Dirty Pretty Things

This film gave me various different inspiration gains from the way that shots were angled, sound was placed in specific areas and they way that different locations were used. The film is set in central London, a busy capital where there is a high presence of police presence and very little corruption within businesses and within the authorities. The storyline of this film works its way into the emotions of the viewers as they are able to bond with characters at the beginning of the film which then creates a relationship throughout the film where the audience do not want the 'good characters' to get hurt. Dirty Pretty Things is successful as a thriller in the sense that it takes a familiar setting of a hotel and places the unthinkable in it. Also, the use of the stereotypical urban gritty location is used.

Firstly, the low angle shot that is used when the male protagonist finds a human heart in the toilet of the hotel was effective due to the mise-en-scene that was also used within the scene. The white clinical scenery of the bathroom is an aspect of a hotel that the audience can recognise and relate to, however when a heart is pulled from the toilet the audience are shocked as something irregular is placed within their comfort zone. I feel that this is effective as the director has purposely chosen the location of the hotel in order to create a relationship with the viewers as nearly everyone has stayed in a hotel. When the heart is found in the toilet the audience will feel uncomfortable and uneasy as they can picture themselves placed in a similar position.

A second scene which stood out was when the female protagonist is in the factory being raped by the owner. The prop placement of the clothing rails created a sense of entrapment for the female victim. This conveys the thriller concept of placing a vulnerable victim in a dangerous situation where the viewers can emphasize with the character. This creates suspense within the audience, it is as if the director is pulling on a string attached to the gut of the viewers as the are wondering what is going to happen next or if someone is going to save the victim. I feel that this is effective because it takes the fear of all members of the audience and places it in a place where they can recognise as a safe location. Within my trailer I am going to aim to include a quick shot of a scene where viewers can notice a location where they feel they would be safe and away from danger and place an unthinkable thought in it.

At various points throughout the extract low angle shots are used on the most victimised character in order to portray the vulnerability of the character. These shots focus on facial expressions, allowing the audience to feel empathy. Shots that focus on the facial expressions of the characters are effective as they allow the audience to understand how the character is feeling at a specific moment in time. Therefore I feel that shots including close ups within my teaser trailer will be effective as the audience will be able to gain enough information through the trailer to make them want to go and watch the film.

The low key lighting throughout the film was shadowy and dark, creating a grey and oppressive mood throughout the film. It also makes the viewer realise that there are things going on around London that aren't shown through the media or brought to public attention. The setting also seems hidden and secretive. For instance, the location of the flat, hotel car park and the cab office are all on the backstreets of London.

Sound seems absent throughout the extract with occasional parallel sound ; for example the heartbeat in the hotel room when operating. This works effectively  as silence is sometimes more effective than sound. The absence of sound allows the viewers to relate to the characters and concentrate on the events occurring within the film. Therefore I feel that when deciding on what sound to include with my trailer I will need to decide whether the absence of sound will suit the story line more effectively than dark creepy sound.

The most inspirational scene of this film in the graveyard scene where the male and female protagonists are taking place in an argument. This is because the location is in the middle of London where as a viewer you would believe that you are the most safe. This graveyard is located in the local area of Old Street and I feel that my group should consider filming a scene here as the mise-en-scene needs no editing or tweaking. The placement of the railings and gravestones surrounding the characters create the feeling of being locked in an area that no one would like to be trapped in.