Preliminary exercise

The shot/reverse rule:
This is where the camera shows each character when talking, for an example this was used in our preliminary exercise. We used the 180-degree rule when the camera filmed me when talking to Emma, then the camera swapped sides and filmed Emma when talking to me. These shots were done over the shoulder.

The match on action rule:
This is when you join different shots together to make one scene. For an example our group did this, this was used when I opened the door then a different shot showed me walking through the door, in which created one fluent scene.

180-degree rule:
This is when filming you can only go on a 180 degree axis. This is to prevent unfocused shots; it also makes sure the qualities of the shots are up to standards.

In the preliminary exercise I believe that Emma and I did fairly well editing the film. However we did come across some problems, this is as at first our sound track was not working properly in which we had to start again. Also we found it slightly difficult to cut the scenes in the right places, as you can see we have cut the scenes to early in which it goes to quick or goes jerky. Also I noticed that we forgot to take out the very beginning bit of sound as it has Elliott talking in it, however this is not too difficult to sort out. However with our faults I think we did fairly well, this is as we worked well as a team and also in the end our preliminary exercise turned out quite well.

Feedback

What you have done is pretty good- you really also needed the stills from juno to compare- can you have a go at putting these in please?

Film Opening

Halloween






INSTITUTIONAL INFORMATION:
The Distributor “A Compass International Pictures” of Halloween is clearly stated in the film opening, this is the first credit that comes up, as its one of the more important credits. The production of this horror film is a Debra Hill production, which is also clearly stated in the credits. The studio were Halloween was filmed was Starz / Anchor Bay however this is not stated in the film opening.

JOB TITLES:
The producer of Halloween is John Carpenter this stated near the very beginning of the opening. The director is also John Carpenter. The film editors were Tommy Wallace and Charles Bornstein. John Carpenter was also the music director. The stars of the film are shown fairly soon in the credits, the stars are Jamie Lee Curtis staring as Laurie, Nancy Looms staring as Annie and P J Soles as Lynda. Dean Cundey is the director of photography. The screenplay/writer was also John Carpenter again and Debra Hill. As you can see from this John Carpenter did a lot for his own film.

MUSIC:
The music playing in the background of the opening sets the tone and mood of the film, the music is such a strong element in the opening in which the actual titles on show didn’t have to be so bold, as the music was setting the scene and putting the audience on edge. This music creates all the atmosphere as it is very trippy and makes you think something bad is going to happen even in the opening scene. It gives an element of knowing that film is going to be a thriller.

MAIN CHARACTER INTRODUCED:
The main character is introduced on the sixth credit, the actress (Jamie lee Curtis) who plays the main character is in bold, this is so the audience immediately looks straight to the name of the actress, without them knowing it. There is not too much being shown as the music makes the whole thing come together as one, so there was no need for any fancy business.

INTRODUCTION TO ACTION/STORY:
There is not an introduction to the story in the opening, other than the title of the film “Halloween”. However like I said the music in the opening shows the audience that the film is going to be a horror.


SOMETHING TO CAPTURE AUDIENCE INTEREST:
The music captures the audience interests it is very heart racing. Also the colour changing titles in the opening captures the audience, as it is something interesting to look at, rather than just looking at one plan colour. Another thing which captures there audiences interest is the pumpkin as it starts moving closer and closer to the screen, so in the end all you can see is the light of the pumpkin, which sets of the reaction of the unknowing.

Juno :)

These are still shots of the actual Juno opening and mine and Tilly’s opening of it. I think we did this scene quite well as they are very similar.

This is our remake of the beginning of Juno. The first task was to create storyboards of what’s happening in the beginning, we also had to time each scene to make sure it was accurate timing when filmed, as we wanted it as similar to the film as possible. The first thing I noticed when filming was that it wasn’t going to be as easy as it looked to do. There were a few problems filming this, this is as some of the shots were tricky to do, for an example the helicopter shot, in which we had to keep re-taking that shot to get it right. Also finding the right location was also quite difficult, as we were not allowed off site, in which we had to make alternative shots for scenes, such as the lamppost scene we change the lamppost in to just a normal light, as there was not a lamppost on site.
The next step was to edit our filming on the Macs. Tilly and I edited I, however we found it quite tricky to make the music fit in with the scenes, in which ended up having to put the music on slow motion. Also I notice that we had cut the first scene to early as we missed me acting as a runner run past, however I believe this didn’t matter too much as the timing was most correct. However once we got the hang of editing, the opening started coming to life and looking more and more like the opening of Juno. In which I am very impressed in how it turned out. I noticed that a lot of our scenes look a lot alike to the actually film opening, in which we reach our goal in recreating the Juno opening.

Feedback

Though I am happy for you to make the blog look more attractive, do remember that this is submitted as part of your assessment, so just Hannah’s blog is enough for the title- the x makes it look like you are blowing kisses to the moderator!

Good points about both film openings- well done. For the Final cut stuff, it would be good if you could name some of the techniques in Final cut that you have been using. this would expand your work well.

Pete

Film openings :)

Casino Royale-Film Opening.



In my opinion the film opening to Casino Royale is a very interesting and edgy, this made me realise on my first instinct that it will get the viewer hooked. This makes it excellent, as that’s what a film opening is meant to draw the viewers in to taking interest of the film. It has many different camera shots, for instants it has close ups of the characters, to show their emotion. There is also close up of action shots, this makes the viewer feel part of the film. I also noticed there where a serious of helicopter shots, this makes you on edge, as for an example the helicopter shots showed how high the buildings are and makes you nervous for the character.

This particular film opening is also very good because at the very beginning of it, it shows the setting of the film in which gives the viewer that total understanding of the place that the film is being shot at. However one of the main things I noticed was the background music, the particular music fits well with the action film, this also makes the viewer keep interested, this is because it makes it sound like something bad may happen, in which the viewer would not want to miss.
Another point in realised was that it shows the two main characters in the film in a chase. This makes the viewer want to know the two different stories of the two and see why they are in this certain situation (the chase), and so has the effect of the viewer wanting to watch the film to hear both sides of the story. Overall this is a very first-rate film opening.


Student Film Opeining



I found that this particular film opening has its weakness, but also it had its strengths. The first weakness I noticed was that the sound track that was used did not go well with what was happening in the opening, in my opinion I felt the music should have been more trippy which would have hooked the viewer in. I also noticed the blank scenes went on for too long, in which the viewer may get confused on what’s happening. Another weakness I noticed, was that the opening was the same all the way through and had the same setting all the way through, in which did not give a sense of adventure or excitement.

However the film opening did have its strengths. I thought one of the main strengths was the different camera shots they used, as this made the particular scene more interesting as it wasn’t just filming in the same shot in the same frame all the way through. I also thought that the random heart beats which were used fitted well with the opening, although it did not particularly fit with the background music. The editing of the writing was good as it was set out well, this as they have admitted the movement and motion. I also thought that the voice at the end was very intressting and creative, this is as i found it made me want to find out the story of the person. Overall this was a good opening, although it could use few improvements.

My video :)

In my video I learnt techniques how to edit scenes. For an example I edited the speed of the doors, so they would firstly go slow then speed up to a rapid speed. I also edited the Colour of the doors to make it more abstract. I also cut the music so it was the same amount of time as the scenes I did this so the music would not be playing When the video ended, i did this by useing the razor blade tool.I also used transitions to make the video more effective. I did all of this by using final cut.

mood board :)

I created a mood board to represent the film shifty. I did this by relating the film to the effects of drugs, using eye imagery. Also I used images of the human body to relate to steroids. I made two mood boards, I did this to show how drugs may be seen to have some good effects to people, in which I did a colourful mood board to show excitement and emotion. The other mood board I created was slightly dull and dark, I deliberately used dark colours to show the other side of drugs, I used shifty looking people to show paranoia, as this is one of many effects of taking drugs.

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