Since our film's primary emotion is fear (specifically through the form of trauma and paranoia), I felt it was my duty as director of photography to research into how such an effect can be portrayed through use of cinematography. My findings can be most easily illustrated through reference to a specific filmic example: Jack's escape from Old Nick in "Room" (2015). The scene I am referring to can be seen below.
There are numerous cinematographic techniques that are deliberately used with the intention of creating a sense of action, tension, and uneasiness. Although it is true that our film does differ from Room both narratively and thematically (this scene included), in terms of cinematography it is almost identical to our desired effect, and so is an excellent source of research.
One technique that the scene makes frequent use of is handheld shots. Although realistically, it is unlikely that most of said shots were genuinely handheld; this is clearly the effect that the filmmakers were attempting to emulate. Handheld shots create a disorientating and chaotic effect that can be used for a variety of purposes depending on a scene's desired tone. In Room's case, it is used to portray Jack's emotions. More specifically, handheld shots are used to create a panicked and unnerving atmosphere that accurately represent his feelings in the present set of circumstances. With Old Nick only a few feet away from him, Jack desperately tries to remember his mother's instructions as he tries to escape. The franticness of the handheld shots simulate the panic Jack feels within the claustrophobic confines of the carpet. Handheld shots are definitely a technique we intend to employ within our film for this exact reason. Although our film will use them to represent Tom's paranoia and anxiety, their rudimentary concept of creating a sense of panic and disorientation is exactly what we hope to accomplish; both during the kidnapping scene and Tom's paranoiac episodes within the forest.
Another important technique that helps to create a sense of panic and tension is the scene's frequent use of close-ups and extreme close-ups. These are often used in combination with the handheld shots in order to create a similar effect: claustrophobia and disorientation. One particularly good example is the one seen in the image below; depicting Jack hidden inside the rolled up carpet.
Here, close-up, handheld, and shallow focus are used together to create a shot that is particularly difficult to decipher, as much of the cinematic space is obscured. Subsequently, this augments the shot's disorientating and almost unnatural tone due to the degree of spacial ambiguity. We also intend to make use of a similar combination in our film frequently throughout for similar purposes. Moreover, we intend to use a Canon EF 100mm lens so that close-up handheld shots can be achieved without any loss of cinematic quality; thereby allowing them to sustain their sense of panic and dread.
Thirdly, point-of-view shots are also frequently used throughout the scene. POV shots are, as the name implies, to highlight a particular character's perspective. This can be done fore a variety of reasons, such as drawing attention to a character's intentions, or allowing the viewer to sympathise and understand their current situation. A particular example in this scene is the one seen in the image below showing Jack's vision through the fabric of the carpet.
The use of POV shots in this scene most likely has the intention of representing Jack's emotions and allowing the viewer to sympathise with his perspective; similarly to the way that the aforementioned handheld shots and close-ups work in combination to convey his claustrophobia and panic. These shots allow the viewer to understand Jack's emotions more clearly by placing them in his position; enabling them to experience a far greater sense of verisimilitude. We aim to use POV shots for similar reasons in our film. The effects of Tom's panic and paranoia, especially during the later scenes in the forest when his attacks considerably worsen. Doing so will not only allow the viewer to perceive Tom's emotions more easily as is Room, but will also allow us to augment our desired tone of panic and disorientation; especially during shots such as when Tom frantically scans the trees for the figure.
Although there are other cinematographic elements that may be worth considering within the scene, these I feel are the most important as they all work in combination to create a sense of dread, panic and tension; three traits that would benefit our representation of the emotion of fear. It should be noted that these cinematographic techniques often need to be utilised in combination with fast-paced editing (as is the case here) in order to create the intended sense of disorientation, as it limits the viewer's time to react to what is being shown on screen; thereby preventing them from effectively accumulating a more accurate comprehension of the scene and subsequently allowing the filmmakers to project the panic of the character onto the viewer: an effect that we hope to emulate.
One technique that the scene makes frequent use of is handheld shots. Although realistically, it is unlikely that most of said shots were genuinely handheld; this is clearly the effect that the filmmakers were attempting to emulate. Handheld shots create a disorientating and chaotic effect that can be used for a variety of purposes depending on a scene's desired tone. In Room's case, it is used to portray Jack's emotions. More specifically, handheld shots are used to create a panicked and unnerving atmosphere that accurately represent his feelings in the present set of circumstances. With Old Nick only a few feet away from him, Jack desperately tries to remember his mother's instructions as he tries to escape. The franticness of the handheld shots simulate the panic Jack feels within the claustrophobic confines of the carpet. Handheld shots are definitely a technique we intend to employ within our film for this exact reason. Although our film will use them to represent Tom's paranoia and anxiety, their rudimentary concept of creating a sense of panic and disorientation is exactly what we hope to accomplish; both during the kidnapping scene and Tom's paranoiac episodes within the forest.
Another important technique that helps to create a sense of panic and tension is the scene's frequent use of close-ups and extreme close-ups. These are often used in combination with the handheld shots in order to create a similar effect: claustrophobia and disorientation. One particularly good example is the one seen in the image below; depicting Jack hidden inside the rolled up carpet.
Here, close-up, handheld, and shallow focus are used together to create a shot that is particularly difficult to decipher, as much of the cinematic space is obscured. Subsequently, this augments the shot's disorientating and almost unnatural tone due to the degree of spacial ambiguity. We also intend to make use of a similar combination in our film frequently throughout for similar purposes. Moreover, we intend to use a Canon EF 100mm lens so that close-up handheld shots can be achieved without any loss of cinematic quality; thereby allowing them to sustain their sense of panic and dread.
Thirdly, point-of-view shots are also frequently used throughout the scene. POV shots are, as the name implies, to highlight a particular character's perspective. This can be done fore a variety of reasons, such as drawing attention to a character's intentions, or allowing the viewer to sympathise and understand their current situation. A particular example in this scene is the one seen in the image below showing Jack's vision through the fabric of the carpet.
The use of POV shots in this scene most likely has the intention of representing Jack's emotions and allowing the viewer to sympathise with his perspective; similarly to the way that the aforementioned handheld shots and close-ups work in combination to convey his claustrophobia and panic. These shots allow the viewer to understand Jack's emotions more clearly by placing them in his position; enabling them to experience a far greater sense of verisimilitude. We aim to use POV shots for similar reasons in our film. The effects of Tom's panic and paranoia, especially during the later scenes in the forest when his attacks considerably worsen. Doing so will not only allow the viewer to perceive Tom's emotions more easily as is Room, but will also allow us to augment our desired tone of panic and disorientation; especially during shots such as when Tom frantically scans the trees for the figure.
Although there are other cinematographic elements that may be worth considering within the scene, these I feel are the most important as they all work in combination to create a sense of dread, panic and tension; three traits that would benefit our representation of the emotion of fear. It should be noted that these cinematographic techniques often need to be utilised in combination with fast-paced editing (as is the case here) in order to create the intended sense of disorientation, as it limits the viewer's time to react to what is being shown on screen; thereby preventing them from effectively accumulating a more accurate comprehension of the scene and subsequently allowing the filmmakers to project the panic of the character onto the viewer: an effect that we hope to emulate.
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