Opening Title Sequences

The purpose of doing this task of analysising and opening title sequence is to establish how opening sequences in films and television shows typically work. By studying opening title sequences, we learn of the structure of the sequence, and know in which order it is appropriate to show what (eg. should the Director's name come before the lead Actor's?). It also helps give us an impression of how long the sequence should be (never over two minutes), and whether or not it is better to have it really simple, or with lots of flashy editing and transitions.

The opening sequence I chose to look at was from "Game of Thrones" (2011), created by David Benioff and D. B Weiss:

However, because it is the opening for a TV series, instead of a feature film, this means that the credits may be featured in a different order, or that it might not go on for quite so long. I made a timeline of the main effects:

Editing Overview

Editing - sequence, continuity editing, SFX (special effects), ellipsis, fade in, fade out

Continuity editing (also called Classical editing)

This form of editing is now considered "virtually universal" in commercial film and television, although it was initally associated with Hollywood cinema. Typically, the aim of continuity editing is so that the editing seems "invisible", so it remains unnoticed by the viewer, which means they would not get distracted by awkward jumps between shots or confused by the spatial layout, thus allowing the audience to focus on the plot instead. Classical editing is "smooth" and "seamless", both because of it's conventionality but also because it "employs a number of powerful techniques designed to maximise a sense of spatial and temporal continuity".

180 Degree Rule: This is a key element of continuity editing. This states that the camera must stay on only one side of the actions and objects in the scene. An invisible line, known as the "180 degree line" or "axis of action" runs through the space of the scene. The camera can shoot from any position on one side of the line, but must never cross it. If the camera did, even briefly, cross this line, the audience would find it jarring or confusing. However, with the 180 degree rule, the audience rarely experiences even a "momentary sense of spatial disorientation".

Match on Action: This is embedding cuts in the middle of action. The technique helps "hide" the cut, as the viewer is paying more attention to the action than the edit.

30 Degree Rule: This holds that the camera must move at least 30 degrees between shots. In other words, it is considered "taboo" to show one shot and then cut to another shot that is almost identical to the first.

Jump Cut: This creates the impression that the object of the shot is jumping in a stacatto burst from one position to another. Editors use this to draw attention to the editing, although they avoid it for precisely the same reason.

Eyeline Match: This preserves spacial continuity, and makes cuts less noticeable. In an eyeline match, the viewer is encouraged to see the shot typically from one of the characters Point of View. This keeps the spatial relationships among characters and objects consistent from one shot to another. It makes the editing cut slightly smoother, as the viewer will expect the shot, and often anticipate what it will show.

Crosscutting and Parallel editing:

Crosscutting: A pattern of editing that alternates shots of two or more lines of action simultaneously in different places. (A classic example would be shots of a burning house alternating with shots of fire engines racing towards the scene)

 

Parallel Editing: This involves the same pattern of alternation, but does not necessarily imply temporal simultaneity. (An example would be shots contrasting scenes of a war, and of a peaceful situation)

 

Ellipsis/Elliptical Editing: This refers to the "abbreviation of time" which results in parts of the story/action/event being cut out, and therefore lost to the viewer. This is effective for building suspense.

 

Shot Transitions:

Cut: An instantaneous transition from one shot to another.

 

Fade: In a fade-in, the image gradually brightens into view from black, white, or any other solid colour. A fade-out is when the image gradually disappears from a view.

 

Dissolve: A gradual transition in which a fade in is superimposed over a fade out. This device is used as a "softer" transition, but the overlap of two images also allows the director to make associations and convey rhetorical narration.

 

Wipe: A shot transition in which one image gradually replaces another through horiziontal, vertical, diagonal, spiral or other movement across the screen.

Pitch Feedback

Where will the movie be set?

The movie will be set around the city of Oxford. The main parts of the movie would be around the city, in which case we would use the interiors of houses (with permission from the owners) and then the parks in Oxford, such as South Parks.

What would you rate the movie and what age group would it be aimed at?

We would have the movie rated as a 15. This would be due to the fact that we would intend for the movie to portray what teenagers of around that age group (the two protagonists are both 17) are like in reality, but we would not want to influence younger children to act that way, either. We would expect the script to contain swearing, and there is one particular scene where the protagonists attend a party which involves alcohol.

The main age-group that the movie would be intended to be seen by would be 15-25 year olds, although really anyone who would be keen to watch it could do (although if they were younger they would have to have parent supervision and/or permission), as that is the main target audience, for that age group is the most likely to relate to the story. According the the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) the guidelines are set into "boundaries and sub catergories". These include: Discrimination, Imitable Behaviour, Langyage, Nudity, Sex, and Violence. If a movie contains any of these, the film automatically is classes as being a 15, although it does depend of the extent of this. For example, a 15 movie would show drug-use but would not promote the use of drugs, or show the full use, whereas below a 15 would only be allowed to hint at drugs. (Resource: [x] and [x])

Would there be extra background for the main characters?

To show development and to create depth to the main characters, we would include "flashback" scenes which could show a bit more of their pasts. Theses would show the extent of Callum's "bad reputation", thus giving Kasey a legitimate reason to not trust him, so that the audience would not be just taking her word for it. It would also make it a bit more believable as to why she doesn't want to date him immediately, and is hesitant about becoming his friend. In Kasey's case, there would be scenes to show more depth in her relationship with her parents, which would help to portay the sense of betrayal she feels from her mothers adultery and would show reason as to why she is so aggressive towards her father after her mother's actions.

Is it a high-budget movie?

No. Our movie would probably be a relatively low-budget movie due to the fact that it would not need any special effects and would mainly be set in homes that do not need many particular props as the setting would be not as important as the focus on the characters and the dialogue.

Iris Productions Film Proposal

What About Kasey

Pitch: Coming-of-age film low-budget film with teen protagonist from an Independent film company looking to be funded by National Lottery - UK Film Council

Proposal: (100 minute approximately in length) 

Genre: Coming-of-age, teen romance

Target Audience: Our target audience would be people who are going through a hard time, and who like romantic-themed films. Although the film would primarily be aimed for adolescents and young adults, anyone who enjoys coming-of-age drama films should enjoy it. We aim to reflect how teens "normally" come across in reality, instead of how the media typically portrays them.

Outline: "Popular" boy has a crush on the shy girl, but she doesn't notice, because she thinks that he is "too cool for her". He tells her that he likes her, but she rejects him, because she doesn't think he means it, and they don't know each other very well. She discovers her mother is having an affair with a teacher, which really upsets her. The boy, who was with her when she found out, tries to help her through it, but she still doesn't trust him, due to his reputation. They become close-friends overtime, but he is worried that he has been "friend-zoned". He invites her to a party, with the intention of showing her how he feels at the party, but she ends up getting really drunk, and embarrassing herself. When he tries to help her, she ends up insulting him by accusing him of being fake and trying too hard to impress people who don't really matter, and she tells him that she would never go out with him, because he wasn't a nice guy until before they became friends. Afterwards, she is very ashamed of her actions, and worries frantically that he won't want to be her friend anymore, and is surprised by how much his friendship actually meant to her. They talk it over, and he says that he'll try to get over her because he knows that him liking her will cause nothing but pain for both of them, and he forgives her, because she was right about him, and because they really have become close friends. All this time, the girl was fighting with her father, blaming him for her mothers adultery, claiming that it was because he never showed affection and was never there for either of them. However, at the end, they make up and she decides to live with him, and she is finally happy. She says that "even though it's not perfect, it's better."

Characters: 

Kasey (female protagonist): 17 years old. Shy. She has a difficult time at home due to her mothers adultery, which causes her relationship with her father to be strained. She is un-trusting. She has reddish-brown hair, and looks "arty" or "edgy"

Callum (male protagonist): 17 years old. He is considered "cool" by Kasey, and he has a bad reputation due to his actions from the past. He is actually very caring towards his friends, but he doesn't care what other people think of him... other than Kasey.

Preliminary Storyboard + Preliminary Video

For our preliminary task, we decided to do a very film. Because the subject of the film is unimportant, we did not focus particularly on the story, but more on the camera angles, movements and shots. Our storyboard was very simple, and was more used as a guideline, instead of as a specific code. However, for the final task, I am certain that we will perfect the storyboard before filming, as it would be much more crucial then.

Our storyboard was comprised off six boxes:

It was very simple and did not contain much detail, so as to allow us to branch away from it more. The main shots that we planned on using were the 180 degrees rule, an over the shoulder shot, and a shot-reverse-shot. However, it was likely that we would do more than just those.

180 degree rule:

The 180° rule is a basic guideline in film making that states that two characters(or other elements) in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other. If the camera passes over the imaginary axis connecting the two subjects, it is called crossing the line.

Match on Action:

This is a process of cutting a sequence of the same action together to make it appear seamless. A technique used in continuity editing.

Shot Reverse Shot:

This is a film technique where one character is shown looking at another character (often off-screen), and then the other character is shown looking back at the first character. Since the characters are shown facing in opposite directions, the viewer assumes that they are looking at each other.

Here is our Preliminary task:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcYXlFkNPc4

Our preliminary task didn't work as well as we intended as we weren't used to the editing tools and therefore, we were disappointed with the result. However, we did use the necessary techniques in order to fit the specification.

Camera Movements and Shots

Camera Movements:

•  Pan:

• Whip Pan:

• Tilt up:

• Tilt down:

• Tracking:

• Zoom In:

• Zoom Out:

• Crane:

• Dolly shot:

To see more Camera Movements you can watch this video from Kill Bill Vol. 1:

Camera Shots:

 

EWS (Extreme Wide/Long Shot) - Often used as the establishing shot (first shot in a new scene), as the point is to show the subjects surroundings. Also good for action scenes, as it has a wide spread. 

VWS (Very Wide/Long Shot) - The use of a VWS is to place the subject in the right environment. This can also be used as an establishing shot, and is useful for when multiple subjects are to appear on screen.

WS (Wide/Long Shot) - Subject takes up full frame. This gives us more of an impression of the subject, and helps to give us an opinion of the subject. It is useful for when multiple subjects are in the shot.

MS (Medium Shot) - Shows the subject in more detail, whilst "still showing enough for the audience to feel as if they were looking at the whole subject". Medium shots are useful for when the subject is not portraying too much emotion. It is often used for Television presenters, as it allows for hand movements etc.

CU (Close Up Shot) - This is normally used to show emotion on the subjects face, and they are particularly useful for showing detail, and can be used as a cut-in.

ECU (Extreme Close Up Shot) - This shot is normally used for specific purposes, as it is too uncomfortably close to show much emotion or to show reactions. However it can be useful for specific purposes; in this case, the eyes.

Reference: [x]

Film Production Logos

Working Title is a British Film production company founded in 1983. Some of the recent films it has produced include the film adaptions of Anna Karenina, and Les Miserables. It also produces Television series, such as Birdsong, and the Borrowers. It tends to only produce films with a budget of up to $35 million, and it is linked to NBCUniversal. The working title logo is very simplistic, as all it features is the title, and a circle behind it. The circle could connotate the way that the company produces all kinds of movies, not just mainstream ones.



BBC Films is probably the best known film producer in the United Kingdom. BBC Films co-produces around eight films a year, working in partnership with major international and UK distributors. BBC Films used to be under the full control of the BBC but has since left to start its own film production company. It has produced films such as An Education, Made in Dagenham and Now is Good. The BBC Films logo is recognisable all over the world. It includes the BBCs logo, which is used for everything owned by the BBC.

Film4 develops and co-finances films and is known for working with the most innovative talent in the UK, whether new or established. It used to be called Channel Four Film ands FilmFour International, but was later re-branded as FilmFour.  The name "Film4 Productions" was introduced in 2006 to tie in with the relaunch of the FilmFour broadcast channel as Film4. Films it has helped make include Shame, and Wuthering Heights. The logo is simplistic with the white on red, which makes it stand out. The '4' cups the 'Film', and is easy to see.

Introduction, Semiotics and Anchorage

I took Media Studies as one of my four AS Levels this year. I am very interested in the media, and particularly in films. I think that Media Studies will help me to understand more about how films and things in the media are made. I believe that looking at other aspects of the media will help me expand my understanding and knowledge of how things in the media work.

In lesson we learnt more about symbolism and 'codes' and how semiotics is the science of signs. For example, you could take a picture of a spiders web on a red background.

The spiders web would suggest that a spider would be near by, which could be seen as a symbol of warning, danger or fear. The red background could be a connotation of fear or danger, making the spidersweb warning more urgent. However, if you put a rose on a red background, the red would signifry lust, or of love, which the rose would emphasise. This shows how something reasonably small would change the entire effect of symbol.

The same would apply to films and things in the media. Something as seemingly minor as background music can change the entire effect of the piece, giving it a dramatic or relaxing feel.

Anchorage is used because the viewer/audience is said to be "all at sea" in a media world full of potential meanings... there is no such thing as a "fixed meaning". The best a media producer can do is to anchor the audience around preferred readings. The most obvious form of anchorage is a caption.