Opening Sequences

As a class we looked on the website Art of the Title which lets you watch various different types of opening sequences.

For my main task product research, I have been researching different types of opening sequences and compared the similarities and differences within opening sequences.

In class we looked at three different opening sequences Dinner for Schmucks, Coraline and Catch me if You Can. 

1. Dinner for Schmucks

Uses innocent looking titles that matches the soundtrack and the lyrics of the background music, this links to the sweet and innocent titles that blend in with the theme of the film. This opening scene gives an insight into the story line and the characters but doesn't give anything away, all of the actors and producers and the directors names are spread out across the shot and at the end of the sequence the directors name is the biggest and in the centre of the shot highlighting their importance.

         2. Coraline

Titles are shown before the animation properly starts, this opening scene creates a mysterious and creepy atmosphere and sense for the audience, the titles fit similarly to Dinner for Schmucks as they link directly to the theme of the scene. The background music also adds to the eerie sense for the scene and this helps link the titles as they fit in with the animation of a doll being sown and turned inside out. This already gives the audience the feeling that something isn't quite right which will help to draw in the audiences attention to the rest of the film.

          3.  Catch me if You Can

The titles during this sequence seems as if it is a part of the sequence and is integrated into the theme of the film. This helps to draw attention to the names being shown, making them stand out which differs from what was seen in dinner for schmucks. The animation hints at the story line of the film but is still mysterious and leaves the audience wanting to know what is going to happen. This opening sequence is intriguing and when the audience finishing watching the scene they will understand that the beginning shows the plot before the film begins.

To Conclude, similarities within opening sequences are:

• Has a set theme or style which links into the context of the film
• Has a soundtrack that is appropriate
• Includes the name of the film, with the use of titles
• Titles are incorporated into the theme and the cast names are stated at the beginning, with different fonts and sizes showing importance

These are the main conventions of an opening sequence and are aspects that I will need to include when doing my own opening sequence. This research was useful as it helps build up a picture of how similar conventions can be used to show contrasting themes and ideas and helps to show how all the aspects fit together to flow as an opening sequence.

The Main Task

The brief for our main task is:

Film the opening sequence of a new fiction film, including titles and soundtrack to last approximately 2 minutes.

The highlighted points are the most important aspects of the brief that I will need to be able to completely understand before starting filming and pre-production. I will need to research and be able to use titles and soundtracks to understand their function but also I need to understand what an opening sequence is and what the main aspects are within an opening sequence.

Titles:

• Show the title of the film, the actors and the characters within the film
• Usually names shown are in order of importance, typically with the directors name last
• Font and size need to be considered when making decisions about each individual character/actor

Soundtrack:

• Includes forms of diegetic and non-diegetic sounds
• Backing music
• Dialogue and potentially voice overs
• Special effects

Opening Sequence:

• Introduces the theme and style of the film
• Establishes scenes of the film
• Includes a soundtrack
• Includes the name of the film
• Has a colour scheme
• Titles are typically incorporated into the theme of the sequence
• Cast is included in the opening sequence



Preliminary Task

Our preliminary task was to demonstrate, shot/reverse shot, match on action and the 180 degree rule. I think out group did well on showing these aspects effectively as the scene is continuous, matching the action of the scene, mainly as she walks through the door. Also reverse shots and the 180 degree rule was used when the two characters were talking so the audience could see what the character was seeing and the emotions showed by both of the characters.

Our film also completes the brief as it shows a character opening a door, walking across a room and having a conversation with another character.

The most difficult aspect of making this film was the editing and to make the separate videos match up to show continuous action and for the editing to be more subtle as all the separate clips should flow into each other. One problem with our film is that is was filmed on a phone so the video doesn't fill up the whole screen and therefore has the black border around the film as it plays. Next time we will ensure that we use a camera which will also increase and improve the steadiness of the filming.

Here is what our group created: 

Preliminary Task

The brief of our preliminary task involves filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character. With whom he/she then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue.

This task is being used to help us develop our understanding of camera shots and angles, sound and editing and to show that we know how to use all the different aspects of media to create believable scene. 

Our film should demonstrate match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180 degree rule:

MATCH ON ACTION is an editing technique that helps to show continuity in a scene, it makes the scene flow and look natural, it portrays a continuous sense of the same action, rather than matching two different things.

SHOT/REVERSE SHOT is used in conversations or characters looking at each other, reverse shots are typically used with an over the shoulder shot to show the position of the characters in relation to each other,  this links with the 180 degree rule as it helps show continuity but also doesn't distort the audiences sense of location of the characters in the shot.

180 DEGREE RULE says that characters in a scene should have the same left/right relationship with each other with filming only taking place within the 180 degree angle, this allows the audience to have a greater sense of location and helping to show the position of the characters. e.g. whether or not they are sat next to or opposite each other, implying their relationship to each other.

A website that I found helpful to further my understanding of these concepts was
http://www.slideshare.net/joe940/match-on-action-180-rule-shot-reverse-shot as it explained each concept in detail, as well as showing examples. It will also be a useful website throughout the preliminary task as it goes through each part of the task and shows you how to complete each of the concepts, as well as helping with editing which will come after the film has been shot.

Editing: Ronin First Car Chase

As we have started looking at editing, we watched an example and analysed how editing was used in a video clip and therefore what the effects were:

• A slow cutting rate was used during the car chase which helped to build up tension and also anticipation about what might happen and how the chase will turn out.
• A matched cut was also used, it showed the relationship between specific characters, highlighting to the audience which characters were enemies with each other, but also which characters were in alliance with each other.
• Buffer's were used links characters together and with the use of a jump cut it further develops the audiences understanding as to which characters are communicating with each other.
• A motivated cut shows the man tracking the enemy cars and also shows that the characters are being closely watched, the motivated cut helps the audience to see what the characters have seen and adds to the drama of the scene. Another motivated cut is used when the character realises that the brief cases have been switched, helping to imply to the audience that it is too late and that the characters have been caught.
• A reaction shot helps to show the audience the characters different perspectives but also to show different view points and feelings within the scene, e.g. shows excitement during the car chases, it is fast pace highlighting the adrenaline being created
• A close up is also used on the food before the cars crash into the tables, it shows threat and danger as you know that something is about to happen and the fact that there is people walking past and around the food, worsens the danger and builds up tension as to whether or not innocent people will get hurt.
• Pauses are used in the scene which help to calm down the intensity of the scene and gives the audience time to relax and recover before the action starts again.
• A slow pace highlights the importance of the case and also what is inside, it also creates a sense of secrecy and subtly as no one knows exactly what is happening, as the camera constantly switches back to the man it shows that there is a plan and the enemies will be defeated, which also helps to calm down the intensity and will give the audience a sense of relief.

Editing

After learning about sound and creating our own sound piece, we moved onto learning about editing, we were given a list of key terms to help develop our understanding of how editing works and what editing is used for.

Cut: it is the most basic but also most common transition, it is primarily used when one shot replaces another, the main reason for a cut is to make the scene run smoothly while the audience is watching different story lines and scenes, but still understand and can interpret the scene accurately. It is also used to show juxtaposition by placing two contrasting scenes and shots next to each other.

Main uses are:

• to change scene
• to compress time
• to vary point of view
• for a montage or to build up an image or idea

Matched Cut: editors use this cut to suggest a relationship or closeness between two people, two different objects, different spaces or two different compositions that are considered to graphically match.

Main uses involve:

• continuity of direction
• completed action
• a similar centre of attention in the frame
• a one-step change of shot (long to medium)
• a change of angle (conventionally at least 30 degrees)

Jump Cut: it is an abrupt cut in transition from one scene to another, it is effective and useful as it helps give the impression of time moving forward in a constant rate and at the same time of the previous scene being shown.

Motivated Cut: it is used to connect two scenes, it is often used to show two objects being far apart.

Cutting Rate: the cutting rate includes how many cuts is used within a specific scene, action films will have more cuts used as there is drama and action to show, opposed to scenes of dialogue in romantic films where there is less to focus on at one time meaning that there is fewer cuts.

Cutting Rhythm: is the speed of when edits come in and out of the scene, it can be used to build up tension and drama if it is either slowed down or being made faster.

Cross Cut: usually is used to show action in more than one location during the scene, the camera cuts away from one place and scene and then matches onto another one

Cut Away: it is an interruption of continuous action, by showing and inserting a view of something else, it is a reaction shot and helps to fill gaps or mistakes made while filming.

Insert: an insert places two images together to help the audience to understand different views in a story line to get the full picture of what is happening.

Transition in editing include:

• Buffer
• Fade/dissolve
• Superimpositions
• Wipe
• Inset
• Split Screen
• Stock Shot

War Soundscape

After learning about different types of sounds that can be added to scenes and how sound is used within scenes, our class was asked to make our own sound piece.

The brief for our soundscape was that it had to portray the experience of being in the war and what it was like for soldiers to be in the trenches.

The sound effects of different aspects of war that we used were from the website Sound Bible.

We decided to use lots of different sounds to create a very dramatic and action packed soundscape, as well as making the audience feel upset and worried and also sympathetic to the soldiers that were actually in the war, as that is what we thought it would be like during war.

Here is what my group created:

After looking at camera angle and shots, we next moved onto looking at and working with sound, both diegetic and non diegetic.
Diegetic sound is sound that directly comes from a person or object within the scene.
Non diegetic sound is should that has been added into the scene afterwards as a result of editing.

In class, we looked at an example of James Bond: Casino Royale and discussed which sounds diegetic and non diegetic were present and therefore what their effect was.

Diegetic sounds in this scene include:

• dialogue
• footsteps
• glass smashing
• gun shots
• gasps and breathing
• doors opening and closing

Non diegetic sounds in this scene include:

• the noise as the knife is revealed
• music in the lift
• the background music

These are also forms of sound effects and ambient sounds which are effective as they add to the drama and action in the scene, also making it seem dangerous but also makes the scene seem more believable and real for the audience as the sounds accurately match what they are seeing, this is synchronous.


This is the clip:

Lego Movie

After creating the storyboard which highlighted our initial ideas, our group went out and took the photos of each shot, to show a character delivering shocking news to another character.

While we were putting the photos together to make the film, we decided to add some extra movements of the man falling over, this includes the side view of the character in a long shot, which isn't on the original storyboard. We also added a medium close up of the female character to highlight further to the audience what the shocking news actually was, making her pregnancy more obvious. We also added a birds eye view when the female character was looking at the male character, after he had passed out and fallen over.

Our storyboard was effective as it gave use an initial idea of what we wanted our film to look like and meant that we could expand on our ideas to make it flow better as a film and make the context more clear to the audience.

Here is our lego film of the female character giving shocking news to the male character:



Story Board

After looking at and understanding different camera angles and their purpose, we were asked to create a short video clip consisting of a range of different camera shots. The aim of the task was to create a scene where one character gives a piece of shocking news to another character, but the scene could only be done by taking pictures of different camera angles to portray the news.

Firstly, we made a story board to state our initial ideas, outlining the plot of how the shocking news would be shown, we also made an original list of camera angles that we thought would be effective in presenting the shocking news in a dramatic way.

The camera angles we used and thought about using while doing the story board were:

• An establishing shot
• A medium shot
• A reverse shot
• An extreme close up
• A high angle shot
• A birds eye view
• A low angle shot
• An eye level
• A long shot

The story board gave us an idea of what camera angles we were going to use and what movements of each character we were going to use, this made it easier for us to take the pictures as we already had an idea what we wanted to create and what it should look like.

Here is our story board: 

Analysis of different Camera Shots on Media Texts

In last weeks lesson, we watched and analysed two very different video clips in order to spot all of the different camera shots that were used and discussed why they were used and the effect.

The two video clips we watched were, James Bond: Casino Royale and Superman Returns.

This clip of James Bond is very fast and high action, the director has used many different camera shots and movements, highlighting the drama and intenseness of the piece. 

Camera shots used include:

• BEV: this shot was used showing an explosion rising up into the camera, this is effective as it puts the audience in the action which makes it seem more real and believeable. It also intensifies the danger as the audience will have a sense of what the main characters are experiencing. 
• ES: an establishing shot was used to set the scene and give the audience an idea as to where the film is taking place.
• EL: an eye level shot was used as one of the characters was looking over from where he was hiding, this is effective as it connects with the audience, showing a close up of his face empathsises the emotion and in this case fear and danger he is in.
• RS: a reverse shot was used after the eye level shot, in this case it showed the audience the machine driven by James Bond coming towards the other character, empathsising the danger and action both of the characters are in.
• LA and HA: both the low angle and high angle were used to highlight size,showing what is above the characters, but also how high up the crane was, creating a more dramatic sequence of action. 

The other video clip, Superman Returns contrasted to the action packed and dramatic scene of James Bond, but still used effective camera shots and movements to show a more relaxed and emotional scene. 

Camera Shots include: 

• ES: similar to James Bond, used to set the scene, except it is a more normal and comfortable setting.
• CU: a close up is used on both of characters, showing their emotions through facial expressions as they talk to eachother. 
• RS: reverse shots are used to give the audience perspective, it gives the audience a point of view, almost seeing what the character is seeing and how the other character is reacting/replying.
• As well as camera shots, camera movements are used, the camera throughout the scene zooms in on the two characters, showing their close relationship and the fact its a personal and private conversation. this would have been done on a dolly which makes the scene look more natural.

To conclude these video clips show that camera shots can be used in a range of ways in different that can change the atmosphere and tempo of different media pieces, this is effective as it can help enhance the mood of different scenes. But still making them exciting to watch for the audience.