Film Noir script.

The Big Apple

Establishing shot of New York City. Voice over is used. "I've seen everything you could have possibly imagined but today was definitely the worst case I have ever worked on."

INTERIOR. DETECTIVE HARPER'S OFFICE - EVENING

On Video: Detective Harper is sitting at his desk, drinking whiskey and smoking a pipe. 

Close up of phone ringing.
Detective has one more puff of his pipe and then places it down on his desk.
Wide shot showing the majority of the room in which detective Harper picks up the phone.
Mid shot of Detective Harper on the phone.

Victoria (Female character - villain) :- "Detective, my name is Victoria, I need your help!" (Sobs)

Detective Harper:- "Hello darling, I'm detective Harper, whatever's wrong?"

V:- "My husband's, my, my husband's had an accident..." (Sobbing still)

DH:- "Why don't you tell me what happened, honey?"

V:- "I'm not sure what happened detective... (sob) I walked in and he, he, was just lying there motionless on the floor" (Sobbing)

DH:- "Don't worry sweetheart, I'll get to the bottom of this."

Close up of whisky in the detectives hand.
Detective sips whisky.

V:- "Why thank you detective!" (Sobs)

DH:- "Anything for you my dear, you have a nice day now."

V:- "And you detective."

Wide shot showing the majority of the room.
Detective Harper hangs up, drinks the remainder of his whiskey and places the empty glass on the desk. Detective Harper then leaves the room.
Mid shot to long shot when the detective gets up to leave the office. Pan when the detective walks out of the office.

Over shoulder shot of the detective walking out of the building.



Exterior - Outside of the work building.

Detective stands under a lamp post just outside of the building. Single light used, the street lamp.
Detective is waiting outside waiting for his partner Detective Armstrong to discuss the case.

Detective Armstrong walks up to Detective Harper and is also wearing a suite and a hat but is also carrying a briefcase. Detective Harper smokes is pipe and then greets Detective Armstrong.

Close up of him smoking the pipe. Over the shoulder shot is used when Detective Armstrong is walking towards Detective Harper.

DH:- "Pipe?" (Harper offers Armstrong the pipe)

DA:- "No thank you, what's this case you were on about then."

DH:- "Her name is Victoria, she called about her husband... She got home and he was just lying there. She's a sweetheart, rather beautiful too. She had a sweet English accent, in which was soft to the touch. She was very upset, very dramatic too but I calmed her down."

DA:- "If you ask me it all sounds a little suspicious as you say she was being very dramatic."

DH:- "She's a darling, she clearly has nothing to do with this."

DA:- "I'd still look into her alibi, she's not to be trusted."

DH:- "I know what I'm doing detective, she's innocent and does not need the added stress of a detective questioning her about her alibi when she has nothing to do with her husbands death."

DA:- "Just keep your eye on her."

DH:- "Oh I will, don't you worry. I must be off now, have a good evening detective."

DA:- "Keep me informed."

Shot reverse shots used during the conversation.

Both detectives walk off in different directions.

Wide shot/establishing shot used to show both detectives walking different ways/on different streets

Feedback on progerss

Analysis of the codes and conventions of film noir is thin and needs detail. Use images to support points made.

Analysis of opening sequences shows promise and demonstrates an understanding of the task.

I need you to apply yourself fully to ensure that you cover tasks thoroughly in order to achieve your obvious potential.

Film Noir

Film Noir

Film Noir's contain many codes and conventions such as;

-Lighting

-Sound

-Characteristics

-Narrative

-Mise-en-scene,which is everything used within the film. E.g. Props, locations, costume etc...

-Language

-Use of language 

-Iconography, which is aspects of films that make the film/the genre. 

Film Noir's usually contain one light source as company's who made Film Noir's didn't have enough money to purchase more advanced technology and only had a certain amount of equipment. Due to this they would of used a single street light, a single spotlight or no added light at all. Also due to the lack of lighting this meant there were a lot of shadows within the films. The lack of lighting did cause problems as some scenes were very dark meaning you can't see things within the scene very good which wouldn't make the audience very satisfied. 

Prop wise a male usually smokes cigarettes or a pipe and usually pours themselves a glass of Alcohol/Whiskey. Detectives within Film Noir's tend to carry an identification badge to show other detectives to prove who they are. 

A detective usually wears (costume) a suite and a hat and tends to carry a police badge and a gun with them. A man wearing a suite usually gives us the impression of them being of the hierarchy. A women in these kind of films usually wear a sophisticated dress with a typical pearl necklace and wear makeup to make them more attractive and feminine.

The analysis of the language the men usually use within these old Film Noir's is rather patronizing towards women. For example, 'darling' , 'sweetheart', and 'good girl' all of these quotes are what the detective says to the main female role within the film to patronize her as it is like he thinks he is more superior than her because she is a female. The fact he calls her a girl instead of a woman is almost annoying in a sense as he doesn't see her as a grown, mature female which is in a sense a little sexist. It's almost like he is describing her as childish and soft as he doesn't say women when really she is the complete opposite and is in fact the villain, as the main women character within a film noir turns out to be the villain/killer. Females were seen as unequal and less valued/important than men so the men in these films are seen as big headed and rather rude in our perspective due to attitudes towards women nowadays, they are seen as equal to men and are valued the same. 

Whilst on the subject of women, the women in these films act innocent and a little seductive towards the men to get away with their crimes they have committed and to seem like they are the victim within the situation, where as really she is the villain. For example she is like a spider building her web (building her relationship with the detective) and creating her trap to catch the fly (the detective).

 

Composition (sound tracks) is usually used to create tension as the plot builds up to keep the audience engaged and to create an effect. For example, they may put a sound track over as action is taking place to make it more tense for the audience.