Analysation of our prelim

Analysation of our prelim

Match cut

In our prelim, we used many match cuts throughout the filming. A match cut is a technical term for when a director cuts from one scene to another, however still has objects in the two scenes "matched," so that they occupy the same place in the shot's frame. Match cuts offer directors with one way to create visual metaphors in film since the match cut can suggest a relation between two disparate objects. The match cuts in which we used work very well in the filming, as they flow well and show what the characters are about to do next. 

Mise en scene

-Lighting

The lighting in our prelim was fairly dim. This affects the filming as you can't see the faces of the main characters and this makes it harder for the viewers to stay engaged in the film. This can be improved in our final thriller by filming in a location where the light is brighter.

In this scene the lighting is hitting the back of the character which makes her look like a shadow and doesn't show her facial expressions.

In our final thriller film, we hope that our lighting remains bright throughout so it is clearer to see the characters facial expressions.

-Sound

The sound of our filming was affected in several ways. Firstly the sound in our filming was affected by our surroundings and therefore affected our dialogue. This then made it unclear for the viewers. In addition, another way the sound was affected was because the characters were not speaking clearly or loud enough for the viewers to hear. 

-Props

We used a number of props throughout our filming. These were: fake money, plastic cups, fake drugs and fake cigarettes (rolled up tissue paper), cards, sunglasses and dice.

180 degree rule

In our prelim, we used the 180 degree rule. This means that the camera remains on one side throughout the filming, it does not switch sides because this will switch the characters's position and confuse the audience. This was used in our film as the camera did not move positions when filming the two characters having a conversation. 

Different types of shot

-Middle close up

-Wide shot

The 180 Degree Rule

180 Degree Rule

The 180 degree rule acts as a guideline. It means that the camera remains on one side throughout the filming. The camera does not switch sides because this will switch the characters's position and confuse the audience.

For example, in a football pitch the camera only remains on one side so that the viewers do not get confused about which side each team scores on.

Screenshots of our prelim

The making of our prelim

We enjoy using Final Cut Pro to edit and adding the final touches to our prelim.

Putting each clip together

Shortening the clips to cut out unnecessary extended bits

Acting

Final touches

Preliminary Final video

Our Preliminary Video. Enjoyyyyy :) 

Opening Credits of Harry Potter

Opening Credits of Harry Potter

The opening credits of the film "harry potter" uses many conventions.

The purpose of a film opening is to get the viewers attention and to interest them into watching the rest of the film.  The opening of Harry potter does this by going through the whole film in a fast motion but also gives the viewers an insight into the film. This will  attract the viewers into watching the rest of the film. The film opening also gives a hint of what type of genre it will be, for example if it is going to be a thriller, romance or action film. The opening of this film gives the viewers a hint that the genre is fiction and fantasy. Film openings tend to be 2 or 3 minutes long, however it can go up to as long as 5 minutes. The opening credits of this film is 1 minute long. The most important thing this film opening does is introducing the main characters. It is important to introduce the main characters in the opening of a film because the viewers need to have an insight on who the main characters are.

Film opening of Harry Potter

Film opening of Harry Potter

The opening of the film "harry potter" uses many conventions. The opening of this film introduces two film company names  "warner bros" and "dream works". The reason as to why film openings introduce the  company names of the film is to advertise the company and also to make viewers aware of their company.
This film opening also gives a hint of what type of genre it will be, because of the music being used and because of the way it is set in the clouds it shows that the genre is fiction and fantasy. Film openings tend to be 2 or 3 minutes long, however it can also go up to as long as 5 minutes, and in this film opening, it is just over 5 minutes long.

Conventions of film openings

What are the conventions of film openings?

The purpose of a film opening is to get the viewers attention and to interest them into watching the rest of the film. The film opening also gives a hint of what type of genre it will be, for example if it is going to be a thriller, romance or action film. Film openings tend to be 2 or 3 minutes long, however it can go up to as long as 5 minutes. It introduces the main characters, the plot and the credits such as the director, the producer etc.

Prelim storyboard

Prelim storyboard

Prelim exercise

Prelim exercise

In todays lesson we will be filming a scene which is inspired by the film "the stepfather". This scene will include two male characters (Fareena and Naziara) in a room playing poker, where the first male character (Fareena) will be trying to convince the second male character (Naziara) that his wife is in fact a murderer. This replicates the film "the stepfather" because the wife is in fact the stepmother of his children and also a murderer.


Here are a few pictures of the props that we will be using throughout the fiming.

Money

Cups

Cigarettes and drugs

Cards

Sunglasses

Dice

Target Audience 
Our prelim is mainly aimed at teenagers and also adults as it is to do with families as it involves parents, step parents and children.

Editing a Title Sequence

Editing a Title Sequence

Today we put clips together from a movie called Arlington Road and added titles in the correct order. The correct order for my title sequence was:

- the production icon

- distribution icon

- Film title

- Actors

- Casting

- Costume

- Music Supervisor

- Music By

- Editor

- Production designer

- Director of Photography

I added a fade effect for my titles to fade in and out easily and so that they flow more.

This was when I put in the titles for my sequence in a professional order, and kept the font and colour of it appropriate for the viewers and easy to read.

The title for my sequence was 'Blood Sheds'.

Adding sound to title sequence

 

Sound Track Pro 

 

 

After putting together the opening from Arlington road and adding suitable titles and effects, in today's lesson we had a taste of adding sound to the clip to build up the opening.

We used Sound Track Pro for this and I added sound effects that went well with the scene. For example I added a heartbeat when the boy is walking, which builds up the tension and gives the viewers a feel of what is going on as he is walking and bleeding.

Sound and Titles

Editing a Title sequence

Editing a Title Sequence

In todays lesson I rearranged the clips from Arlington Road into the correct order, from the start, right up to the end. I also added titles, which included the main title, the characters, the costume, who the music was by, the editor, the production designer, director of photography, producer, the executive producer, who it written by and the director. 

This screen grab shows that the characters are about to be introduced. 

Today we have been been editing the film Arlington Road in to the correct order and added titles.
Here is a screen grab of the clip without the titles

 Here is a screen grab with the titles

Here is a a screen grab of adding the effect fade being added 

Title sequence Analysis

The Roommate - Title Sequence

The company that produced 

Intertextuality-Features of 'The Stepfather'

Intertextuality-Features of 'The Stepfather'

-Killer falls against white tiles in the shower
-Boy taking shower
-Knife
-Drowning head in the water
-Curtain pings on shower
-Classic haunted house shot
-Staircase

The bomb theory and false plateau

The bomb theory and the false plateau

Hitchcock's Bomb theory: When the audience is aware of a danger, but the characters don't know about it. An example of this is the bomb under the table that may explode at any moment however the characters are not aware of this. After watching the film 'The Stepfather' using Hitchcock's bomb theory I can clearly see that the stepfather is in fact the 'bomb' in the film. This is because the characters do not know about his past and how he is in fact a murderer and how his plans are also to kill his present family, however the audience are already aware of this. 

The false plateau: When suspense is built up, but then the audience are made to feel calm and are relieved by the outcome. Then the shock happens. An example to explain this is the woman in the bath in fatal attraction coming back to life. In 'The Stepfather' there are many examples of ways in which false plateau is used. These are:

-The hand suddenly grabbing onto the shoulder

-Cat jumping out

-The umbrella in falling into the swimming pool 

-Stepfather suddenly appearing outside bedroom

Analyse 2 Film Openings From Art of The Title Sequence

Six Feet Under (2001)

Six Feet Under starts of with a shot of the sky with a bird flying passed. This opening is a narrative opening with the titles running throughout. It gives a feel of the setting and the theme of death, by using symbols such as black crows, gravestones, and gruesome sights of pale dead bodies, it gives a sense of the atmosphere.

The titles are running throughout, they are written very clearly and go well with the harmonious music and the shots being displayed. As the hands let go of each other at the start, with the use of slow motion, this represents separation and loss whilst a title gets placed in between. This is very creative and introduces the film very well.

There are several shots of the sky which also represent death, as if the person who had the loss is looking up and searching for answers. There are bright lights which come across as heavenly and the tree was the symbol of life. At the end, the leaves of the tree wither away which represents impermanence.

Overall I think the title sequence is very peaceful and goes well with the theme of death.


The Shining (1980)

 

The shining is a discrete title sequence with wide shots of beautiful landscapes of mountains, valleys and skies. It is not rather clear for the audience what the film will be about therefore it is a discrete title sequence.

 

Through most of the clip, it shows a birdseye view of a car and the camera is tracking it. By this, we know that the car is the centre of attention, also because there are no other cars about. The car is extremely small in comparison to the landscape.

 

The music is eerie and quite suspenseful, which also makes the title sequence discrete as it is mysterious and does not give the theme away.

 

The titles start appearing half way through the sequence and come up as credits



Intertextuality

Intertextuality

Intertextuality is an idea tat any text which is anything that can be read or seen in the case of movies, has been influenced and shaped by other texts that have come before it.

Some texts refer directly to each other, such as 'remakes' of films, extra-diegetic references to the media/society in the animated cartoon 'The Simpsons' and many other amusing contemporary TV ads. The interpretation of these references is influenced by the audiences' prior knowledge of other texts.

Target Audiences For Thrillers

Target audiences for thrillers

 

 

There is a diverse range of people visiting the cinema daily to view different types of films, and filmmakers tend to use different techniques to reach out to their target audiences.

 

Films are either targeted at the younger, teenage audience, children, adults and family films such as comedy. There is also a variety in these categories such as thrillers or sci-fi.

 

The target audience for thrillers tend to be males and females over the age of 15 because 15 is usually the age rating for a thriller. However, males tend to watch more thrillers because it involves action whereas females prefer romance and comedy.