M1 and D1: Codes and Conventions of Film Noir Detective Dramas and How They Create Meaning

D1: Codes and Conventions of Film Noir Detective Dramas and How Meaning Was Created

Codes and conventions refer to the different themes that commonly occur in the genre. For this unit, we created a detective drama film noir short film called Newspaper. In the short film the detective (Oscar Fletcher played by Arsentijs) is investigating the murder of Nancy Carmine. He goes to the crime scene to check for clues and then he invites the suspects separately (Mikhail and Just James) to interrogate them. In the end, we find out that The detective is the murderer and he kills Mikhail in cold blood. 

There are lots of films that fit the Detective Drama codes and conventions such as Murder Mystery, Knifes out... and other films that fit the Noir Detective Dramas such as Sin City, The Detective short film on YouTube and so on. I will explain how we followed the codes and conventions of the genre in our own Newspaper short film.

In Detective Drama films, there is always a crime scene and suspects. They always make the target audience solve the puzzle as the movie goes along. This is a huge convention of the murder mystery detective dramas. They want us to solve the puzzle along with them, adding more clues and red herrings along the way. This bring mystery to the audience and gives them a fun thrill trying to figure it out. 

Another convention we see in this genre is a monologue and narrative voiceovers. In these movies, The Detective has a monologue telling us what has happened or is happening at the time. They might talk about their thought and notes, but they also tell the audience the event that is happening. You can see a few monologues used in movies below. We want the audience to figure out what kind of Detective he is by the way he talks (he is a smart, calculated, professional, organised and calm in serious situations) through his monologues.

 

The start/end credits theme includes serif fonts; this is a convention of the genre. This is done to fit the mise en scene of the genre (another convention I will talk about in a moment) and to sometimes show the time period of the movie. A serif font connotes how our Newspaper short film is based on the old film noir conventions. We will do this in our short film using the typewriter text that will appear on screen, the end graphic and credit roll. The Newspaper text is red to connote blood and murder.

 

 

Mise en scene is a very important aspect; murder mystery detective film noir dramas have their own mise en scene and props that is a common convention of their genre. The most obvious mise en scene is the film noir. The black and white video is a convention of the genre. Film noir started in the 1940s-1950s, movies in this genre started appearing in the black and white TV times. We still use the black and white effect because it is a staple of the old movies and it creates mystery/dramatic effect. Another part of the mise en scene is the costume and hair. In this genre, the fashion dates to the 1900s; smart wear like suits and dresses. We have decided we want our short film to be modernised a little. So we want our detective to wear a shirt, tie and smart shoes but our suspects could wear more casual wear. When editing, I will adjust the saturation of the rushes we shot.

 

 

 

The Detective's hair will be smart and groomed to denote how he has good hygiene and to connote how The Detective loves to be in control of his life and give the best impression he can. We further connote this by having The Detective tidy up his desk to show how he has power. Lighting is a huge aspect with this genre since the black and white colour contrast will be controlled by the lighting. There are usually scenes where the half of The Detective's face is in the light and half in the shadow like The Detective short film on YouTube. We want to create shadows in our short film to stay with the genre and it also creates mystery. The props used in the genre are usually very similar. For example, guns or knife props would be used, maybe The Detective might smoke a cigarette. There are going to be case files, a notepad and pen on the desk etc. Mise en scene is something we are going to strongly focus on for our short film to make it link to the codes and conventions of the genre as much as possible. For our short film, we are going to use a modern laptop wich denotes that the Newspaper film is set in modern day but takes inspiration from the genre. This genre typically uses jazz or blues music throughout. This again links to the genre of the movie but it also makes the film seem classy and mysterious. We are going to use this type of music too.

Camera shots, angles and movements can create different atmospheres depending on the genre and context of the film. When we think of the film Noir Detective Drama genre we think of the extablashing shots, close up and extreme close up shots.

A convention of short films specifically (although it might work for our genre so they could possibly also make a sequel) is having a cliffhanger. The narrative of the genre doesn't follow the equilibrium theory by Todorov; this theory states that the narrative will begin with equillibrium, there is a problem that occurs in middle of the narrative and the problem gets solved at the end to create a new equilibrium. However, with short films specifically and potentially some films in our genre, this isn't the case. Short films are known to leave viewers on a cliffhanger, this may leave the viewer shocked, angry, sad, happy and so on; the audience will remember the short film. For our short film, the twist is The Detective is the murderer and he murders Mikhail. This shocks our audience and leaves the viewers wondering if The Detective will get away with the murders, what happens next and how did he murder Nancy. This leaves a lasting impression with our audience and it lets them generate their own ideas of what will happen next (they might think The Detective went to kill James next).

I think the Newspaper Short Film is fit for its purpose; to entertain the audience and keep the audience guessing what happens next. However, I think we could have done better for our target audience. We decided to go for a 15+ BBFC film rating. However, we didn't use a lot of swearing and violence which means the short film would realistically hit a BBFC 12 rating. We should have added more violent scenes and language to appeal to our target audience.

 

 

Here is a short clip of the Sin City movie. They have used film noir, a monologue and close up shots.
 

 

Here is The Detective short film on YouTube. Again they have used film noir and included The Detective's monologue. In this short film the mise en scene is on point and they also use a close up of The Detective's face with only the light illuminating his eyes to give a sense of mystery.

 

 

 M1: Codes and Conventions In My Rushes

 

 

 

 

 

 

In our rushes, we took all of those codes and conventions into consideration. I will also evaluate my rushes and how they compare to the other short films (The Detective and Knives out) I mentioned above in D1. D1 and M1 link so some of the information will be similar.

 

 

 We learnt about the genre theory in unit one. Neale, Altman and Mittel are the three theorists that created this theory in the 1980s. Steve Neale said that genres should contain similarities so the audience understands what genre of media they are watching, but also contain differences so the media is unique; this is the repetition and difference theory. Altman created the audience pleasure genre theory. There are different pleasures that a media product can give an audience. Visceral pleasure (feeling the thrill of a car chase for example), emotional pleasure (watching something sad or happy like characters reuniting) and intellectual puzzle pleasure. Our Newspaper short film is intellectual pleasure since our audience are given clues along the way and they have to find out who is the murderer as the story progresses. Mittel debates that the media industry uses genre commerically. He says that the industry exploits audiences who like a certain genre by recycling the codes and conventions that audiences love. Relating to Neale's theory, we are using the codes and conventions of a detective film noir, but our characters are different and the story is different to other media in the genre.  

As you can see, we used mise en scène straight from the first scene. In this scene, we see The Detective's office. He gets a phone call and talks on the phone to the Chief of Police. We set his office desk up like the photo above. To fit with the modern era, we used a laptop. This is used in place of his notepad that detective's would use in older detective movies. I edited this black and white to fit the detective film noir conventions and to create a sense of mystery. This is why we used the lamp; the light creates shadows which is brilliant for mise en scene because film noir movies rely on lighting and shadows. We chose for all of the light to be from just that lamp in the office scenes to make sure we had our shadows. We also placed a Newspaper because this relates to the storyline; the newspapers relate to mise en scene but the newspapers are clues to show who the murderer is. Detectives are known for having spare notebooks, paper, pens, pencils, stapelers and holepunchers to help them with paperwork or write any other notes they need so we included these in our short film. In the crime scene investigation scene, our detective does take a small notepad and pen, we make this very clear since he writes the suspect's names on one of the pages and he takes a few notes.

 

As you can see in the rushes, our Detective is wearing modern detective clothing: White shirt, tie, black trousers and shoes. This shows how the Dectetive is tidy and organised (we show this through his desk layout too) and it helps the audience recognise straight away that he is the detective in this short film. We used a wide range of camera shots, angles and movements throughout our short film. To fit with conventions, we used establishing shots, medium shots and close up shots just like The Detective YT short film that I analysed. The variation in shots will keep the attention of the audience as they watch the short film; we also used a tracking shot around The Detective in the first scene and we use a pan to the left when we did the park establishing shot. This is another strong point of our short film, we did a very good job at changing the different shots especially to keep the pace of the short film.I think mise en scene is one of the strongest points of our short film. We created the exact atmosphere that other detective drama films have; the short film does look and feel like one of those films.

Our audio could have been better in some rushes. We did struggle with getting the audio since the microphones that attach the the cameras had no power so we had to compromise. In scene 1 the audio doesn't matter since I cut will be cutting this out and replacing it with background music. I wil get all of my background music from the free music archive website. We will create dubbing using the UM-900 Professional USB Condenser microphone if we can't reshoot a scene and the dialogue isn't clear. We have already filmed some foley sounds using this microphone and voiceovers. For example, when The Detective is organising his desk, we will include our foley sounds here. We are going to include monologues and voiceovers in our short film to fit with detective film conventions and to make sure the audience knows what is going on in our storyline. Our audio could be better but the outside environment and trouble with the equipment has made our audio worse that it could have been.

We worked as a team but I directed the actors. We assigned roles to each other (I directed, filmed, edited, created the graphics) to help us work collaboratively and to finish our Newspaper short film. We created a script and followed some of it. I told the actors how to act and what to do while I filmed the short film with my team (who I also directed to tell them what camera shots, angles and movements were needed). If we had enough time, we could have redone some acting scenes when our actors are stuttering or not saying the right words. However, it worked out alright and my directing brought the rushes and short film together before the other groups finished and before the deadline. 

Relating to D1, I used the film Sin City and the short film on YouTube called The Detective as my inspirations for our Newspaper detective drama short film. In The Detective, it starts with an establishing shot of the building. The Detective has a monologue and sets the short film. He tells the audience the date and the case he has been asked to work on, these are The Detective's thoughts. They use lots of close up shots and there is this one shot in paticular where they use the blinds to make his eyes show up in the light and the rest of his face is in the shadows. This creates suspense and it is also a great way to use mise en scene, lighting and shadows. They also have great mise en scene with The Detective wearing a trenchcoat. His desk has a typewiter, alcohol and he is smoking a cigarette which is a convention of old detective films. He also has case files which any detective drama has for mise en scene. In this section of Sin City, The Detective has a monologue while driving a car. This happens in film noir just like The Detective short film. The camera zooms into his face while we hear the monologue. Even in the talking scenes, the camera uses close up shots on the detective.

                                               

RUSHES LOG  

  Newspaper

  

File name	Date shot	Content	Suitability	Post production notes (e.g. SFX / continuity notes)
O Newspaper 1	27/06/22	A medium side shot of The Detective holding a newspaper with the letter “O” on it.	Suitable to use in the final edit
O Newspaper 2	27/06/22	A medium side shot of The Detective holding a newspaper with the letter “O” on it.	Suitable to use in the final edit.
O Newspaper 3	27/06/22	A medium side shot of The Detective holding a newspaper with the letter “O” on it.	Suitable to use in the final edit.	Need to adjust audio to remove ambient noise in Audition
Opening Scene 1	27/06/22	A panning shot around The Detective.	Suitable to use in the final edit.
Opening Scene 2	27/06/22	A panning shot around The Detective.	Suitable to use in the final edit.
Opening Scene 3	27/06/22	A panning shot around The Detective.	Suitable to use in the final edit.
Organising Desk 1	27/06/22	A side shot of The Detective organising his desk	Suitable to use in the final edit.
Organising Desk Over Shoulder	27/06/22	A shot of The Detective organising his desk from over his shoulders.	Suitable to use in the final edit.
Phone Ringing 1	27/06/22	Over the top shot of the phone ringing.	Suitable to use in the final edit.
Phone Ringing 2	27/06/22	Over the top shot of the phone ringing.	Suitable to use in the final edit.
S Newspaper 1	27/06/22	Over the top shot of a newspaper with the letter “S”.	Suitable to use in the final edit.
S Newspaper 2	27/06/22	Over the top shot of a newspaper with the letter “S”.	Suitable to use in the final edit.
S Newspaper 3	27/06/22	Over the top shot of a newspaper with the letter “S”.	Suitable to use in the final edit.
S Newspaper 4	27/06/22	Over the top shot of a newspaper with the letter “S”.	Suitable to use in the final edit.
S Newspaper 5	27/06/22	Over the top shot of a newspaper with the letter “S”.	Suitable to use in the final edit.
Talking Phone 1	27/06/22	Side shot of The Detective talking on the phone.	Suitable to use in the final edit.
MVI_7038	28/06/22	Sound	Used for the background audio.
MVI_7039	28/06/22	Sound	Used for the background audio.
MVI_7040	28/06/22	Sound	Used for the background audio.
A Newspaper 1	28/06/22	Over the top shot of a newspaper with the letter “A”.	Suitable to use in the final edit.
A Newspaper 2	28/06/22	Over the top shot of a newspaper with the letter “A”	Suitable to use in the final edit.
A Newspaper 3	28/06/22	Over the top shot of a newspaper with the letter “A”	Suitable to use in the final edit.
A Newspaper 4	28/06/22	Over the top shot of a newspaper with the letter “A”	Suitable to use in the final edit.
Entering 1	28/06/22	The Detective entering the shot from behind the bushes	Went too far, too fast.
Entering 2	28/06/22	The Detective entering the shot from behind the bushes	Not in middle of frame.
Entering 3	28/06/22	The Detective entering the shot from behind the bushes	Suitable to use in the final edit.
Entering Continued 1	28/06/22	The Detective getting his notepad and pen out ready to write.	Too close to camera.
Entering Continued 2	28/06/22	The Detective getting his notepad and pen out ready to write.	Suitable to use in the final edit.
Kneeling Near Newspaper	28/06/22	The Detective entering the shot near the newspapers which are on the ground and kneeling down and noting things down on notepad.	Suitable to use in the final edit.
Kneeling Pan Up 1	28/06/22	The Detective kneeling near the newspapers as the camera pans upwards	Camera falls at the end.
Kneeling Pan Up 2	28/06/22	The Detective kneeling near the newspapers as the camera pans upwards.	Suitable to use in the final edit.
Long Enter Pan 1	28/06/22	Wide Angle Long Shot of The Detective entering from behind the bushes.	Zooms into the ground.
Long Enter Pan 2	28/06/22	Wide Angle Long Shot of The Detective entering from behind the bushes.	Suitable to use in the final edit.
Noting Down	28/06/22	Mid Shot of The Detective standing up and writing notes.	Suitable to use in the final edit.
On Phone Noting 1	28/06/22	Mid Shot of The Detective standing up and writing notes while on the phone.	Jay jumps in front of camera.
On Phone Noting 2	28/06/22	Mid Shot of The Detective standing up and writing notes while on the phone.	Suitable to use in the final edit.
Over Shoulder Noting 1	28/06/22	Close Up Over the Shoulder Shot of The Detective writing the names of the suspects in the notepad.	Too close to shoulder, can’t see notepad.
Over Shoulder Noting 2	28/06/22	Close Up Over the Shoulder Shot of The Detective writing the names of the suspects in the notepad.	Suitable to use in the final edit.
Pan 1	28/06/22	Overarching Pan of the Scene.	Suitable to use in the final edit.
Pan 2	28/06/22	Overarching Pan of the Scene.	Suitable to use in the final edit.
Pan 3	28/06/22	Overarching Pan of the Scene.	Suitable to use in the final edit.
Pan 4	28/06/22	Overarching Pan of the Scene.	Suitable to use in the final edit.
Shot of Possible Angle	28/06/22	Shot from the bottom of the hill where the newspaper is, focusing in on where The Detective is going to come out from the bushes.	Blooper, not suitable to use in the final edit.
Taking Call 1	28/06/22	Mid Shot of The Detective taking a call and trying to note down.	Failed attempt
Taking Call 2	28/06/22	Mid Shot of The Detective taking a call and trying to note down.
A Newspaper Cutaway Shot	28/06/22	Zoom in and out of a newspaper with the letter “A” on it.
Clock Cutaway	27/06/22	A close up shot of a clock.
James Dialogue 1 V1	27/06/22	An over the shoulder shot from behind The Detective’s right shoulder while talking to James.
James Dialogue 1 V2	27/06/22	An over the shoulder shot from behind The Detective’s left shoulder while talking to James.
James Dialogue 2 V1	27/06/22	An over the shoulder shot from behind The Detective’s right shoulder while talking to James.
James Dialogue 2 V2	27/06/22	An over the shoulder shot from behind The Detective’s right shoulder while talking to James.
James Dialogue 2 V3	27/06/22	An over the shoulder shot from behind The Detective’s left shoulder while talking to James.
James Dialogue 3	27/06/22	An over the shoulder shot from behind The Detective’s right shoulder while talking to James.
James Sits Down	27/06/22	James walking into office and sitting down	Smiles
James Walks Through Door	27/06/22	James and The Detective walk into the office
End of James Scene	27/06/22	Camera Pans Down as James clutches his head into his knees.
Damn this Guys a Tough Cookie 1	27/06/22	Camera behind The Detective, and The Detective turns back.
Damn this Guys a Tough Cookie 2	27/06/22	Camera behind The Detective, and The Detective turns back.
Mikhail Dialogue 1	27/06/22	Camera Pans Right to Left, The Detective and Mikhail talking.
Mikhail Dialogue 2, Lamp	27/06/22	Over Shoulder from The Detective’s shoulder, Lamp in Mikhail’s face
Mikhail Dialogue 3	27/06/22	Side Medium Shot of The Detective and Mikhail talking.
Mikhail Dialogue 4, Walks Out	27/06/22	Fisheye, Mikhail walks out, The Detective throws pencil.
Do You Know Who Nancy Is	27/06/22	Behind shoulder, Detective and Mikhail talking.
Lamp Falls	27/06/22	Mid Shot, Detective puts lamp onto table and it falls.
Mikhail Enters Office	27/06/22	Mid Shot, Detective and Mikhail enter the office and sit down.
Mikhail Unlocks Door and Goes	27/06/22	Fisheye Mid Shot, Mikhail leaves the office.
Mikhail Dialogue 1 V2	27/06/22	High Mid Shot, Mikhail and Detective talking.
Mikhail Dialogue 2 V2	27/06/22	High Mid Shot, Mikhail and Detective talking.
Mikhail Dialogue 3 V2	27/06/22	Mid Shot, Mikhail and Detective talking, Camera Pans to the right following Detective.
Mikhail Dialogue 4 V2	27/06/22	Mid Shot, Behind Detective, Mikhail and Detective talking.
Mikhail Dialogue 5 V2	27/06/22	Close Mid Shot, Mikhail talking.
Putting Lamp Down	27/06/22	Mid shot behind Detective, Detective putting lamp down and sitting down.
Phone Call in Office	27/06/22	Mid Shot, Behind Detective, Detective sits down, gets called, leaves office.
Mikhail Arranges Newspapers	27/06/22	Camera looking up, Mikhail arranging newspapers
Mikhail Newspapers in Order	27/06/22	Camera looking down at the newspapers in order saying “OSCAR”, behind Mikhail.
POV Taking Newspaper from Bin	27/06/22	Camera looking up, Mikhail grabs camera.
Take Newspaper From Bin	27/06/22	Mid shot, Mikhail grabs Newspaper from Bin.
Chloroform	27/06/22	Mid shot, Detective behind window, comes into room and knocks Mikhail out.
Chloroform V2	27/06/22	Mid shot, Detective behind window, comes into room and knocks Mikhail out.
Detective Grabs Camera	27/06/22	Mid shot, Detective gets up and grabs camera.