Preliminary Exercise Analysis

1) Who did you work with and how did you manage the task between you?
I worked in a group with Natasha and Francis. We all planned and came up with the idea for the task as a group, and I finalised our plans by writing the shot list. Francis and Natasha were our two actors, and we each took turns at filming and directing the shots that each actor wasn't in, to try and spread the filming/directing jobs as equally as possible.

2) How did you plan your sequence? What processes did you use? What theories did you try to take into account?
We planned the sequence by drawing up a storyboard and a shot list. We then did a few walkthroughs of our idea to make sure that the setting we chose was suitable for what we wanted to film. We then adapted our script slightly to suit the movement during the scene. We took into account the theories of continuity and narrative flow, and also thought about our variety of shots.
Anna Francis Natasha Script
Anna Francis Natasha Shot List

3) What technology did you use to complete the task, and how did you use it?

• Camera (Canon Legria HV40) - both tripod and handheld to film our shots, using zoom and playback features.
• Tripod - we adjusted the height of the tripod in order to get high and low angled shots, and removed and reattached the camera when doing handheld shots.
• Shot gun mic - a boom mic would have been impractical, seeing as most shots could only be filmed by one person, as we had 2 actors in many of our shots.
• Editing suites - Adobe Premier Pro CS3 for non-linear digital editing. I also used the razor and eraser tools when editing to move around my shots and to achieve continuity, and captured my footage (making sure to leave room for editing)

4) What factors did you have to take into account when planning, shooting and editing?

Planning:
Variation of shots, scheduling, assigning tasks to each group member, narrative flow, lighting, setting.

Shooting:
Framing, acting, time management, leaving run-on time to edit.

Editing:
Continuity, narrative flow, match-on action, audio volume.

5) How successful was your sequence? What worked well,and with hindsight, what would you improve/do differently?

I think that my sequence was fairly successful, though there was plenty to be improved.

I think that the match-on action (the pen grab) worked well, along with the cutting away to the master shot to make the setting/space clear and the cut away to the clock. We also managed to stick to the 30 degree and 180 degree rules.

With hindsight, I would have paid more attention to the audio that we were recording, as when it came to editing, it was tricky to match up. I would also have made sure that each run through of the sequence was done as similarly to the others as the one before in order to retain narrative flow and continuity. I also would have simplified the narrative and made my edit shorter, as I tried to pack in too much footage when I should have focused on editing a shorter clip.

6) What have you learnt from completing this task? Looking ahead, how will this learning be significant when completing the rest of your foundation coursework?

From completing this task, I have learnt that paying attention to the audio is just as important as the visual content, and that it is more important to focus on creating something simple that completes the specifications well rather than trying to include too much where it is not neccesary. I have also learnt a great deal about continuity theory and how to put it into practise, using techniques such as cross-cutting, the 30 degree rule and the shot-reverse-shot. I think that this learning will be significant when it comes to the rest of my work as it has shown me how important the planning really is. I have also learnt that in order to create a good edit, you cannot just rely on editing footage that may have a problem with it - the footage must be right. The continuity techniques that I have learnt about will be incredibly useful when filming my opening sequence, as it will really help to make it seem like a real, believable opening.

Film Opening Genre Analysis

For this homework I will be analysing the opening sequence to 'The Dark Knight'.



Genre: Superhero, action, crime.
Who are the main characters?
The only main character we are introduced to is the film's villain - the Joker. He is very iconic and recognisable due to his unusual appearance, and he is already very well knows amongst comic and film fans. Although we aren't introduced to Batman yet, the audience knows from the title of the film that he will be the hero, and the audience already have knowledge and expectations of the character due to previous films and pop culture knowledge.
How has narrative been constructed?
Narrative has been constructed by opening with a range of secondary characters who wear clown masks - a very heavy hint as to who the villain is. The opening cleverly reveals the villain to be one of the masked men, presenting the audience with the theme of deception and a clear idea of the way this villain works. (He is clever and will do anything to get what he wants)
What is the key iconography and how does it signify the genre?
The clown masks are very iconic in this film - particularly the Joker's painted on one. They signify the genre as they set up a clear good vs evil binary opposite. It is very clear who the bad guys are and the frightening masks are suitable for the genre. The masks also signify the theme of concealment and hidden identity - very common in superhero films.
Guns are also seen very often and are one of the most common and recognisable action movie objects. We know when we see them that there will be fighting, murder and crime - all things that the audience would expect to see when going to see this film.
Identify the audience pleasures/expections:

• Good vs Evil, with good triumphing at the end.
• Fighting, stunts
• Special effects
• Escapism
• Suspending the audience's disbelief - the audience wants to get lost in the story
• A love interest
• Enigma
• A showdown
• The hero saving the city

Continuity Clip Analysis

I will be analysing a clip from 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'.



Firstly, an extreme long shot is inserted into the clip in order to establish narrative flow. This is to show all the space in which the action is occuring and where the characters are in relation to one another. This is done in the middle of a fairly fast-paced sequence so that the viewer is not disoriented. The wider shots use also include match-on action. For example, in the penultimate shot we see Malfoy and his friends exiting through the archway - an action continuing from a few shots before. Match-on action is also seen when Hermione lowers her wand and when Draco falls to the floor.

The shots also follow the 180 degree rule, for example, when the camera cuts between Hermione pointing her wand at Malfoy and Hermione with Ron and Harry in the background. The 30 degree rule is also followed in the first two shots of Hermione walking. Diegetic sound, like Hermione's dialogue, also establishes narrative flow.

The scene actually breaks a rule by cutting from a close up to an extreme long shot, though I think that in this case it works, as it helps to prolong to tension. Also, (as a sidenote) Hermione's wand seems to magically (no pun intended) change hands before she punches Malfoy in the face.

Accident Sequence Reflections

a) Describe the sequence you planned to create and identify the 6 shots you used
We planned to create a sequence involving a person running down a corridor, trying to run through the door but then slamming into it, then falling to the floor. The 6 shots we used are:
1) LS, pan.
2) LS, tilt.
3) MLS
4) MS
5) MLS
6) MS


b) In order to create a sequence that made sense, what did you actually have to do during production?
We needed to make sure that the narrative flow is easy to follow. For example, to make sure that the viewer knows where the character is in relation to his surroundings, we began with a wide establishing  shot. We also made sure that the sequence didn't involve much of a storyline/too much action, as this would be hard to pull off with so few shots.


c) What was your specific contribution to the activity?
In the activity I filmed and directed my share of shots and helped to decide what the film will contain and the location.


d) Does your sequence work? ie does it make sense?
The main 'storyline' of the piece is fairly clear, though it could be confusing due to the 5th shot which was cut too short, not giving the viewer enough time to actually take it in. This also affected the shot afterwards, as they were meant to flow from one to the other. 


e) What improvements could you make?
I would definitely make sure that shot 5 was longer. Also, I think that if we kept the camera running for a few more seconds in shot 2, it would be much clearer to the viewer where the door is in relation to the character, which would make it make more sense. I would also have used another shot before the accident itself, rather than focusing so much on the effect of the accident.

Opening Sequences

The three opening sequences that I will be comparing are all fantasy/thriller films:

Edward Scissorhands

Coraline

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

Similarities:

• 2 of the 3 use an animated style
• They all have very dark, bleak colour schemes
• Stylized, old fashioned fonts
• They all give teasers about the main character(s), without giving away who they are completely
• Eerie, conventional fantasy-style music
• Each have each title appearing seperately over the course of the whole sequence
• They all reveal some information about the film's setting / time
• They all create an eerie, uncomfortable feel without presenting the audience with anything particularly frightening/worrying
• They are relatively slow paced
• They are all following some sort of journey/process

Differences:

• Edward Scissorhands reveals the least narrative information - it is extremely enigmatic
• Edward Scissorhands is also the simplest of the three (and no less effective because of it)
• In Coraline and Lemony Snicket, we actually see the main character(s)
• Lemony Snickets changes setting frequently
• Coraline and Lemony Snicket use an animated style

Typical Conventions of an Opening Sequence

Typical Conventions of an Opening Sequence:

• Establishing shot
• Credits
• Main Character(s)
• Film Title
• Music/Iconic theme tune
• Dialogue

Functions of an Opening Sequence

Functions of an Opening Sequence:

• Grabs the audience's interest
• Makes them want to see the rest of the film
• Establishes the genre of the film
• Introduces the main character(s)
• Establishes the setting
• Sets up the narrative enigma
• Sets up the equilibrium of the film
• Informs audience of institutional information (through credits)

Poster Genre Analysis

I will be analysing the poster for the film 'Cloverfield'.

Genre Conventions:

• Green/blue colour scheme (sci-fi)
• Typical sci-fi font - white text on dark background
• Special effects - scene of destruction
• Gloomy sky
• Short tagline (to the point)
• Taking something familiar and changing it
• Blurred/distorted imagery
• Signs of danger/destruction rather than showing the thing causing it - mystery/suspense.

Connotations/Iconography:

• Gloomy sky - danger/something bad is happening/going to happen.
• "Some thing" suggests something other than human
• "Has found us" - hunted us down from our hiding place
• Disturbance in water - something is under there? Something unsettling
• Smoke in the distance - fire, chaos, destruction.
• Green/blue colour scheme connotes science fiction - looks cold, unnatural.
• Statue of Liberty - New York

Audience Pleasures:

• Escapism - what would happen if there was an alien attack?
• Suspense and tension - thrilling, adrenaline pumping

Hwk comments BLK

Super work in all respects Anna. A great blog, and excellent reflections. Your analysis work is particularly good, with a high level of media terminology used and an excellent level of learning demonstrated around genre and framing/lighting. Well done!