Noir Mood Board (Yes, I really like Noir)

What is Film Noir?

What Exactly is Noir?

"Noir" is a genre of film characterized by intricate storytelling and crime fiction themes. It is extremely stylized and reliant on stock characters of a certain type. The "Noir" translates to "film black"; when the genre originated in the 40's all films were in black and white, even after movies transitioned to color film noir retained the darkened palette of its early years. The plot of a classic noir usually revolves around a murder mystery of some sort in which a fatally-flawed character is motivated by his desire for answers to resolve the conflict. At some point, the character falls under the influence of a femme fatale who often sets off the motion of the plot by introducing the 'case'. Classic examples of noir include "The Big Sleep" and "The Maltese Falcon" both starring Humphrey Bogart. Although the genre has evolved dramatically over time, its core elements remain intact, as seen in "Sin City" "Dark City" and of course "Brick".

Camera Techniques

Camerawork in film noir is eclectic, often with extreme low or high angled shots. The lighting is often dark or washed out in shades of gray, which contributes to the genre's melancholic tone. The background can be in equal focus, giving a sense of ambiguity. Frame compositions are out-of-balance, with mirrors and reflections in various scenes to convey themes of duality and highlight secrets.


Modernist Noir Elements of "Brick"

In this regard, "Brick" is characteristic of noir; shot mainly in a suburban setting at a highschool, mirroring the typical urban city setting. The color palette is dour, full of gray and other muted tones. Although the characters are high school studies, they speak in rapid-fire, witty and cynical exchanged that associate them with classic noir archetypes. The protagonist, Brendan, fits the mold of the hard-boiled detective on a case, and is surrounded by a cast of equally traditional figures; the femme fatale with a secret (Laura), the unintelligent muscle (Tug), the sinister crime figure (The Pin)...  More than any specific quality, the noirishness of "Brick" derived from a deep sense of pessimism about human nature; the characters seem to be resigned to their fates, and even Brendan is attempting to solve a mystery for his personal redemption rather and out of a sense of good.  

Is Ferris Bueller real? - The Fight Club Syndrome

Voices in Your Head:

Imagined Characters in Movies

All of us have subconscious hopes and dreams that we are unable to make real in our everyday lives. Maybe we don't have the money to become the space tourists we always wanted to become, or simply aren't capable of growing Wolverine claws. Anyways, we're all trapped in a way because we cannot extend ourselves as much films portray fantasies as reality. This is a key part of the appeal of movies; they can wish-fulfillment; allowing the audience to live out their dreams through the characters.

Even so, movies are also commentaries on reality, either as we actually experience it, or as we would like it to be. Characters exist in fictional worlds with their own rules that govern their behavior. Sometimes, they too cannot be who they really want to be. Through the power of imagination, they can will another character into life, someone with the power to do what they cannot...

The classic example of this technique of Fight Club where the unnamed protagonist, played by Ed Norton, feels emasculated and worthless in modern society. He makes a friend, Tyler Durden, who liberates him and changes the way he sees the world. However, it turns out that Tyler was a figment of his imagination, a creation of his subconscious specifically designed to help him become someone else. 

Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a classic of 1980's teen cinema. Ferris is a good-looking, popular young man who pretends to be sick and takes a day off to party and have fun. He enlists his friend Cameron, who is a bundled wreck of nerves and repression. Together, they have a lot of fun, although they do end up wrecking Cameron's dad's Ferrari... Ferris himself plays a role quite similar to that of Tyler Durden, freeing Cameron from the structures and restrictions of teenage life. Ferris allows Cameron to live out a fantasy that he would probably not have been able to make happen on his own. Now, there is no explicit part of the movie saying that Ferris is imaginary, but his role as a wish-fulfillment device for Cameron, not to mention his sheer extreme cartoonish recklessness, and led to some interesting fan theories online. 

The Art of Killing off Characters...

Ever since the beginning of cinema, characters have been killed off in movies. There are multiple reasons why writers would kill off a character, whether it be because of plot advancement, unpopularity, budget cuts, or because why not?

There are both good and bad reasons to kill off characters. Sometimes the act of killing a character actually benefits the work as a whole. On the other hand, if done for the wrong reasons, then it can be a sign of cynicism or commercialism by the filmmakers. So, before writers decide to say goodbye to a character, they should consider:

1. Does the character's death advance the plot?

For example: Sonny Corleone's demise in the "Godfather" (1972)-> allows his brother Michael Corleone, to step in and inherit the family's wealth as crime boss and eliminate all his enemies. In this case the death of Sonny is a key part of the rise (and fall) of the Corleone family, which is the main story of the Godfather trilogy.

2. Is the death relevant to any story/side arc?

For example: In Lord of the Rings, Boromir dies, allowing Aragorn to consolidate authority over the Fellowship. Boromir is a relatively minor character, but the audience is still invested in him (perhaps because he's the closest we get to a 'normal' person, serving in a way as an audience stand-in). Still, his death is instrumental in Aragon's rise. 

3. How does the situation justify the death?

For example: The execution of Ned Stark in Game of Thrones. Unlike Boromir, who falls victim to greed and lust for power, Ned Stark stays faithful to his principles. Arguably, this sense of honor leads to his downfall. Game of Thrones is a story of flawed people fighting for influence, so in way the death of a truly honorable character set the tone for the rest of the series.   

4. How valuable is the character/The weight of their impact on the story - Main Character vs Secondary Character

5. The attachment to this character from both other characters and audience

6. The audiences predicted reception of the death

Understanding Sub-Genres

A sub-genre is a term for a more specialized category of film within the larger genre. It may incorporate elements of other genres into an established framework or simply combine two existing genres equally. Two of the most popularity subgenres in contemporary cinema are psychological thrillers (i.e. Fight Club, Se7en) and Superhero films (Avengers et al...) which are so popular that they have become genres on their own.

Origins of Subgenres

As the number of movies made annually has increased exponentially, filmmakers have had the opportunity to target specific demographics (for more about this, check out my post on audience segmentation!) leading in turn to a proliferation of sub-genres. Not only that, but the rise of the internet and global communication has allowed subcultures which previous lived in the shadows (i.e. D&D enthusiasts) to connect with one connect and begin to influence the cultural mainstream. Thus, films such as Lord of the Rings, which if released in the 1970s would probably have appealed to a much more limited audience, are a combination of fantasy-adventure which has demonstrated global appeal.

A Changing Filmmaking Environment

The production and distribution of sub-genres has both advantages and drawbacks for the film industry as a whole. Regarding the positives, as film audiences have both grown and become more segmented, moviemakers have gained the ability to tailor their films to specific audiences without having to compromise in order to reach the mass market. Classic films like Snakes on a Plane and Sharknado were pitched on a very specific premise (I've had it with these @#$%#$%#$ Snakes on this #$%#$%@ Plane!) that would probably have had trouble securing studio funding in a more risk-averse economic climate. This stands in sharp contrast of purely market-driven vehicles such as the Fast and the Furious, which are pitched at such a broad audience that they arguably lose all nuance and creative integrity.

The Risks of Subgenres

On the other hand, sub-genres have disadvantages as well. Due to increasing audience segmentation around the world, movies that are extremely specialized sacrifice the possibility of accessing a mainstream audience and generating greater profits. As a result, unless a subgenre has a proven history of box office appeal studios are less likely to devote financial resources to it, both in terms of production and distribution, limiting it's eventual impact. This might explain why certain subgenres (dark fantasy and dark country, for example) have had success despite very enthusiastic and committed fanbases.

Understanding Thriller Audiences

The Appeal of Thrillers

Each of the major genres in cinema has a particular appeal: horror films are designed to scare, comedies make people laugh, etc... The effect of a particular genre is created by a combination of plot, dialogue, set-design, camerawork, soundtrack, and many other factors. Although any film within a genre can be more or less successful in achieving that goal, movies of a certain type will often share many common characteristics. Slash Horror films, for example, will often introduce a character we are reasonably certain isn't going to make it...   

The thriller genre is intended to excite audiences, thrilling them with action and engaging them with a complex plot, often with a surprise reveal, or 'twist', at the climax. As with any genre, thrillers generally appeal to a particular demographic; in this case on that is more adult. Children often lack to the patience to sit through the long, complex thriller plot lines. Also, because they are dialogue-heavy, thrillers are more likely to be popular within the countries they are made, as foreign audiences cannot understand what the characters are saying, and a lot of people are turned off by subtitles. 

Some Classic Thrillers for Your Perusal

    

Audience Segmentation

Audience Segmentation:

Films and Video Games

To successfully create and release a film/video game, one must understand it's target audience before they are able to make any decisions. Audiences are usually divided by age and gender, in which producers usually take into consideration before launching their project. These factors play a pivotal role in shaping the outcome.

Age: As people get older, their tastes in movies evolve as well. This can affect many aspects of the movies they are drawn to, including (but not limited to) main characters, plot development, setting, and themes.

1-5 yrs: Children of early ages need to develop essential learning skills and knowledge, therefore shows like "Dora the Explorer" or "Little Einsteins" would be ideal. They are drawn to bright colors and high-energy scenes, without a lot of depth. 

6-10 yrs: Children of this age group tend to be more adventurous, diverting from traditional kids' shows to a more diverse selection entertainment options not intended exclusively for their age group e.g. Teen Titans, Call of Duty. Dialogue becomes more complex as their linguistic abilities develop, and characters can be more fleshed-out, such as Dexter from Dexter's Lab vs. Barney the dinosaur.

11-16 yrs: Perhaps the most diverse category as the transition from childhood to adolescence begins, Kids of these ages begin to appreciate more mature content, sharing a demographic with older audiences and their entertainment beginning verge on implicitly 'mature' themes of violence and sexuality such as "WWE", "Mortal Kombat", and "Minecraft"

17-21 yrs - Young adults take on fully-mature content with deep philosophical themes and meaningful entertainment that addresses contemporary political and social themes that diverge from the mainstream. e.g. Fight Club, Elder Scrolls, Telltale games. Nevertheless this demographic still generally prefers large quantities of action and actors with whom they can relate. 

Gender

Males - Typically more favored by the entertainment industry in general, with action films, patriotic dramas, mass market FPS' etc... Because they are the largest audience males have the widest preference in the industry.Which helps explain the popularity of superhero franchises like Avengers. Males also make up the majority of the gaming industry, driving it forward. As more and more people people take up video games, however, the trend is beginning to shift.

Females - Initially starting off as a more niche focus, female entertainment conventionally revolved around TV dramas (such as Gilmore Girls) and niche cartoons for young girls (My Little Pony). However over the years, females have been exposed to more general entertainment options originally
 tailored towards masculine audiences, and have become somewhat assimilated into the culture generally. Today, you have females playing video games like "Dark Souls", "COD" and "DOTA" alongside men, representing a large demographic of the gaming industry and entertainment in general.