‘Psycho’ Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

Themes What is a THEME? As we watch the film, consider and note down what you think some of the main themes of the movie are.

Genre What do we mean by film genre? What are some examples of film genre? Name as many as you can. What characteristics make a film belong to a certain genre?

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Genre  Work in pairs to make mind maps of the following film genres:  COMEDY  SCI-FI  ROMANCE  ACTION  Think about the CHARACTERISTICS which make up each genre of film

GENRE HORROR

Genre  Work in pairs to make mind maps of the following film genres:  COMEDY  SCI-FI  ROMANCE  ACTION  Think about the CHARACTERISTICS which make up each genre of film

Lighting Lighting is used by the directors and cinematographer to create MOOD and ATMOSPHERE. Two types of lighting used are LOW-KEY LIGHTING and HIGH-KEY LIGHTING.

Lighting LOW-KEY lighting is when the lighting of a scene is very dark, with shadows and only a few bright spots. This helps create TENSION in a scene, and indicates that something may be about to happen, or to emphasise a subdued mood.

Lighting HIGH-KEY lighting is when a shot is evenly lit, with few dark areas. There tends not to be a lot of tension in scenes like this, however, directors can use too bright lighting to emphasise pressure.

Lighting Which of the below images are LOW-KEY and HIGH-KEY lighting? What effect does it create for the audience?

Lighting

Looking at lighting in the following clips, what effect does it have on the audience? How does the director use lighting to convey meaning in these scenes? Make notes in your jotter.

Recap Quiz 1.What does the term ‘genre’ mean? 2.What is the term used to describe dark lighting in a film? 3.What effect does this create? 4.What is the opposite effect called? 5.What shot would use to show a character's emotions? 6.What shot would we use to establish a location?

Film Techniques - Sequence What is a SEQUENCE?  In the same way that you know the code for getting words in a sentence in the right order (you don’t say, for example. ‘Name my John is’), the film maker has codes for conveying his messages. A film- maker’s ‘sentence’ is a sequence of shots; and to make sense they come in a definite order.

Camera Shots and Angles Long shots are often used at the start of a film to tell you where a film is set. A long shot is taken from far away and shows a big picture. Look at the following long shots and discuss what information the director might be wanting to tell the audience about where and when the film will take place or even what kind of film it will be.

Long Shot Where is this? Note how just one image instantly sets this film in a particular place. With one frame the director tells the audience where the film will be set.

Another long shot Where is this? What kind of a film would begin with this sort of image?

Where is this? What kind of a feeling does this image give the audience?

Long Shot When do you think a film that begins with this scene might be set?

Medium Shot This is often used to show characters in a background

Medium Shot This is a typical medium shot, placing a character in a background.

Close Up  The next type of camera shot is the close up.  These are often used to show how a person is feeling.  A close up can also focus in on a thing to emphasise it.

Close Up This is a close up shot of a woman’s face. What do you notice about her?

Another Close Up What emotion do you think this boy is showing? How is he feeling?

More close ups How are these people feeling? How do you feel when you look at these images?

Close Ups  How do you feel when you see this close up?  Why do you think the film maker used this shot?

Close Ups  How do you feel when you see this close up?  Why do you think the film maker used this shot?

Close ups can also be used for things.

More close ups

EXTREME CLOSE UP. It is when the camera focuses very closely in on a subject.

Class Task Task We are now going to watch a scene from a film. Complete the Deconstructing sheets with as many detailed notes on the techniques being used and the effect they have. Think about how these shots have been used in this film. Is it effective?

Camera Angles We are going to look at 2 kinds of camera angles: A high camera angle – when the camera looks down on a person or thing. A low camera angle – when the camera looks up at a person or thing.

High Camera Angle Here is a camera man up high aiming his camera DOWN at the subject for a high camera angle.

High camera angles look down on the subject

High Camera Angle This shot from The Lord of the Rings shows Frodo looking down on Gollum making him look small and weak.

High Camera Angle What is the director trying to CONVEY through this camera angle? What does this shot EMPHASISE about the character?

Low Camera Angle A low angle shot is when the camera is aimed UP at the subject.

Low Camera Angle A low camera angle makes the person look powerful and strong. It was frequently used in propaganda to highlight the strengths and omnipotence of leaders, such as Hitler.

More low camera angles

Low Camera Angle By placing the audience below this character, we understand that this character appears larger, more powerful – he seems to b a threat to Marion, who seems more vulnerable than he does.

Active Listening Task As we are watching the next part of the film, make a note in your jotter of when the following camera shots, angles and lighting are used, and the effect they have: - Close Up - Medium shot - Long shot - Extreme Close Up - High Angle shot - Low Angle shot - Low-key lighting - High-key lighting

Quick Quiz Each of the next slides shows one of the genres, camera shots or angles we have looked at. See if you can tell what each one is. Work INDIVIDUALLY, and write the answers in your jotter.

What camera angle is this? What effect does it create?

What kind of shot is this? Why would a director use this?

What film genre is this? How do we know?

What is this shot called? What does it tell us about the movie? Think about setting, genre, possible plot and characters.

What camera angle is used here? What does it suggest?

This is an ACTION movie – true or false? How do we know?

Explain Low-key and High- key lighting.

What kind of shot is this?

Sound Techniques Music Sound effects (SFX)- thunder, car horns, ringing bells or any other sound Background noise (people talking, traffic) Accent (the accent that characters have) Dialogue (what characters say)

Sound Techniques What do you think these techniques are used for? Music (background or soundtrack) Sound effects (SFX) Background noise

Sound Techniques Create or evoke emotions tension, fear, sympathy etc Build to climax Decrease to anti-climax To focus your attention on a specific sound Provide realism

Music Watch the following clip, and think about how the change in the music and sound affects the scene. VP5jEAP3K4

Sound Now, let’s watch part of the movie. Make a note in your jotter of when you see: Certain sound techniques, such as music or SFX Note down the effect these have on the scene Why has the director used these? What do they emphasise? What meaning is he trying to convey to us?

Mise-en-scène The arrangement of everything that appears in the framing – actors, lighting, décor, props, costume – is called mise-en-scène, a French term which means “placing on stage.” The frame and camerawork also constitute the mise-en-scène of a movie. It basically means everything what you see in each scene of a film.It basically means everything what you see in each scene of a film.

What do we look for? Setting and props. Costume and make up. Lighting and colour. The way items and people are positioned. ALL OF THESE ELEMENTS CAN TELL US MORE ABOUT THE CHARACTERS, SETTING AND PLOT

Setting and Props In the movie, the Bates Motel is presided over by the large, imposing home of Norman and his mother. The SETTING here is isolated, as well as decidedly dark and sinister. This emphasises the vulnerability of the characters and the threat the killer poses (NB – the low angle shot also suggests the threat that this home represents)

Setting and Props The use of PROPS is incredibly important, particularly in the parlour scene. The stuffed birds surrounding Norman not only seem threatening – one even appears to be poised to attack Marion – but SYMBOLISE the lack of freedom that Norman experiences so keenly.

Costumes and Make Up What COSTUMES are used in the movie to tell us more about the characters?

The Way Items and People are Positioned The most important thing in a shot is usually placed IN THE CENTRE Our eye naturally falls to the centre of a frame Film makers use this to their advantage and place what they want us to focus on most in the middle of the shot

The Way Items and People are Positioned

Mise-en-scène Look at this frame Why do you think the mise-en-scène has been arranged like this? What does it tell us?

Mise-en-scène Look at this frame Why do you think the mise-en-scène has been arranged like this?

Task As we watch this scene, describe the mise-en- scène, and what this tells us about the CHARACTERS, SETTING and PLOT. Remember, you need to include: - Setting and props - Costume and make up - Lighting and colour - The way items and people are positioned

Symbolism A symbol is an object, action or idea that represents something other than itself, often of a more abstract nature. Often, a film will use symbols to emphasise a movie’s themes, ideas and issues.

Connotations The sun is literally a yellowish ball in the sky, but the word ‘connotes' to us meanings such as warmth, cheerfulness, life, etc. A teddy bear is a stuffed, brown plaything but it ‘connotes' comfort and childhood innocence to us.

Task Continue watching the movie In your jotters, note down any possible SYMBOLS used in the film. You should write down what the symbol is, as well as what you think it represents.

Task In groups, now note down as many example of the different techniques as you can. You should note down: what the technique is describe it roughly when it appears in the movie and – most importantly – the meaning it conveys.

Introduction TART Title – Author (or director in this case) – Refer to Task (essay question) Alfred Hitchcock’s seminal horror ‘Psycho’ portrays the sudden murder of its main character, Marion, by the seemingly-meek motel owner Norman Bates. However, even before the infamous shower scene where Marion meets her fate, Hitchcock makes skilled use of techniques such as lighting, mise-en-scene and sound to create an unnerving, tense atmosphere within the parlour scene – one that inhabits the film as a whole. Through his effective use of these techniques, Hitchcock subtly suggests the danger that Norman represents to Marion, and foreshadows his shocking unveiling at the film’s climax.

Task Look at the critical essay question. Pick out what you think are the KEY WORDS. Now find SYNONYMS for these key words.

Success Criteria What makes a good essay? Good analysis – detail, relevant to question Good evidence – description of scene/shot/technique, relevant to question, able to analyse in depth. Topic sentences Technical accuracy – punctuation, spelling, paragraphs, phrasing, capitals. Flows well – connectives/linking language, order of techniques/scenes. Wide vocabulary REFER TO QUESTION!

How to Make Sure You Answer the Question First of all, read the question carefully TWICE. Sounds simple, but you wouldn’t believe how many people misread the question and answer based on what they THINK it asks them rather than what it actually does. Secondly, pick out KEY WORDS from the question – note these down and try to think of alternative language/synonyms for them. By having this language in your topic sentence and evaluation, you ensure you refer to the question. By thinking of synonyms for the key words, you ensure your language and vocabulary is varied (nothing worse than a boring, repetitive essay)

Point The Point is simply what each paragraph is about- you make a main point in every paragraph you write. This is usually the TOPIC SENTENCE you use. Do not signpost your paragraph e.g. do not say “I am going to talk about”

What is a TOPIC SENTENCE? This is basically a sentence that introduces what the paragraph is going to be about. You should mention WHAT you are going to discuss in the paragraph, and refer back to the question. REMEMBER YOUR KEY WORDS AND ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE!

Topic Sentences All TOPIC SENTENCES should make some reference to the essay question. A good way to do this is through the KEY WORDS we extract from the essay question.

Example Topic Sentences In ‘Psycho’, Hitchcock uses contrasts in lighting to create atmosphere and tension in the parlour scene, as well as hint at another side to Norman’s character. As well as this, Hitchock’s use of mise-en-scene also serves to highlight the growing danger Marion is in, foreshadowing what is to come later in the film. It is in the smallest details that we begin to see a picture of what lies beneath Norman’s naïve exterior, through the placement of reflections in the cabin window.

Referencing the question A reader should be able to guess what the essay question is simply by looking at your essay. It is VITAL that you ensure you refer to the question throughout – this is the only way you will be sure that you have actually answered the question!

Evidence The evidence is the quotation or description of the scene, shot or technique you are using to back up your point. It is important that you pick evidence that you can explain and evaluate FULLY. Never just drop evidence in – always introduce them within the CONTEXT of the story, i.e. what is happening at this point in the story or film, what characters are involved and who they are, etc.

EXAMPLE TOPIC SENTENCE: In ‘Psycho’, Hitchcock uses contrasts in lighting to create atmosphere and tension in the parlour scene, as well as hint at another side to Norman’s character. EVIDENCE: As Marion and Norman eat dinner in the parlour, the lighting used on Marion is warm and bright. However, in sharp contrast to this, the lighting on Norman is low-key, with dark shadows obscuring one side of his face.

Evaluation (Analysis) This is the chance for you to explain how the quotation backs up the point you are making You need to make sure that you fully explain the quotation or shot/scene/technique. You then need to evaluate it - give your opinion on how successful it is. Your opinion should be implicit - do not write “I think”.

EXAMPLE TOPIC SENTENCE: In ‘Psycho’, Hitchcock uses contrasts in lighting to create atmosphere and tension in the parlour scene, as well as hint at another side to Norman’s character. EVIDENCE: As Marion and Norman eat dinner in the parlour, the lighting used on Marion is warm and bright. However, in sharp contrast to this, the lighting on Norman is low-key, with dark shadows obscuring one side of his face. EVALUATION: What this use of lighting does so effectively is to begin to suggest that there is a far darker side to Norman than first appears. The shadows obscuring the side of his face not only insinuate the danger he poses to Marion - amplifying the tension within this already uncomfortable scene - but also successfully foreshadow the unveiling of his dual personality at the climax of the film.

Putting P E E Together Point/ Topic Sentence. Evidence – description of scene and technique. Evaluation/Analysis. And that’s ONE paragraph.

EXAMPLE In ‘Psycho’, Hitchcock uses contrasts in lighting to create atmosphere and tension in the parlour scene, as well as hint at another side to Norman’s character. As Marion and Norman eat dinner in the parlour, the lighting used on Marion is warm and bright. However, in sharp contrast to this, the lighting on Norman is low-key, with dark shadows obscuring one side of his face. What this use of lighting does so effectively is to begin to suggest that there is a far darker side to Norman than first appears. The shadows obscuring the side of his face not only insinuate the danger he poses to Marion - amplifying the tension within this already uncomfortable scene - but also successfully foreshadow the unveiling of his dual personality at the climax of the film.

How do we write a conclusion? An effective conclusion should: Refer back to the question. Summarise your main points. Comment on how effective the writer/director has been in their use of techniques. Use TART again.

Critical Essay Using the PEE structure, create TWO detailed essay plans based on TWO questions from the Essay Questions sheet. Complete ONE of these under timed conditions, i.e. within an hour, and complete the other at home to the very best of your ability.