setting, which is used in the majority of the first few chapters of the film, the animation design, which is used in various scenes throughout the movie and then japanese set designs, which is used in the most part in the middle and towards the end of the film, the main characters costume, who is only referred to as the bride during the first film is extremely similar to the costume that is worn by Bruce Lee in the film Game of Death.

The film is choreographed very well, this is evident from the fight scenes in the film.

Tarantino has made exceptional use of color in the film, with many contrasting colors bringing a different meaning to the film, for example the use of a black and white background during the opening scenes of the massacre, depict the need for caution but also bring an element of fear and tension into the film.

There are also scenes when relatively bright colors are used as seen in the image above, the use of the bright oranges and yellows showcase the action packed scene where you really have to focus to be able to understand what’s going on.

The Camera work in the film is also exceptional, the film makes good use of a variety of different angles, such as wide shots, close ups, birds eye views and shots from quite a distance away, all of these shots are used to emphasise a certain thing in the film, for example, a dramatic moment, a sad moment, a romantic moment, etc.

There are an abundance of edits in the film that symbolise a tense or suspense filled moment, a prime example being towards the beginning of the film when the main character is unconscious in a hospital a split screen scene is shown of a women walking along the corridor towards the main characters door intending to assassinate her whilst on the other side of the screen we have the comatose main character just laying on the bed, the split screen in this scene helps to create the tense mood of the scene because it makes you believe that the main character is going to wake up.

Conventions of the film:

This film does not really stick to the common conventions of film because the film is not in chronological order, meaning that it contains flashbacks

and flashforwards, and in some cases, certain chapters take place before another even though in the film it is before, also the film uses a female character as a lead, this is especially rare in a film largely based around Kung fu. In a lot of the film it is quite hard to understand what is happening or what the main premise of the scene is, that is why i consider it not to follow common or standard film conventions.

Chosen Director 2: Tim Burton

Film Theory: Auteur

Timothy Walter Burton was born in Burbank California to Jean Rae (Erickson), who owned a cat themed gift shop, and William Reed Burton, who worked for the Burbank park and recreation department, he spent most of his childhood as a recluse, drawing cartoons, and watching old movies.

Timothy was born on august 25th, 1958. Tim Burton's first feature film was released in 1985, and was called Pee-Wee's big adventure. He has released many films since then, the most notable of them are,

Nightmare on Elm Street, Batman, and Charlie and the chocolate factory.

Tim can be considered an auteur filmmaker because it is very common for him to have a dark and Gothic approach when making a film, Tim Burton's styles are instantly recognisable through the narrative of the films, in most of his films all of his characters have their own unique point of interest that can engage an audience, first he has a character with a dark past, or someone that is haunted by something, this character tends to be the protagonist, there also usually characters from different backgrounds that are all forced together, a prime example of this is in Charlie The Chocolate Factory, in this film, you have charlie, a kind hearted but poor boy that lives with his mother, father and 4 grandparents, Augustus gloop is an obese, greedy, gluttonous boy he is one of the four main antagonists in the film, violet is the third person to find a golden ticket and another one of the four main antagonists, she is vain, self centred and extremely snobby, veruca is a greedy, demanding and manipulative she is also the second person to §find a golden ticket, mike teavee is a boy that does nothing but watch TV, he is bad tempered and slothful but extremely intelligent and then finally you have Johnny Depp's character, Willy Wonka who is the odd owner of an extremely prosperous factory. because Tim Burton usually uses the same actors in the majority of his films some people say that he gave actors like Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter their fame.

Film Analysis: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory:
This comedic film follows young Charlie Bucket and his Grandpa joe as they join a small group of contest winners who get to tour the magical and mysterious factory of the eccentric candy maker Willy Wonka

The aim of this film was to captivate the audience using a variety of different styles and sets such as the massive chocolate producing factory or the big spiral room that is used to sort the nuts.

Tim burton uses very dynamic camera work in this film, including wide angle shots (as seen above), he also includes, close ups, low and high shots and birds eye view shots. The use of lighting and sound in this film can be very deceiving at times, for example, when the oompa loompas are doing their singing, it starts off with a very happy and excitable vibe, until you realize what thay are singing about, and that is either one of the children has to leave or is being taken away, because they have failed the challenges.

The color used in this films is very good also, the use of the bright colors bring a very uplifting vibe to the film, it can also be considered to engage the audience more into the film.

Conventions of the film

This film does not stick to the common conventions of film, this is because of the use of very bright colors, but it also due to the wacky theme of the film as well as the edits such as split screen, also the film has a musical vibe, due to the songs that the oompa loompas perform when one of the children either need to be taken away for one reason or another