Responce to "Chainmail"

As a piece, this was oe of the most sophisticated. From the titles you could tell this. instead of trying to be over complicated with ideas, they used a simple text shown over the action on film. Although others may have showns a scense of imagination they failed to seem real. If anything they seemed over hatched. This title sequence was simple, and more effective for it. They id however enhance the imagery of them by making them slightly contorted and abstract, but not over done. In some way this could go towards aiding the audience build an idea of what kind of a thriller it could turn out to be. One that is subtle but still sinister.


The camera work was interesting. It used a range of close ups and medium high angled shots for effect. The close ups of the moving chains and the quick cuts and changes helped add to the tension of the piece. Building up to something that the audience are expecting but never comes. Although this was one of the things that people seemed to hate about the piece i felt the opposite. I felt that it showed that the ilm makers had a controle of the audience; something that is needed from a thriller maker.


There was also a few uses of a high angle long range shot. On a few occasions the shot was used in the office room with the feme fatale in her work office. The camera was used used at a high angle and made her seem as though th killer was a fly on the wall or a preditor looking at her. This was also seen in the one of the beggining shots and the ending shot of a train going in and going out. It made it seem as though the stalker is always there, everyday, everywhere. In someway, using these shots in the way they have has created a scense of continuety. I don't know whether this was done on purpose but if it was or not, its there, and it looks good.
In the same office shot, there understadning of lighting came through, providing use with a shot that used noir qualities. Creating shadows and dark angles. The lighting made the audience feel as if there was something evil around, as if somehting bad as going to happen. This use of lights and an overall dirty looking set created a dark and unclean mis en scene, that made the audience feel uneasy and on edge. Like most thrillers, the mis en scene plays a big part in its aim. This was understood by the group and created the right embience for "Chainmail"

The narrative of the piece was a good chioce for a thriller, showing some classical generic themes that enhanced the piece. The idea of a chained up evil character was one that i as an audience member could easily identify, but at the same time original. It is an image that can stick with you; the moving chains and the dark areas around the building that also add the noir feel of the piece. The chains also enhanced the evil ofthe unvailed character. As if nothing could hold him down from what he does.

The image of a helpless female alone is one that is seen frequantly in thrillers. Someone that the eventual protaganist/ hero could maybe come and help or save. This is not to say that in thrillers, women are always the person in need, especially in modern day thrillers. Actors like Jodie Foster are leading the way for femal actresses to be somethin more than the person in need and in some cases the hero.

This was the first of all the pieces that didn't just resort to using a over playing track to create the tension in the piece. "Cainmail" uses the diagetic sound of the chain to build a scense of fear within us. We also heard the sounds of the computers turning as they worked in the office. All these diagetic sounds were really refreshing in some way from the others because there was something more to the sound.

Out of all the pieces this was one of few that i really enjoyed and challenged me as an audience member. I would have been interested to know what the ideas for the rest of the piece were because im sure they would have been really strong.