Synopsis
The tale begins on Christmas Eve, when Arthur's step-children invite him to tell a ghost story. Arthur is too disturbed by his memories to share his story aloud, so he writes. In his story, a young Arthur Kipps, a junior solicitor, is sent to settle the affairs of Alice Drablow. He sees a woman dressed in black at her funeral, though no one else does. At Eel Marsh House, a house beyond a causeway, Arthur is haunted by noises and sightings of the woman. Eventually a local man, Sam Daily, reveals the full story of how Alice Drablow's sister. Jennet, haunts the house. He explains that a child dies each time the woman in black is seen. At the end of the story, Arthur sees the woman in black again and his wife and son die in a terrible accident. The Woman in Black is a ghost story about heartbreak and revenge.
Production
The producers of The Woman In black were Richard Jackson, Simon Oakes and Brian Oliver. The film was announced in 2009 with Jane Goldman as screenwriter and later James Watkins as director. Daniel Radcliffe was announced as the actor playing the part of Arthur Kipps on 19 July 2010. The film was planned to be shot in 3D, but the idea was later not used. In early October the crew was filming in Layer Marney Tower. Filming officially ended on 4 December 2010.At the Kapow! Comic con in London during April 2011,director James Watkins confirmed filming had been completed in December 2010 and post-production would go on until June 2011.
Distributors
The distributors were, CBS Films in the US and Momentum Pictures in the UK. The film was released on the February 2012. It was advertised in all different forms of media such as TV, trailers in the cinema, magazines etc. Also having the star of Harry Potter being the main character made it very easy for the distributors to advertise as it attracted the fans of Daniel Radcliffe as the main character. Momentum have also distributed The King's speech and CBS Films have distributed The Back-up Plan.
Timeline
0 - 10 seconds - close-up image of children playing with tea cups accompanied by eerie, creepy music.
10 - 20 seconds - There is then a close up of a doll drinking the pretend liquid. We then see a medium close up of another doll which looks very human like, sipping the tea. There is then a long shot of three children playing with their dolls and pretending to have a tea party and using this long shot, we can also see that the setting is an attic.
20 - 30 seconds - There is then a medium close up of one of the girls brushing the hair of one of the dolls. During this we see a pull focus and this shows how the doll is centre of attention. Then it cuts to another doll and another girl pushing down on the doll, using another pull focus. Then a medium two shot is used to show two of the three girls smiling and laughing and then it shows you the other girl, who is also smiling and this shows how the girls could think how they are actually having a real tea party and are making it their own.
30 - 40 seconds - We then see a medium long shot of the girls and it looks as if they’re are looking at someone or something and using this kind of shot, it could show how the person or subject watching the three girls is maybe in power or control of them. After, we suddenly see a continuity edit of the girls in mid turn of their head looking at the window and this shows how maybe the watcher is showing them something. Throughout all of this, the cameraman stuck to the 180 degree rule.
40 - 50 seconds - We then see the camera slowly cut zooming in to the window and then it turns back to the three girls and they all stand up as if they’ve been told to do so.
50 - 60 seconds - We then see a medium close up of one of the girls’ hand and she is holding a tea mug and she drops it, and then a jump cut is used to see the mug smash against the floor. The girl’s then start walking towards the window, we then see an extreme close up of one of the girls’ foot standing on one of the dolls' heads and smashing it. We then see another girls’ foot stand on another dolls head, smashing that also. A long shot is used to show the three girls walking towards the window.
1.00 - 1.10 seconds - We see them all stand on the step in front of the entrance to the window using a medium long shot. After, we see a medium close up of one of the girls’ hand open the window.
1.10 - 1.20 - Suddenly, the girls jump from the window and the sound over the top gets louder and unsettling as it’s mysterious and quite horrific as we see what happens using an orchestral sound. It then goes silent for one second and then, what could be their mother, screams loudly and shouts ‘my babies’ The shout turns into a cry. A cut zoom out is used when the camera zooms away from the window.
1.20 - 1.30 - A close up is used to show the face of a doll, after, the camera keep going out, we see on the right side of the clip a figure of a human dress in all black. The camera then fades to grey and then to black, to make us know how that scene is over.
Distributors
The distributors were, CBS Films in the US and Momentum Pictures in the UK. The film was released on the February 2012. It was advertised in all different forms of media such as TV, trailers in the cinema, magazines etc. Also having the star of Harry Potter being the main character made it very easy for the distributors to advertise as it attracted the fans of Daniel Radcliffe as the main character. Momentum have also distributed The King's speech and CBS Films have distributed The Back-up Plan.
Timeline
0 - 10 seconds - close-up image of children playing with tea cups accompanied by eerie, creepy music.
10 - 20 seconds - There is then a close up of a doll drinking the pretend liquid. We then see a medium close up of another doll which looks very human like, sipping the tea. There is then a long shot of three children playing with their dolls and pretending to have a tea party and using this long shot, we can also see that the setting is an attic.
20 - 30 seconds - There is then a medium close up of one of the girls brushing the hair of one of the dolls. During this we see a pull focus and this shows how the doll is centre of attention. Then it cuts to another doll and another girl pushing down on the doll, using another pull focus. Then a medium two shot is used to show two of the three girls smiling and laughing and then it shows you the other girl, who is also smiling and this shows how the girls could think how they are actually having a real tea party and are making it their own.
30 - 40 seconds - We then see a medium long shot of the girls and it looks as if they’re are looking at someone or something and using this kind of shot, it could show how the person or subject watching the three girls is maybe in power or control of them. After, we suddenly see a continuity edit of the girls in mid turn of their head looking at the window and this shows how maybe the watcher is showing them something. Throughout all of this, the cameraman stuck to the 180 degree rule.
40 - 50 seconds - We then see the camera slowly cut zooming in to the window and then it turns back to the three girls and they all stand up as if they’ve been told to do so.
50 - 60 seconds - We then see a medium close up of one of the girls’ hand and she is holding a tea mug and she drops it, and then a jump cut is used to see the mug smash against the floor. The girl’s then start walking towards the window, we then see an extreme close up of one of the girls’ foot standing on one of the dolls' heads and smashing it. We then see another girls’ foot stand on another dolls head, smashing that also. A long shot is used to show the three girls walking towards the window.
1.00 - 1.10 seconds - We see them all stand on the step in front of the entrance to the window using a medium long shot. After, we see a medium close up of one of the girls’ hand open the window.
1.10 - 1.20 - Suddenly, the girls jump from the window and the sound over the top gets louder and unsettling as it’s mysterious and quite horrific as we see what happens using an orchestral sound. It then goes silent for one second and then, what could be their mother, screams loudly and shouts ‘my babies’ The shout turns into a cry. A cut zoom out is used when the camera zooms away from the window.
1.20 - 1.30 - A close up is used to show the face of a doll, after, the camera keep going out, we see on the right side of the clip a figure of a human dress in all black. The camera then fades to grey and then to black, to make us know how that scene is over.
Analysis of the setting
The whole story of The Woman in Black is set in some historical setting. Also from the use of tea cups the audience are automatically given the idea that the film is set in England as tea is a very stereotypical item associated with England. This gives away the location for the film, suggesting to the audience it is set somewhere in England. In addition to this, from the use of the tea cups and old dolls the audience is given an idea as to what era the movie is set in. The use of the clothing of the characters also portray this. The location of Criffyn Gifford, and particularly Eel Marsh House is isolated, natural but also unnatural and eerie seeming at the same time. Weather is also used throughout to create an atmosphere in the setting. Dark lighting also know as low key lighting is used throughout the movie to add an atmosphere to the setting.
Analysis of the costumes and make-up
The young girls in the film opening are dressed up in old style Victorian dresses which shows that the film is set in the Victorian era. The dresses also represent innocence of the young girls. Their costumes are light colours like light pinks and a pale blue. These colours are associated with simple, innocent characters. However, dark colours used for the Woman in Blacks costume connote the dark side that is within her.
Analysis of effective shots
This is a medium shot of the three girls sat on the floor who all stare in the same direction. They have also stopped playing with their toys at the same time which suggests they are shocked about something. This makes the audience think that there maybe a new character introduced. This shot creates the feeling of paranormal activity as they all slowly turn their head in the same way as if they have seen a ghost.
This is a close up shot showing the girls getting up and stepping on their toys. The girls are stepping on their beloved toys, which is quite abnormal for a child to do. This suggests the idea of paranormal activity, connoting the ideas of ghosts and evil forces, making them break their toys.
We then see a medium shot of the girls jumping out of the widow, an act that children would normally not do. This again reinforces the idea that they are possessed by an evil spirit. Because of this, the audience are given a clear idea of the narrative; the idea that the ghost will be the enemy throughout the film.
Analysis of the music and sound
The music featured in the background is seen as very eerie and creepy. It is slow, calm and makes the audience feel on edge. When there are effective shots the music gets louder as it connotes danger and it makes it more intense.
No comments:
Post a Comment