AS Prelim

Our video is about a young 'nerdy' boy who finally musters up the courage to ask the 'girl of his dreams' to Prom. The video lasts for 1 minute 10 seconds.

1) Who did you work with and how did you manage the task between you?
I worked with Gabriel Meytanis, Prudence Carter-Phillips and Georgina Harper-Dennett. To decide on and allocate different roles to each other, we held a group meeting in which we decided who would be responsible for what. We decided that the main characters would be played by Gabriel and Georgina, and that between Prudence and I, we would take on the responsibility of working with the camera and directing.

2) How did you plan your sequence? What processes did you use? What theories did you try to take into account? 
To plan our sequence we came together as group and discussed different ideas about the plot. Any ideas that we proposed were well discussed and even explained physically by 'walking it through' to demonstrate. We used these group discussions to eventually produce a storyboard, a props list, a casting list, a shot location/set-up list, a script for dialogue and a top-down plan.

Here is the props list, top-down plan and script that we used for out sequence:

In addition to this, we were sure to consider many things that could potentially affect the success of any ideas that we proposed. This included: continuity theory/principle and how effectively we could implement it into our sequence; the composition and framing that would be included; the representation of people and events in our sequence; and how the genre would be connoted and signified in the sequence.

3) What technology did you use to complete the task, and how did you use it? 
To complete the task we used a Cannon HFG30 camera to record our shot. We ensured that the settings were set to manual and that we focused on picking up the relevant sound and getting the desired framing and shot type. As well as this, we used Adobe Premier Pro to edit our shots. This allowed us select the preferred 'takes' of a shot and then construct the order the shots together on a timeline through the use of setting 'in and out' points on a clip and the 'slice' tool to cut a clip into desired segments, which were either deleted or used at a later point for a shot reverse shot. 

4) What factors did you have to take into account when planning, shooting and editing?
When planning, shooting and editing we had to factor in a number of things. With regards to planning and shooting there were a number of things that we had to consider. This included external background noise when, theories such as the 180 and 30 degree rule, the most time saving order of shooting and a window that could have potentially shown the reflection of the camera in the shots.When editing, we had to constantly refer back to our storyboard to check that the shots ordered correctly with the right duration. As well as this, having our storyboard allowed us to display things and then decide on how well it works; Is continuity fully achieved?

Here is a segment of our storyboard...


5) How successful was your sequence? Please identify what worked well, and with hindsight, what would you improve/do differently?
I think that the sequence worked very well and we successfully achieved what we first set out to do and so therefore achieved the brief. We were able to incorporate several technical elements which included match on action, shot reverse shot, eye-line match and master shot. These all worked together to improve the overall feel of continuity and seamlessness in the sequence. Also, a wide variation of shots were used which I believe helped to fully appeal to our desired target audience and keep them engaged and interested throughout the sequence. In hindsight, there are a few things that I would change. In the majority of shots a number of takes were done to ensure that there was flexibility in editing process. This meant that there would be a selection of takes that could be used for a particular shot. However, the shot taken from the ‘girls POV’ didn’t not have a selection of takes to pick from. In addition to this, one other thing that I would change is the last shot in which Character A (Boy) runs off in excitement after the exchange of dialogue with Character B (Girl). The problem with this shot is that in the previous shot, Character A is seen holding a folded piece of paper, but in the final shot he is not.

Q6) What have you learnt from completing this task? Looking ahead, how will this learning be significant when completing the rest of your foundation coursework, do you think?
3 things I have learnt from completing this task are: - continuity is well achieved providing that all technical elements used, are used correctly. The continuity skills i have obtained will definitely be essential when filming my film opening for my main task in the future. As well as this, this task has strengthened my confidence when editing. Prior to the editing sessions i didn't feel very comfortable editing, however after a few sessions i quickly grasped the main concepts, and this will definitely benefit me in future tasks that require editing on Adobe Premier Pro.Finally, this task has definitely stressed that time is key to success. By working at a good consistent pace,using time efficiently and one can achieve many things in a given period

Continuity Task 2 (BLK)

My sequence is taken from the action film Edge of Tomorrow.

This sequence begins with a hand-held shot in MLS of a group of soldiers jogging in unison with a camera track to the right as they jog by. The folllowing shot (2), is a MS of the soldiers with a pan left which follows them as they jog by. A matched cut and match on action is used here to effectively continue the action from the previous scene into the next with a seamless feel. This is the case throughout this sequence such as in shot 2 to 3, where the MS of them jogging becomes a MCU of character 1 jogging, and in shot 9 to 10, where the MCU of character 4 becomes a hand-held CU shot of character 1 jogging with a track. There is a strong sense of being right among the action in shots 4 - 16. The multiple use of hand held shots in a closed frame is the cause of this and the audience are able to feel involved in the actions taking place; they feel like they are jogging with the group of soldiers. Another thing is the use of sound overlaps to continue the action in the next shot whilst keeping the audience aware of what is going on else where, this is in shot 20 and 21. The sergeant/character 5 orders character 1 and the rest of the platoon to drop and do 50 push-ups. In shot 20, we hear character 5 begin his order, however it carries on into the next shot, where character 1 is beginning to start his set of press-ups.

Evaluation of AOTT Activity (DYM)

1) Our film is about a young girl who is mentally disturbed. She is staying at a mental asylum and during her time there she becomes uncontrollable and her psychotic nature sees her begin to kill the other people there, one by one. In the opening, we wanted to establish this and we did so through the shot of a small tally chart, which is in fact the number of lives the girl has claimed so far.

2) In the opening of the film, we were sure to include key information to ensure our desired audience would be well informed. We established the main settings and locations of the film, both indoors and outdoors, the main characters that were to feature in the film, the names of the two main actors and most importantly the title of the film.

3) The titles link to the man film idea because they are successful I connoting the genre of the film. The main title is in a very distinct font and the fact that it is called ‘playtime’ could reflect the significance of what is to take place in the film. The phrase ‘playtime’ reflects the characters horrific acts of killing people for fun.

4) Following seeing the film I would expect the audience to be slightly disturbed and in great shock due to what they had just seen. I also expect the audience to be unable to apprehend the events in the opening. The actions of the main character would be the cause of this confusion and discomfort that the audience would be feeling. By the end of, I expect the ambiguity of the opening to leave the audience feeling very confused about why the main character is doing such things

5) Three things that were included in the film opening that are important are:

•      The film title – the title is key when informing an audience about a film. It lets the audience know of what the film might be about and in this case it informs them that it will be about something that one may consider to be fun
•      The introduction of the main characters – this is important because it allows the audience to expect certain things from the characters that they are introduced to, therefore setting up expectations which they will want to be gratified later in the film
•      The establishment of the main genre – the genre allows an audience to decide whether or not they will be interested in watching that film. Through the use of signifiers such as blood and shadows, the audience become aware that the main genre is horror, and so this will result in the desired target audience being appealed to and therefore increasing interest.

6) I believe that the film opening was effective as an opening as we were able to conform to the many expectations of the desired and we were able to include typical conventions of a film. I think that one of the most successful things was the way we were able to ensure that the audience were well informed, whilst not revealing too much about the narrative of the film, which meant that the audience were left wanting more.On the other hand, I do feel that if I were to do this again I would have included an establishing shot of the building which is where the film is set.

AOTT Research (DYM)

The two opening sequences that I have chosen to compare are (1) Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant and (2) Kung Fu Panda.

(1)

(2)

The opening title sequences of these 2 films are in stark contrast to one another. Despite these films having similar genres of action and adventure, Kung Fu Panda is an animation. One of the main points of contrast is the sound element to these title sequences. Where in Cirque du freak the visuals are driven by the music, in Kung Fu Panda the visuals are driven by a voice-over and the music. As well as this, unlike in Cirque du Freak where titles and credits are used in great number, there are no credits/titles stating things such as the main actors, directors in Kung Fu Panda. The credits in Cirque du Freak play an important role in the sequence. As there is no voice over to provide the engagement with the audience like that in Kung Fu Panda, the credits for Cirque du Freak need to somehow engage the audience, and this is done through building the graphics around the audience so that they are more visually engaging. The aesthetic styles of these openings are similar because they are both made of graphic shots and animations, which come together to create a very visually stimulating title sequence.

Film Opening Analysis (DYM)

• The film opening sequence that I have chosen to analyse is for "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant (2009)", an action, adventure, fantasy.
• The story takes place in a number of places and locations; the most distinct being that in a graveyard. However the settings do vary from a coffin, to a forest and then to the guts of some kind of creature. The time scale is not made clear, however there is a clearly a journey taking place in the sequence in which 2 puppets venture through the varying locations, encountering six freak show characters . By having these 2 puppets in this sequence, the audience are drawn to them and question things about them, however their questions are left unanswered in the opening sequence suggesting that there is definitely more to be told and also encouraging the audience to watch the film in order to find out the answers to their questions.
• Cirque Du Freak, is a graphic opening that introduces six freak show characters and brings them together through the journey of two puppets. Throughout this journey there is a strong sense of the genre, which is connoted through the visuals of thing such as a coffin, blood, spiders and graveyards. Additionally, the journey is significant in the telling of events because it showcases all the encounters that the 2 puppets make, which tells the audience that they can discover more by watching the movie
• All the events in the sequence are linked to each other as they focus on this path that the 2 characters undertake. Also, the
• Six freak show characters are introduced and they are brought together through the journey of the two puppets. We know this because on their journey, they are shown running form place to place, almost giving the idea that they are trying to escape from something.
• The idea of a main title sequence is to set up the tone and mood so the audience can discover the story as the movie unfolds. Not too much about the plot of the film is revealed in the title sequence; the only thing given to the audience is the idea of some kind of journey. By not explicitly referencing the key and most iconic events, the audience is left wandering about what is to come and also left with many questions that cannot be answered unless they watch the film. 
• At the start of my film, I think that the setting and the main characters should be briefly introduced so that the audience are able to quickly get a strong sense of the film’s genre and perhaps the story line and key events as well.