Main Task: Opening Sequence

Main task:

In a group of four we have to film an opening sequence for a new fiction film. This will include a title and soundtrack it needs to last around two minutes; maximum three minutes.

Opening sequence: We need to show understanding of an opening sequence. We have already seen some examples of opening scenes. We saw opening sequences of Dinner for Schmucks, The Conjuring, Caroline and Catch Me if You Can. This helped us to understand different opening styles and the ways they link in with genre.

We will be using titles in the opening sequence to introduce key actors and to give credit to the people behind the scenes.

The opening sequence has to be fictional  which means we will have to make up our own story so we know what we need to get across in the opening sequence. The genre can be anything we decide is best.
   

We will have to develop a soundtrack for our opening. This means sound effects and music. A soundtrack can help emphasis what is happening in the scene making it more believable and more punchy.

Continuity task

In this task we had to apply our understanding of continuity using match on action. This meant that we had to make sure that if  a person was to open a door we would have to show them going through it in the next scene. We also had to apply the 180 degree rule, which is seen when the to actors sit down and talk. Looking back on this work the editing could have been improved as some of the transitions (the cross fade) were too obvious breaking the immersion of the scene.

Media: Still Picture

In this task we had to Show of different kinds of shots and try to express a situation where someone is getting told bad news. We had to achieve this by using still shots only.

We started by drawing up a storyboard. We decided to use a range of low angle and high angle shots this was to create a sense of rush and tension. The most succesful shot I feel was the shot seen in the thumbnail below. The close up of feet running shows clearly that the actor is an hurry as it brings the auidence close to give them a sense of the pace from the still shot. We also thought it was good to contrast the calm nature of the person working with the rush of the running news breaker. This was a good way to build tension as the person working as the audience can gather that person working was unexpecting.

Continuity Task Brief

We are now planing to do our next task which is about continuity. We going to have to film a short clip of someone walking through a door and sitting down to have a conversation with another person. We will have to apply certain techniques to ensure that the continuity isn't broken. These techniques are:

Match on action: This is when shots are put into a row so the viewer can see the actor doing a certain action like going through a door.If the action was a door the would be a shot of the actor walking up to the door then maybe a close up of them turning the handle and then a shot of them walking through the door from inside the room. This makes the viewer believe that the actor went through the door in one fluent motion, where as the actor has had to stop and start for each shot.

Shot/ reverse shot: This is a shot that is used to show what an actor is looking at which can be from there perspective or from over there shoulder.

180 degree rule: This rule is used to make a conversation easy to follow. This is because the two actors are placed opposite from each other and on the same level.Then the camera is placed to side of non-speaking actors head. When the actor isnt talking it is put on the opposite side so the camera is always facing the person is talking. When switching between actors the camera has to stick a 180 degree angle.

World War 1 Sound Task

This is my World War 1 sound task. We created this in Movie Plus using sounds from http://soundbible.com/

In this task we had to make a believable and immersive soundtrack. To do this we had to use sounds that related to world war 1. The sound track was only allowed to be thirty minutes long. This forced into really thinking about how to overlap sound effects to make the soundtrack sound chaotic without it being a mix of sound that combines to make an indistinguishable noise.

Media Studies Powerpoint

This is an example of the most common shots used in film making:

Casino Royale Movie CLIP - Parkour Chase (2006) HD

In the first few moments of the scene we have a lot of switching of angles as Bond climbs over the fence this is to make the action look faster and more frantic. Then the action is paused for a moment with a medium close up on bond; a reverse angle shot showing the bad guy running away and then bringing a digger to attention of the viewer. In the next few shots we see a close up of the runner hiding behind some tubes and then a reverse angle shot which sweeps the area, this pauses the chase to build the tension up for James Bond dramatic entrance with the digger. The are many close ups on Bond in the digger to show his calm  expression on his face while mayhem is being caused. Later on in this clip the chase is taken out through free running. For the free running they have used many long shots, this is so you can see all of the jumps and stunts clearly. The shots only zoom in when the runner is fighting one of the construction workers or Bond. When Bond and the runner are fighting on the crane the are long and medium shots used this is to keep the fight in view the whole time but still make the fight seem up close and personal.