2. I decided to analyse Cloverfield it for my media coursework as the handheld camera drew me to the
video. The use of an 'amateur' camera man automatically makes the viewer relate as not everyone is a
skilled cameraman, and it also puts them directly into the action as if its a continuous point of view shot.
This style of film would be conventionally possible for me to recreate in my coursework.
The video starts off with a 'fact' in order to set the scene of
what the film is about. Although the 'fact' is supposing what
actually happened is true, the viewer knows it isn't, but this
doesn't deteriorate the attraction towards this film. After a
silent few seconds for the audience to read the fact, a
diegetic noise is then added in quick succession after the
text, which breaks the tension and adds a little more fear as
suddenly there is noise. The clip then goes into 'rewind' as it
seems that we, as the viewer are in control of what is on the
screen in front of us, and we are controlling how the movie
is to be played.
This transition signifies a change in flow in the
trailer, the sustained equilibrium is no more. The
inverted colouring over a few frames accompanied by
a loud ‘banging/photo’ noise shows this. You could
suggest that this transition is used to connotate
death, one side of this being the idea that this effect
(accompanied by flash noise in background) resembles
that of a crime scene. On the other hand you could
suggest that the colouring that only displays black and
white (no grey) could be resembalant in respect that
the black colours represent the ‘aliens’ and their
negative connotations in contrast with the white
displaying the humans and their fight for freedom.
3. In this scene we see a meteor of some kind hit the city with
a large crowd yelling in shock. This allows the audience to
understand the plot, and that we no know that something
has 'invaded' the city. Again, the use of the handheld camera
plays a good part as we still feel as if we are part of the
action and we are witnessing all of this first hand. Although
it is a handheld camera, there are still shots that help the
viewer understand what is going on. For example as the
meteor hits the city, the camera follows this to the ground
and we see the whole thing so we still know in full detail
what is going on. After this clip, again there is another
inverted image transition which tells us we are about to
move on from this clip onto the next one.
We then see another meteor hit from a separate angle, this
poses the idea that something is intending to 'attack the
city' and they are all in danger. This keeps the audience
wanting to find out who or what is causing this attack. After
the 'meteor' hits and lands, the camera follows it until it
comes to a hault. This is then when we find out that it
wasn't a meteor but the statue of liberty's head. This helps
towards the realism of the film as due to the prior
audience's knowledge, we now know that the film takes
place in new york.
4. Throughout the video there is no non-diegetic audio
(excluding the glitch cross-cutting), which makes the
verisimilitude of the film more intact. It also doesn't take
away the concentration of the viewer on what is actually
happening in the clip.
There are then a series of jump cuts full of people being
hurt, or being helped by other civilians, more explosions etc.
this helps the audience to understand what to expect when
they see this at the cinema as they know it's an action
packed film.
There is then a close up of what we can assume is
There are numerous narratives being said throughout the
jump cut which could still leave the audience possibly the 'main character'. He is directly talking to the
confused and wanting to find out more. This is to build hype camera/audience which personally I find to be a
for the film which I feel would be a useful feature in a trailer. useful feature when trying to create realism as in
most films, they never talk directly to the audience
After many more jump cuts, the title then appears on the which lets us know we are just here to 'view' and
screen with low 'scary' sound effects. This is the only non- to not interact with. This is the first piece of useful
diegetic sound played in the entire clip which is just about
dialog within the entire clip as it gives us detail into
enough for it to create tension.
who the main character is (Robert Hawking) and
Overall the trailer provides enough information for the what is actually happening in the film. It is very
viewer to know they either want to or don't want to see cleverly edited however as although the character
it, but also keeps enough information secret as for the gives away a lot of detail, there still isn't enough
viewer to want to find out more and keeps them guessing. detail for us to know precisely what is attacking the
city.
5. The sky shows somewhat of an element of pathetic fallacy
as the contrasting blue/ brown colours creates a woeful
appearance as if something terrible is happening. This links
to the colour scheme on the poster of which is dark and
melancholy, there seems to be a great disturbance within
the city and the audience has a detached view, adding an
element of Pathos.
The city is in disaster, with smoke representing a sign of
distress, so both the connotation and denotation are
apparent. In relation to the rupture in the sea which would
indicate a similar monster to Godzilla who famously rose
from the depths, creating a sense of nostalgia and mystery
as there is no physical sign of the monster.
The title ‘Cloverfield’ has a blurred, aluminous effect with
a green tint to it, this relates to the alien theme
again, and the brightness reminds the viewer of beams of
light which is associated with UFO’s. The blurriness
reflects the distortion and destruction of the city. The font
is simple and large so it stands out clearly. This title also
raises the question ‘Why Cloverfield’?
6. In reference to the ‘creature’, the fact that the main headline
“Some thing has found us” emphasising on “some thing”
spelt as two words instead of one to suggest some kind of
creature acts as an enigma code for the poster.
We know from the colour and other factors of the poster
that the film includes an element of Sci-Fi, making the
typical audience for this males of a varied aged group.
Perhaps between 14-30 years old as someone over 30 might
find the film to unrealistic and someone under 14 might find
it too scary.
The Statue of Liberty is added as a graphical effect and adds
an ominous ambience. The date of release is at the bottom
and its basic text suggests it was used to stand out from the
CGI of the Statue of Liberty. The movie poster may suggest
the film is a ‘thriller’ because of the destruction in the
background, you could suggest that it is an action movie
however it could easily be related to a horror due to the
absence of the create causing destruction. No USP is
given, except for the fact that the Statue of Liberty is in
danger. The poster could be viewed negatively on the
grounds that it desecrates an American landmark and the
films controversy because of its similarities to the 9/11
attacks.
