Question 7

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the final product?

There are many points in which I feel I have learnt and progressed with since the construction of my preliminary task...

CAMERA


During the construction of my final media product, I was able to produce a shooting schedule for each shot within the extract, allowing myself time to prepare for each shot before actually performing them. Also, during the production stages, I learnt how to produce higher quality shots in terms of the variation of camera techniques used. Examples of these include; Focus pulls, slow zooms, tracking shots...etc.

EDITING

I learnt new ways to edit my film using Final Cut Pro - Apple software. Whilst using this software, I was also able to construct slow paced editing through Final Cut Pro to add to the suspense, whilst also creating the rhythm and pace of the film. I also applied various credits throughout the film opening to add that professional impression.

BONDING WITH ACTORS

During the production of this film, I felt I had progressed in terms of confidence around the actors. I was able to speak and discuss numerous points with them, including improvements, negatives/ positives and even new ideas. This I believe created a more positive and comfortable atmosphere on set whilst filming took place.

CONTINUITY CHECKS

During the filming and final editing, many continuity checks were carried out carefully and efficiently. This allowed me to double check any errors or imperfections that my have occurred within the final draft of my media product. On the whole, this reflected a more professional attitude towards the construction of the film.

SOUND

In terms of the sound, I was able to construct a score for my media product using Apple software Garageband - consisting of bass, drums and cinematic sounds alone. This on the whole helped generate a dark and suspensive atmosphere to my final movie, reflecting the films genre - Thriller.

MISE-EN-SCENE

During the production of my media product, I was able to apply various props that the characters would be working with - cigarettes, knife, newspaper...etc. I was also able to assign the correct style of clothing correspondent to the set target audience and style of character. For example, the protagonist is reflecting a "reformer", someone who enjoys being alone and lives independently (clothes - smart shirt, jeans and boots).  The antagonist is a serial killer, set to kill the protagonist. To show this, that characters clothing had to be dark (black) to reflect his evil (clothes - smart shirt, jeans and boots). The set used was also a lot larger than the one I used for the preliminary, consisting of various out-door shots also.

Question 6

What have you learnt about new technologies from the process of constructing your media product?

During the process of my media product, I was able to learn and experiment with many different types of new technologies...


CAMERA

In terms of camera movements and shots, a close friend named Harry Gilmore provided me with his EOX Rebel XS video camera to improve the variation of shots I was able to use on my media product. The EOX allowed me to experiment with different variations of "focus pulling", pulling the focus from one area of the shot to another within the same shot. This was used throughout many shots of my movie, adding depth to the quality of the shots, and creating a more professional outcome.

The camera also provided me with a zoom lens. This was used throughout the first shot of my film, used as a slow zoom to set the scene and add suspense.

Because of the high focussed lens, I was able to perform extreme close-ups on the characters and props. This was shown as  the main protagonist lit his cigarette and took a drag. The high focus lens allowed me to film extremely close to the cigarette end, producing an extremely high quality outcome.


Whilst using the camera, I found myself continuously placing the stand in numerous places to get the correct angle for the shot. This was a good learning experience as I had never used a stand for my preliminary task.


EDITING

In terms of editing, once I had completed my film, I the needed to begin editing. To do this, I used apple mac software "Final Cut Pro". By using this, I was able to drop in the individual shots from the camera, trim them down and place them into sequence. This was a new and exciting way for me to edit my movie and put it together into a complete sequence.

SOUND


In terms of sound, I fully composes my movie score using Apple software "Garageband". By using this software, I was able to combine specific melodies and tones to produce the soundtrack which I felt suited best for my media product. The score had to consist of a dark and suspensive sound, therefore I used the combination of bass, drums and cinematic sounds to produce my final soundtrack.

Question 5

How did you attract/ address your audience?

There are many ways in which I tried to address my audience throughout my media product. During the first stages of my film development, I knew that I wanted to characterise my protagonist around someone who felt comfortable being alone. This was done so that the audience were able to connect with the character more easily, allowing them to connect with the character both emotionally and physically. Further on throughout the development stages, I came across a book, named "There are seven kinds of people in the world". This book described in detail the seven types of people, providing me with a strong overall outline of what types of people I could be targeting with my film. After reading in detail, the one type of person that appealed to me was "The Reformer".

The Reformer -These are people who value their own independent judgement. Reformers are the most anti - materialistic of the seven groups, and are often perceived as intellectual. They are socially aware and pride themselves on tolerance. Reformers seek out the authentic and the harmonious, and are often at the leading edge of society. Their core in life is "enlightenment".

There are many films that I feel have also targeted this type of person in terms of their main protagonists character type. Examples shown below;

In both "Drive" and "Shame", I feel both characters have been characterised around a "Reformer" in that they both tell the protagonists story, allowing the audience to bond with the characters at a higher level. This is what I have tried to achieve in my media product, telling the story in the protagonists perspective for a large majority of the extract. By doing this, I feel that the audience are en-captured into finding out more about the protagonist as the movie goes on, generating a stronger connection emotionally between both the audience and the protagonist. 

Question 4

Who would be the audience of your media product?

Thriller movies on the whole can attract a wide variation of audiences. The target audience for a movie is broken down into three individual sections - Age, Gender and Class. For example, in terms of gender (male - female ratio), The strangers attracted a 69%(male) to 39%(female) ratio. The film attracted 65% of 15 - 24 year olds, 26% of 25 - 34 year olds 5% of 35 - 44 year olds and 4% of 45+ years. In terms of Class, the film attracted 20% of class AB, 34% of class C1, 22% of class C2 and 24% of class DE.

From this, I feel that my media product would attract a similar male to female ratio (69%-39%) as both my movie (Alone) and The Strangers share a similar plot in that the protaginist is in danger and the antagonist has no visible identity. In terms of the attraction of specific classes, I am unable to give an accurate percentage as my media product has not been released to cinemas, however again I feel that the classes displayed for "The Strangers" would not differ too highly to mine as again they both display the same conventions and codes of a psychological thriller - low key lighting, soundtrack...etc. Perviously in my blog, I set the minimum age of being able to view my media product as 15 years old - set in relation to the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) rules and criteria. However,  I am unable to provide an accurate percentage in terms of the attraction of specific ages for my movie however I am confident that it will be extremely similar to The Strangers results for age attraction as again they are both extremely similar movies in terms of their genre.

Question 3

What kind of institution might distribute your media product and why?

There are many media institutions in today's society that would be suitable to distribute my media product. These may include; Lionsgate Entertainment, 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures...and many more. For example, Lionsgate Entertainment have been involved hugely in the development and production of numerous horror and thriller movies that have been released over the past decade. Examples may include; The Saw Trilogy, Affliction, The Cabin In The Woods and American Psycho. Lionsgate are a Noth American entertainment company, which as of this year (2012), has become the most commercially successful independent film and television distribution companies.

Since 2008, Lionsgate Entertainment have acquired Summit Entertainment (producers of the Twilight saga), for $412.5 million. From this, it is clear that Lionsgate invest in a very specific genre of films - dark, supernatural...etc, making them an ideal institution to work with for my media product. Also, even through they are an Independent distribution/ production company, they still hold the ability to product high quality and successful films through their large sum of resources, technology and money. For example, on March 23rd 2012, Lionsgate's most recent film "The Hungar Games" grossed $68.3 million at the Friday US box office. It was the best opening day for a non-sequel and the fifth highest of all time. The film also grossed $152 million on its first weekend, making it Lionsgates highest grossing film after just three days. This shows that Lionsgate level of production is increasing over time in terms of its film making.

On the whole, I feel that Lionsgate would be a suitable institution to work with because of their high level of experience in the filming insustry for both Thriller/ Horror movies. Also, because of their connections between other filming industries; such as Summit Entertainment, they are open to higher levels of resources and technology that many other Independant companies are not, making them a stronger and more experienced company to work with. This would also make it easier to distribute the movie in terms of its advertising through both viral marketing - Facebook, Youtube, Myspace...etc, and guerilla marketing - Billboards, cardboard cutouts...etc, before its release to the ancillary markets.

Question 2

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

There are many ways in which my media product represents particular social groups. Throughout the extract, the main protagonist is displayed as a young male, between the ages 25 - 35. Because he is shown to own his own house, this suggests he is in full time work, representing someone from a middle-class/ higher class background. The way in which he is presented throughout the extract also helps show this. He is shown to be wearing a modern style/ fashion of clothing - smart shirt, black jeans and boots. This again represents someone of a middle/higher classed background. This could also be shown through his hair style -  combed back in a neat/ smart fashion; resembling a higher class image. In the first shot of the extract, you (the viewers) are able to observe numerous items that are displayed in the house, one of which is a flat-screen television. This suggests that the protagonist is wealthy, an important factor of the higher class. This is again shown in the outdoor scenes when the protagonist leaves the house. As he approaches the gates, several cars are displayed either side of him, again suggesting that he is reasonably wealthy.
The antagonist on the other hand does not hold a specific identity throughout the extract, making it extremely hard to categorize him within a specific class. This could be something that is revealed further through the movie, however I am unable to associate a class from the extract below as his identity is hidden.

Final Evaluation - Question 1

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

I believe that my film opening holds many forms and conventions of real media products. One of the ways this is done is through the camera techniques used. Throughout the extract, there are many close-ups and extreme - close-ups of the main protagonists face to help show his emotion to the audience through his facial expressions. In one of the scenes I have used a hand-held shot to track the protagonist through the hallway. A hand-held shot is also used towards the end of the extract on the antagonists weapon - knife. This is shown as he approaches the protagonist from behind. I used this shot to make the scene feel "uncomfortable" for the viewers to watch, relying on them having to concentrate harder throughout this specific scene - a typical convention of a thriller product.
In terms of the editing, I applied low - key lighting throughout the extract. This created a dark and suspicious atmosphere, reflecting the mood of the film - scary, mysterious...etc. This is a typical convention of a thriller product. Throughout the extract, I also used slow-paced editing. This I believe, provides the audience with time  to take in the smaller details shown in the movie that may be of importance in terms of understanding the plot or pre-judgements of what might happen next. Even though this may not deem to be a typical convention of a thriller product, I do believe it helps reflect the mood and pace of the movie, both of which are extremely important aspects of a thriller product.
The score used in the extract I composed myself using apple software, Garage-band. The score itself was composed through the uses of bass, drums and cinematic sounds alone. From this, I managed to create a dark, atmospheric soundtrack, creating the pace(alongside the editing) and allowing the viewers to anticipate what may happen next through the tension and suspense displayed throughout the extract. I also applied "stings" in various points to show when the protagonist spots something of importance or if something significant has changed within the scene, and the audience may need to know about it.
The movie is set at the protagonists home (during the night). This I believe reflects a typical thriller product. Because the film is shot at the protagonists home, it produces a more realistic and believable approach to the movie from the viewers perspective. This is also shown through the protagonists clothing. In this case, he is shown to be wearing a casual shirt, black jeans and boots. These are all examples of everyday clothing, however does display the sense that he may be from a middle or higher class background. The sheer nature of his clothing however suggests innocence, creating a sympathetic mood towards the character in that you know something bat is going to happen to him. The antagonists clothing on the other hand consists of a black hoodie, black trousers and black shoes - all black. Black is a typical way of displaying evil, making this an ideal colour for the "murderer". I felt it would be key to make sure that his identity was hidden throughout the extract, again creating a higher level of suspense towards that character - another well known convention of a typical thriller product.

Final Movie Opening - "ALONE"

Final Movie Opening - "ALONE"

Storyboarding - "ALONE" Movie Opening

Shooting Schedule

Risk Assessment

Risk Assessment

In this section of my development, I will be analysing the various risks that I may have to take into consideration throughout the filming process.

Locations Used

INSIDE

Living Room - FRONT

Stairway

Living room - BACK

Living room - FRONT

Hallway

Hallway door

Actors, Props, and Scene Locations

In this section of development, I will be looking at the Actors, Props and Scene locations the will be used for my final movie.

ACTORS

- Karl Tedder - Main protagonist

- Fernando Rocha - Main antagonist

PROP's

- Knife - Used by Fernando.

- Newspaper - Used by Karl.

- Cigarettes - Used by Karl

- CLOTHING;

             - Fernando - Must be wearing dark clothing - Black hoodie, trousers, shoes.
             - Karl - Casual clothes; Shirt, jeans, boots...etc.

LOCATIONS

- My house;

INSIDE - Living room, hallway.
OUTSIDE - Porch, driveway.

Idea Shooting Schedule

In this section of development, I will be splitting my final idea into individual sections/ stages so that once I begin to film, it will be easier for me to organise each shot.

- Karl is sitting down on the sofa watching the news (lights cigarette).

- Takes a drag from the cigarette and blows out the smoke slowly.

- Hears a noise from outside.

- Puts out the cigarette in bowl and walks towards the door.

- Approaches front door and grabs handle.

- Opens door and looks around (outside).

- Sees that the gate is open..

- Leaves front door open, and walks towards the gate.

- Closes gates, walks back to house.

- Enters house, closes door behind him and walks into the living room.

- Enters living room, closes hallway door behind him and reveals Fernando's position.

- Over the shoulder shot from Fernando's perspective.

- Karl sits down and reads the newspaper.

- Places paper down, revealing Fernando's new position (behind him).

- Fernando approaches Karl from behind with a knife in his hand.

- Grabs Karl and brutally stabs him.

- Karl dies.

END.

Company Logo - "Liforce Productions"

"Liforce Productions" Company Logo

As shown above is my final company logo - "Liforce" Productions. With a company name such as "Liforce" - Life-force, I felt the image itself needed to be powerful in terms of its visual features. For this, I felt a landscape would be perfect. Mountains I believe hold a great sense of peace, which is increases greatly due to the flat stretch of water in front. As a result of this, a somewhat dream-like landscape is produced. Once I had finished this step of the editing, I then applied a life-line to the far left of the image (shown above) This I believe adds a sense of "life" to the image. Once this was applied, I was finished with my company logo for "Liforce Productions".

As shown on previous post are my 3 other ideas that helped me lead to my final company logo

Company Logo - Idea Generation

Idea 1

Idea 2

Idea 3

9 Shot Movie Opening Analysis

9 Frame opening analysis - The Strangers; Annotation from left - right.

Frame 1 - The first frame (shown above) displays the introduction of the movie. In this frame, I have highlighted the production company of the movie - "Rogue Pictures". This I believe is a vital part of a movie introduction, whether it is shown directly before the movie (shown above), or during the beginning of the movie itself. As a result of this, I feel that for me to produce a successful movie opening, the production company name will need to be mentioned.

Frame 2 - In this frame, I have highlighted a specific area that makes this movie unique. The frame says; "What you are about to see is inspired by true events". If I were to produce a movie opening that is based on true events, I feel that this will have to be stated clearly sometime throughout the opening - preferably the start. In this case, they have used a narrative voice to read this statement out to the audience, making sure that anyone that may not be looking at the screen at this particular time will most definitely hear it. This can also intensify the atmosphere of the movie dependant on the tone of voice. In this case, they have used a deep and direct voice, creating a dark and suspensive mood. The sound used in this scene is a combination of both ambient and non-dieagetic sounds. Instead of using a background score, they have used dialogue from a previous time, displaying a phone call that the main woman (protagonist) made to the police during the event of the crime. This again adds suspense and a dramatic atmosphere to the movie

Frame 3 - I felt that this scene in particular deemed important to the movie. It ultimately begins the story off where it ended, displaying a group of young boys finding a run down, broken home where something awful has just happened. The frame itself shows a close - up of a blood stain on the wall, followed by a close-up of a knife covered in blood. This builds suspense towards the viewers, displaying small clues and suggestions that leaves them questioning what has happened. I believe that this is a very strong way to grasp the audiences attention, keeping them enticed to the movie and wanting to watch more.

Frame 4 - In this frame, the story goes back to the beginning. As shown, both the man and woman are at their home. I felt that this scene was important to the movie as it allows the audience to get a feel for the setting, allowing them to observe the home and characters too. This is displayed through medium and long shots from both within and outside the house.

Frame 5 - In this frame, both characters have returned to their home having been to an engagement party. As shown, both the man and woman are back at their home. I felt that this scene was important to the movie because it helped display their relationship in various ways. One of the ways this was done was through their dialogue. This was shown through various uses of shot - reverse - shots, also helping the viewers read their expressions on their faces. As a result, the viewers begin to understand the characters better, generating a greater sense of emotion towards them both. This will gradually intensify as the audience already know that something bad is going to happen to them.

Frame 6 - In this frame, both the man and woman are alone at their home, eating dinner at the table. I felt this scene was important to the opening of the film as it allowed the audience/ viewers to now understand their relationship. Shot reverse shots allow the viewers to follow their dialogue, which in this case was subtle and slow, adding a level of romance to the scene. This I believe creates a higher level of emotion towards both characters, knowing that they are soon to be in a great level of danger.

Frame 7 - In this frame, the first sign of danger happens. This is shown through a loud knock on the front door, followed by fast paced editing between both the man and woman. Close- ups of their facial expressions allow the viewers to see their change in mood, resulting in the great change in the atmosphere of the scene. This I believe is a very effective way of exploiting shock through fast paced editing, and may consider using this for my final movie opening.

Frame 8 - In this frame, the main protagonist (woman) is left alone in her home whilst her lover has left to check outside. I believe that this scene is important to the opening of the movie as the woman is now left unprotected by her lover, making her vulnerable to attack - creating greater suspense. A close up is used as she tried to dial her phone for help. This allows the viewers to understand what actions the woman is taking during this struggling situation. I feel that this is key, focussing on the props used in the scene so that the viewers are able to identify them when and where they are used during the movie.

Frame 9 - This frame shows the first revealing of the cereal killer. The scene consists of very many shots, alternating from a medium close - up to a medium long-shot. The medium long-shot allows the viewers to establish the setting and the body language of the woman. During this time, the cereal killer (antagonist) slowly emerges them self from the dark at the far left end of the room. The way in which this is done in terms of the context of the scene creates a strong sense of realism to the scene, therefore making the movie more realistic. Also, because their is no score or non - dieagetic sounds used, this again creates a more realistic and believable situation, reflecting the genre of the movie more intensely to the viewers - Thriller. This I believe is a vital element that needs to be shown throughout my own movie opening - the more realistic and believable, the better.

Target Audience (Audience Profile)

Before moving onto producing my movie opening, I must first gain a strong understanding of what the Target Audience of my movie will be. To do this, I will analyse a movie within the same movie genre as mine - Psychological Thriller.

The Strangers - THRILLER


- AGE CERTIFICATE; 15

AGE/ GENDER/ CLASS %

Conclusion - From both charts shown above, it is clear that a higher percentage of males are interested in watching this movie in comparison to females - 61% males, 39% females. This has provided me with a strong guide as to what the overall target audience will be for my movie opening. The second chart also provided me with a wide variety of age ranges that are interested in seeing the movie "The Strangers" - shown through an average percentage. As you can see, the highest percentage of viewers that are interested in seeing the movie are between the ages 15 - 24 - 65%. This is followed by the ages 25 - 34 - 26%. From this, it is almost certain that my target audience will vary between the ages 15 - 34. Overall, I feel that my target audience will be rather niche, attracting a higher range of males than females, all mostly between the ages 15 - 34.

Media Opening Sequence PRESENTATION

MEDIA MOVIE OPENING SEQUENCE PRESENTATION - "Liforce Productions"

THRILLER

PLOT

My movie will be set in present day, during the night. The story will take place at the main protagonists home, his name not being extremely important throughout this particular opening as his name will not be mentioned nor hinted. The sequence opens up with the main protagonist sitting in his living room, watching the television with a cigarette and drink. After a short while, he will hear distinct noise from outside his house, sounding somewhat like someone has opened one of his gates and made their way onto his drive. This will lead to the protagonist to leave his living room and approaching the front door to observe his driveway for any disturbances. After a short while, he will open the front door for a clearer view, calling "Hello" two or three times for any response. He then spots that one of the gates has been opened slightly, and as a result leaves his house and approaches the driveway to close it again... during this time, the mysterious character has quietly entered his home - not visible on camera. The protagonist subtly returns to his house and sits back down on the sofa, quietly questioning himself on the event that had just happened. At this time, the mysterious character quietly approaches the protagonist from behind. This will be a slow movement to maximise the tension of the scene. The antagonist will be carrying a weapon (most likely a knife, due to its ability to murder its victims silently). The scene will then finish with a sudden black out once the antagonist has approached the protagonist - combined with the slow build of background score, intensifying the tension and suspense of the scene. Should be no longer than 2.30mins.

SUB GENRE & CONVENTIONS

The sub genre of my movie opening is a "Psychological Thriller". This is a specific sub genre that requires heavy focus on the characters. It often incorporates elements from the mystery and drama genre, along with typical conventions of a thriller genre. - EXAMPLES OF "PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLERS" SHOWN BELOW;

"Memento"

 "Seven"

"The Usual Suspects"

CONVENTIONS - 

There are many conventions of the the thriller genre that I will be using for my opening sequence;

- Low Key Lighting

- POV Camera shots

- Focus Pulls (Deep & Shallow)

- Score will consist of deep bass and piano instruments

- Will focus heavily on the main protagonist - He is in danger.

CHARACTER TYPES;

Their are only two obvious characters within my movie opening (Protagonist and Antagonist)

1) The Protagonist - This character is someone who enjoys being alone. His quiet and mysterious characteristics are what make him so enticing and enjoyable to watch. 

- Quiet

- Drinks

- Smokes

- Dresses very dull and messy - vest shirt, tracksuit bottoms...etc.

2) The Antagonist - This character consists of a hidden identity throughout the opening sequence of my movie. He/she/it does not appear clearly in front of the camera throughout the sequence, however does briefly appear towards the end of the opening. This silence and lack of identity creates a higher level of suspense towards the plot and the characters themselves.

TARGET AUDIENCE;

- The certificate for my movie will be 15, meaning that my target audience on the whole is anyone above the ages of 15. This will include males or females who enjoy psychological thrillers.

- Many psychological thrillers released today (examples shown above) are certificate 18, however the content used for my movie opening is not overly explicit.

- The reason for my movie being certified for 15+ is because the movie will contain some aspects of violence and death.

WHAT AM I AIMING TO ACHIEVE?

I am aiming to achieve a sequence that completely draws the viewers attention all the way through until the end. The opening will need to consist of a dark, unsettling mood - accomplished with the conventions to do so; Low key lighting, POV shots...etc. This will be achieved thoroughly with the help of a close friend of mine, Harry Gilmour - a keen and talented photographer, kindly providing me with the technology to do so. 

Another aspect of my movie which I feel is extremely important is the relationship between the protagonist and the viewer. I feel that the relation ship between both the characters and the viewers should be strong. This is because I believe that the stronger the bond, the more personal the movie becomes. Examples of previous movies with close relationships between the main protagonist and the viewer are shown below;

 "Drive" - Action Thriller (Protagonist)

"Limitless" - Action Thriller (Protagonist - Right)

SUMMARY
I believe that both "Drive" and "Limitless" hold a specific style of filming and eventhough they are both not psycological thrillers, I feel they bring a strong sense of realism and appeal to the show. The way in which the characters are highlighted within the movie through narrative, characteristics, body language...etc allows the viewers to gain a stronger understanding on the characters personality. This results in the viewers to feel asif they know the character personally, and therefore are able to show a deeper level of emotion towards that particular character. This is a unique and effective specialty to have and is something that I will be looking to achieve within my own movie opening.

The British Board of Film Classification

The British Board of Film Classification

The British Board of Film Classification is an independent, non-government body which specializes is classifying  cinema films since 1912 - when cinemas first opened. They also specialize in classifying the certificates of video games - since the passing of the video recordings act in 1984.

- Sets age of film.

- They sit and watch the film and decide on the movies age certificate in reference to the BBFC guidelines. Their are 9 areas at which these guidelines are produced under;

1) Discrimination

2) Violence

3) Drugs

4) Horror

5) Imitable behavior 

6) Language

7) Nudity

8) Sex

9) Theme

- These guidelines are updated every 4 years. The most recent update took place in June 2009, meaning that the next update will be in 2013.


The Age certificates that the BBFC classify their given movies by are;

THRILLER - Movie Opening Conventions

Thriller Definition - Something that is "thrilling" or may "thrill" an audience.

Their are many conventions of a thriller movie opening that I may have to consider using for my movie opening.

1) The movie may open up with a mystery, keeping the viewers instantly enticed to the movie - want to watch more. This is also known as an "ENIGMA"

2) The characters identity can hold common themes;
 - AMNESIA
 - MISTAKEN IDENTITY
 - DOUBLING

...All of which are common in thriller openings. Together, these help build the suspense and tension within the movie. For example, if a character is "ensnared" by another character. This is all held together by the combination of all 4 micro elements behind the films production - CAMERA, SOUND, EDITING & MISE-EN SCENE.

- Camera techniques such as canted angles and hand-held shots add un-ease to the movie, resulting in the viewers having to move or turn their heads to see clearly what is happening at that particular point.

- Many thriller movies today usually use low key lighting for a majority of the movie. This provides the movie with the dark, depressing atmosphere needed, whilst also giving the movie the dark mood needed for it to be   a successful thriller.

Key Conventions Of A Film Opening Title Sequence

Their are many conventions that a typical movie sequence must have in order for it to be successful...

As shown above is the opening sequence to "Catch Me If You Can" - A 2003 American biographical comedy/ drama, starring Leonardo Dicaprio and Tom Hanks. As you can see, their are many different credits shown throughout the movies introduction, allowing the viewers to appreciate everyone who worked behind the scenes of the movie. These may include;

DIRECTOR             

PRODUCER                                                                    

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

TOP BILLING ACTORS

THE MOVIE TITLE

DISTRIBUTION COMPANY

CAST/CREW

INDICATION OF CHARACTER OR CHARACTER TYPE

INDICATION OF PLACE/ PERIOD

THEME SONG - SCORE & TONE

- The movie opening may also include Mise En Scene CINEMATOGRAPHY. This can be elaborated upon later in the film.

- Also, the movie opening can include various types of information towards the GENRE of the sequence. For example, for "Catch Me If You Can", they have clearly provided the audience with the indication that this movie will involve a continuous chase between the boy (Dicaprio) and the cop (Hanks). This provides the viewers with an early indication of what  the movie is about and subtle insight into how the movie may sequence in terms of the plot - the boy becomes a pilot, nurse...etc.

Video 4 Analysis (150 Words) - "Amityville Horror"

As shown above is the opening sequence of my fourth movie example, named "Amityville Horror".

Analysis - HORROR

1) SOUND - The sound used throughout the extract is Ambient, displaying horrific lightning and thunder sounds - stings. The extract also displayed some dieagetic sounds, such as speech and interaction with carious areas of the house - shotgun...etc. This adds realism to the movie, ultimately resulting in a stronger horror movie.

2) MISE-EN-SCENE - The clothes worn throughout the extract are subtle and worn. The girl in the bedroom is wearing a white robe - representing a ghost like approach, adding to the theme and mood of the movie. The obvious prop used is a shotgun, displayed at the beginning of the extract. This is over emphasized to add tension and suspense to the extract. 

3) EDITING - The editing used is fast paced, creating a tense atmosphere to the scene. Their are no obvious credits displayed as such, however they do provide the viewers with a time and place at the beginning of the extract, providing the viewers with some insight to the movies setting. The lighting is also low key - a typical convention of a horror movie.

4) CAMERA -  Their are a wide range of shots and techniques used within the extract, including; establishing shot, close-ups, medium shots and eye line match, shot reverse shot...etc. I believe that by using such a wide variety of shots and editing techniques adds a higher level of suspense and realism to the extract, something I may need to consider for my own movie introduction.

Video 3 Analysis (150 Words) - "Deja Vu"

As shown above is the opening sequence of my third movie example, named "Deja Vu".

Analysis - THRILLER

1) SOUND - The sound used in the extract is a mixture of Non-dieagetic and Ambient sounds (more towards the start). The extract also begins with a low paced score of what can be recognized as a piano - symbolizing sadness, depression indicating something bad is about to happen - suspense. As the extract progresses, the score intensifies as the soldiers begin to play their instruments - Trombones, again building the suspense towards the big explosion at the end.

2) MISE-EN-SCENE - The clothing worn in the scene is very distinct and smart. The soldiers are wearing very vibrant, clean clothing indicating their pride and honor, where as the citizens boarding the boat are wearing casual clothing - wide variation. The camera work also allows the viewers to establish the setting - harbor.

3) EDITING - The editing used throughout the sequence is slow paced. The credits throughout the extract are fast and distorted, highlighted with what appears as a vague square shape behind the text - attract the viewers attention.

4) CAMERA - Throughout the extract, their is various extreme long shots used - establishing shots, used to identify the setting used. In this case, scene is set on a harbor in the middle of an American city. It also allows the viewers to see the quantity of people using the boat, and their for building a higher level of suspicion towards the danger ahead. This is complimented by the soldiers on the harbor playing the trombones as a sign of respect and honor - sympathy. 

Video 2 Analysis (150 Words) - "Frequency"

As shown above is the opening sequence of my second movie example, named "Frequency".

Analysis - THRILLER

1) SOUND - The sound used throughout the extract is a mixture of non dieagetic and ambient sounds. You can distinctly hear the voice of a news reporter speaking as the credits begin - discussing the actions of a serial killer. This allows the viewers to establish small amount of background knowledge towards the plot of the movie before it begins.

2) MISE-EN-SCENE - The extract itself begins during the night. The clothing worn in the extract is presented very distinctly. For example, after the collision happens, it becomes clear the the firemen are on their way to help - glowing jackets, helmets...etc. The attention to detail in terms of clothing is what can make a movie believable (realistic), something which this movie has achieved successfully.

3) EDITING - The credits take place throughout the whole introduction of the movie. It begins with the credits slowly fading in and out in a "typewrite" font, enhanced with a fluorescent glow to increase its visual appeal, keeping the viewers enticed to the opening credits as well as the movie itself. 

4) CAMERA - The extract opens with a Computer Generated shot (CGI) from space, allowing the viewers to observe the frequency waves given off from the sun. This is used as visual representation in relation to the title of the movie - Frequency, giving the viewers a detailed reference to the purpose and plot of the movie.

Video 1 Analysis (150 Words) - "30 Days Of Night"

As shown above is the opening sequence of my first movie example, named "30 Days Of Night".

Analysis - HORROR

1) SOUND - The sound within the extract shown is presented in a very dark, subtle way however, still deems very effective. The slow echoing affect created creates a high level of suspense towards the viewers. The extract uses a mixture of ambient and non dieagetic score withing the first 2 minutes of the clip.

2) MISE-EN-SCENE - The ultimate location used withing the movies intro is Alaska. The freezing temperatures are shown through the characters clothing - in this case, thick padded and fur coated jackets. This is shown clearly throughout the extract and is something I may need to consider for my own movie opening.

3) EDITING - The movies production company, distributors, producers..etc are all shown before the movie begins. This is a very original, however striking way for the viewers to evaluate what sort of movie this is. The text is slowly faded in and out with the combination of non - dieagetic score along side to give the horrifying and en-easy affect towards the viewers - a typical convention of a horror movie.

4) CAMERA - Throughout the extract, they have use alot of extreme long shots (establishing shots) to set the scene for the viewers. This is proven very effactive for this movie in particular as the film itself is filmed in a very distinct and unique place- Alaska. This may be something I will need to consider for my own horror/ thriller movie.

"Drive" Movie Introduction Analysis

"DRIVE" - Movie Opening Analysis

- As shown above, I have analysed in detail the opening sequence of "Drive" - an Action Thriller, certificate 18, starring Ryan Gosling. The image above shows a timeline, highlighting the various stages at which the stars (actors), director, producer, editor, director of photography...etc are shown within the movie opening - total duration 2:45. From this, I will hope to gain a stronger understanding of how the movie producer has achieved such a successful movie introduction, in relation to the font, style, colour and score used within the extract... 

- An example of the movie introduction for "Drive" is shown at the top of the post.

Preliminary Task - Story-boarding

Preliminary Exercise

Preliminary Exercise

For my preliminary task, I will be producing a short film obeying various camera and editing techniques, including a shot - reverse - shot, match on action and the 180 degree rule. The Preliminary exercise will be shot at my house, involving acting from both my brother and his friend. The clip itself will be subtle and short, simply showing a young boy getting up on a Saturday morning, walking down the stairs and sharing a conversation with his friend at the breakfast table. The shot will be no longer than 1.30 mins..