6.5.11
15.3.11
You mark
Hi Tom,
I have just gone back through your blog to check that all work for Research & Planning is now complete.
I can see that since I called home and you spent some time working on your blog, you have made a good effort to get some posts completely sorted out in the Research Section. This is good to see. I am disappointed though now to see that you have not come back to the Planning section to fix up the posts I explained needed attention last time I looked. Please make ore effort to respond to teacher feedback.
Current mark: 10/20
Level: 2
Grade: D
To improve:
PLEASE RESPOND TO THE FEEDBACK YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN.
Research:
The contact sheets you have added to your analytical posts do not look like you have created them. The work must be yours. You cannot copy a contact sheet from another student's blog. Please come and see me about this Tom. You must create your own.
Conventions of your genre: missing?
Conventions an opening sequence: missing?
Planning:
I cannot see that you have come back to improve this since I last looked??
Shot list - use proper school template I emailed to you
Sound - needs links to sound track / effects you will use with your explanation
Props / costumes / locations- visual???
Shooting schedule - missing? Use proper template
SJA
28.2.11
Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt from the progression from it to the full product?
My preliminary task used several basic shots such as a two-shot and a long shot. These shots are effective but as I progressed through media I have learnt more interesting shot types that I could have used such as the opening shot from my thriller where I also Incorporated the rule of thirds into the shot which makes it more interesting and the audience question the circumstances and situation which I have created for them. This is more effective as it creates mystery in my film unlike the preliminary task which had a very basic storyline and was a very simple film that was focused on continuity when compared to my final product, 'Deceit', which was a more complex film as it had a wider variety of shot types and also had a more in depth story line.
Also in my preliminary film, I saw that the shots were not very complex or steady whereas in my thriller opening the shots were more steady with a greater variation of shot type which also included the use of the golden mean and the rule of thirds. This made for a more interesting opening as it was not as long and tedious as my preliminary task which was effective as it allowed my audience to become immersed within the film from the opening and it also made them ask questions about the plot of the story especially as the ending of the film came at the beginning which is not the conventional way to start a film.
Also in my preliminary film, I saw that the shots were not very complex or steady whereas in my thriller opening the shots were more steady with a greater variation of shot type which also included the use of the golden mean and the rule of thirds. This made for a more interesting opening as it was not as long and tedious as my preliminary task which was effective as it allowed my audience to become immersed within the film from the opening and it also made them ask questions about the plot of the story especially as the ending of the film came at the beginning which is not the conventional way to start a film.
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
As I am new to Media, I have learnt a lot about the technologies used in creating a film. I first learnt how to use a camera as you can see in the preliminary task. I feel that I have learnt how to frame a shot and the different shot types that can be used to create a film. The rule of Thirds was a rule that helped me to set up a nice looking shot which I feel helped me to show off my talent and to create an effective thriller opening.
Another new piece of technology which I encountered during my Media journey was iMovie. I like iMovie a lot as it is a very unique programme which has a few very cool features and effects that can be added into a film to make it more effective. We used this in our opening with a fade out towards the end which was like a cliff-hanger ending adding to the suspense of the film as you do not know what will happen to the characters and how it came to be that one of them died.
As well as iMovie, I also learnt how to create a visual blog which I have not done before. It was very fun editing my blog and personalising it to make it my own although I was unsure of how to add in different media forms such as pictures and embed movies although I feel towards the end I have become more confident and have created a visual blog.
Throughout my journey in Media I have acquired several very vital skills in the course which have helped me to produce an effective film and blog.
How did you attract/address your audience?
To attract a younger audience such as our target audience we decided to use a younger character to play the main character/victim which means that they would be able to relate to him and also it would make the film seem more relavant as it appeals to them. Another way we could of attracted our audience is through creating a trailer which would make the film known especailly if we placed it on social networking sights or on television because these forms of media are most commonly used by our target audience of 15 to early 20s. another way we could direct our film towards our target audience is by promoting our films trailer on other films with the same age rating so that the audience who watch films know that our film is out there so they have a chance to acess it.
Who would be the audience for your media product?
The target market we chose was 15 to people in there early 20s. We chose this age group as we thought that they would be able to understand our film especially since it is a psychological thriller with a very intricate storyline. Another reason for the young age group is that we have used promising young actors which would allow for the audience to relate to them more than older characters and we have several explicit scenes in the film which may not be suitable for a younger audience. We also wanted to have a younger certificate rating as it would widen the range of people viewing it because if we had an age rating of 18 then it would restrict the amount of people who would come to view our film so we wouldn't make as much profit which is one of the main reasons people make films.
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
Our media product may be distributed by Spyglass Entertainment because they produce many psychological thrillers such as Sixth Sense which is what our film is. We also decided to use them because they are a distinguished company who are very well known in the film industry. Another company we chose is Hollywood pictures who also produced the Sixth Sense and we chose them for the same reason.
The other less well known company we chose is Twisted Productions who produced the Saw films. We chose them as they are a company who also like to produce psychological films and we feel that there logo would be an asset to our film as it is very visual and graphic.
I have chosen my film to be produced by these companies as they would show our audience that we are seriouse about our film and are producing a psychological thriller. This would also attract a certain kind of audience who like a mysteriuose and gruesome film.
How does your media product represent particular social groups?
We managed to challenge stereotypes in our product such as the stereotype that women are weak as we decided to have a strong female character who is an accomplice to the murder which may make people rethink about the stereotypes that are in our society. We also decided to conform to several stereotypes that related to the genre of our film. We decided to set the death scene in what appeared to be a very remote and quiet location. We chose to do this so that the genre of our film is apparent to our audience and it also helps to conceal key facts about the plot.
In what way does your media product use, develope or challange forms and conventions of real media products?
In the titles to our film we chose to use the same producers as the Sixth sense as the film was a psychological thriller and so was ours which was the reason for choosing them although we did have other ideas of producers. The title we used was similar to that of Brick as we didn't want to use an extravagant entrance as that would make our opening seem more like a thriller which is why we found Brick's opening so influential.In our film we decided to use a few shots such as the shot from Wallander where the girl is walking with the knife. We thought that this was an effective tracking shot as it shows the audience that the knife has blood on it so it suggests that a murder has been committed but the audience has no idea of the circumstances under which it was committed. We also thought that that the hand in the water shot from Brick was very effective and it influenced us into incorporating it as we thought that it would make for a very mysterious opening.
I am also pleased with the opening shot as it reveals the opening location very well and also shows how deserted it was making the film more thrilling especailly as you see the two characters walking away from the dead body making you wonder who they are and why they are there adding to the suspense of the film.
13.2.11
Deceit Titles
This style would make for an effective title as it is not neat which is good for our film as it suggeasts that beneath the surface there is a lot more happening and not everything has straight edges and is clear cut.
I also like this font style as it is very unclear which reflects our opening sequence as you do not understand why Jay dies and you also are unclear as to who the thrid character is but as the film progresses it clears up and becomes clearer.
This font style is very thick and bold. this would be effectice as it looks as though the person who wrote it is looking for attention and is very logical which is kind of like our thriller as Carley has decided to kill Jay for his money because she wants it and she also wants to be noticed by the other characters in the film.
Again this title would be effective as it looks very mysterious which would be good for a thriller opening as it would entice the audience drawing them into our story. Also having the E's backwards is very effective because it looks odd and stands out. I felt that this was what we wanted to show as well because Carley doesn't want to live an average life, she wants to be rich and live the life she has dreamed of.Character Descriptions and Casting
Eddie is playing the character of Jay who is a wealthy character with a very stereotypical male job but we also decided to change a few stereotypes such as a female character being killed as it is very common and builds upon the stereotype that women are weak which we challenged. We chose to wear the blues as they are seen as a clam neutral colour which will show the audience that he is not a threat and that he is the victim. We also had him dress casual as it fitted in with the unknowing, as you don't know who he is or what has happened. The character of Jay is also in a relationship with Carly
We chose Eddie to play the role of Jay as he is a very confident young individual who is not afraid to put in a good dramatic performance. Eddie was also very punctual when we were recording and was very respectful to the other characters in our film.
I am playing the character of Will who is Carley's (Jades) lover. I am wearing black and grey to show that I am a bad character which is communicated through the black and I also wore grey so that my character remained a mystery to the target audience as I do not reveal much about the sort of character I play, why I am murdering Jay and the relationship of me and Jade. I feel that this is effective as it makes the audience want to continue watching our film.
Jade is playing the role of Carley who is in a relationship with Jay, she is not like the typical female characters, she plays a strong willed and strong minded character which goes against several stereotypes which is what we aimed to do. Jade is also wearing black to show that she is a darker character and the red is also to symbolise the internal conflict and anger of her character as she is in a relationship and also has a love interest.
We chose Jade to play this role as she is a very confident individual who is strong willed so we felt that she related to the character we wanted to portray to the audience. Also Jade is an excellent drama student so we knew that she would love to be a part of the filming as well as the editing and other key jobs.
8.2.11
Thriller Opening Sequence - Script
In our opening sequence there is no dialogue but there is a phone message that is left in a panic tone. The message left will be along the lines of warning the character of Jay that he is in trouble and needs to escape. But through the film we learn that the partner Carly really set him up with her secret lover, Will, who is inevitably going to kill him at the end.
Thriller Opening Sequence - Props, Costumes and Locations
Props: 
A Knife – covered in blood to show that it’s the murder weapon.
Home Phone – this when a message is left warning Jay that something is going to happen to him but it does not give any details of the plot away so the audience can speculate as to what happened to Jay.
A Ring – On Jays finger showing that he is the victim at first then cutting to his normal life which will be used as a bridge between the opening to the film and when we see Jay alive for the first time.
The death scene:
Jay will be covered in blood and mud, the clothing, which was fancy will also be ripped showing that something bad has happened to him, and this can make the audience think about what has happened and why would it happen.
The two killers Carly and Will would be in dark clothing almost to show that they are hiding something.
The house scene:
Jay is wearing his tracksuits to show the viewer that nothing is wrong and doesn’t hint at that he will be murdered. It also shows that he has just woken up and that it is the day before which allows the aduience to try to figure out what has happened and to make them ask questions as to what happened during that day to end up with Jay dead.
Locations:
River/Woodland – This location is where the murder scene is and it’s a nice place for the opening of a thriller as it creates a sinister atmosphere making the viewer question at what has happened. Also, the woodlands can suggest that the death scene is empty; it’s a vast space where no one could help Jay.
House (bathroom/bedroom) – This location almost breaks the creepy, sinister atmosphere and bringing the mood back too an everyday life, which makes the viewer feel a lot more comfortable.
A Knife – covered in blood to show that it’s the murder weapon.
Home Phone – this when a message is left warning Jay that something is going to happen to him but it does not give any details of the plot away so the audience can speculate as to what happened to Jay.
A Ring – On Jays finger showing that he is the victim at first then cutting to his normal life which will be used as a bridge between the opening to the film and when we see Jay alive for the first time.
The death scene:
Jay will be covered in blood and mud, the clothing, which was fancy will also be ripped showing that something bad has happened to him, and this can make the audience think about what has happened and why would it happen.
The two killers Carly and Will would be in dark clothing almost to show that they are hiding something.
The house scene:
Jay is wearing his tracksuits to show the viewer that nothing is wrong and doesn’t hint at that he will be murdered. It also shows that he has just woken up and that it is the day before which allows the aduience to try to figure out what has happened and to make them ask questions as to what happened during that day to end up with Jay dead.
Locations:
River/Woodland – This location is where the murder scene is and it’s a nice place for the opening of a thriller as it creates a sinister atmosphere making the viewer question at what has happened. Also, the woodlands can suggest that the death scene is empty; it’s a vast space where no one could help Jay.
House (bathroom/bedroom) – This location almost breaks the creepy, sinister atmosphere and bringing the mood back too an everyday life, which makes the viewer feel a lot more comfortable.
Thriller Opening Sequence - Sound
The sound I will use in my opening sequence will be:
Footsteps – walking away from the murder scene, shows at how quite the scene is making it more creepy.
Breathing – to increase the tension in the opening and making the audience feel scared.
Alarm Clock – used as a sound bridge to break up the scenes.
Shower – makes the opening more everyday, almost reassuring the viewer.
Phone Calling – the audience questions, who is calling and why?
Answer Phone Message – increases the tension amongst the audience, and it almost gives them more clues.
Here are a few examples of the type of sound I would like to use:
Footsteps – walking away from the murder scene, shows at how quite the scene is making it more creepy.
Breathing – to increase the tension in the opening and making the audience feel scared.
Alarm Clock – used as a sound bridge to break up the scenes.
Shower – makes the opening more everyday, almost reassuring the viewer.
Phone Calling – the audience questions, who is calling and why?
Answer Phone Message – increases the tension amongst the audience, and it almost gives them more clues.
Here are a few examples of the type of sound I would like to use:
Thriller Opening Sequence - Shot List
Shot Number, The action in the shot and the type of shot.
| Shot number: | Brief description of the action (What is going to happen in this shot?) | Description of Shot Type and Camera Movement |
| 1 | | |
| 2 | The victims hand in the water. | A high angle close up with no movement. |
| 3 | The killers walking away from the location that the murder happened. | A long shot with no movement. |
| 4 | The murderers walking away with the murder weapon in hand. | A close up shot tracking the murder weapon. |
| 5 | The victims hand in the water with the ring on to bridge the shots together. | An extreme close up with no movement. |
| 6 | The clock with the alarm going off at 07:00 am and then the victims hand turning it off with the ring to show that it is the same character earlier in the day. | An extreme close up with no movement. |
| 7 | The victim in bed with a ‘killer’ showing that he doesn’t know what is going to happen. | A mid shot tracking the victim. |
| 8 | The victim is getting out of bed but we are also going to show the next location. | A mid shot, which also establishes the next location with no movement. |
| 9 | The victim walking out to the hall to go into the bathroom. | A mid shot with no movement. |
| 10 | The victim walking into the bathroom. | A high angle shot with no movement. |
| 11 | The victim washing his face. | An over the shoulder shot with no movement. |
| 12 | The victim turning on the shower. | A mid shot with no movement of only the victims’ arm. |
| 13 | The victim getting undressed to go into the shower. | A low angle close up with no movement. |
| 14 | The victim entering the shower. | A mid shot with no movement. |
| 15. | The phone ringing. | A close up with no movement. |
| 16. | The camera shows that the victims’ bedroom is empty. | A mid shot panning the victims’ bedroom. |
Film Synopsis - Deciet
The two main characters, Jay and Carly, are a married couple. Then one day Jay receives a distressing phone call from Carly, however Jay doesn’t hear this message as he is in the shower. After showering he listens to the message but he doesn’t know where Carly has gone, almost like she has disappeared. Then Jay sets out to find her; but along the way he becomes the main target for Carly and her secret lover Will. Although in the end it results Jay in dying, being stabbed by his exe wife and her lover all for his money/fortune.
Opening Sequence Synopsis – Deceit
In the opening sequence of ‘Deceit’ we firstly see the 3 main characters Jay, Carly and Will, but we see the dead body of Jay then Carly and Will walking away from the body. But then it quickly cuts to the alarm clock where we see Jay and Carly together as a couple and living a normal life. While Jay is in the shower Carly leaves a phone message (almost setting him up) and then disappears. This leaves the audience questioning at what will happen to Jay, and then what is Carly up to?
Opening Sequence Synopsis – Deceit
In the opening sequence of ‘Deceit’ we firstly see the 3 main characters Jay, Carly and Will, but we see the dead body of Jay then Carly and Will walking away from the body. But then it quickly cuts to the alarm clock where we see Jay and Carly together as a couple and living a normal life. While Jay is in the shower Carly leaves a phone message (almost setting him up) and then disappears. This leaves the audience questioning at what will happen to Jay, and then what is Carly up to?
7.2.11
Feedback on Research and Planning
Tom,
I have just been right back through your blog to see how you have responded to the earlier round of teacher feedback you received in Mid January. I am really concerned that there is no evidence at all that you have gone back into your blog to check the comments we gave you about where and how you can improve, and I am really very concerned that you have not posted anything to your blog since Jan 18th. That was 3 weeks ago? What have you been doing?
Tom, there is an expectation for all subjects in A Level that each hour in class should generate at least another hour of work for you to complete outside of lessons.
You are targeted a B grade, but there is not a single post here for 'Planning' - you have been working on this section now for 4 weeks?!
This blog is currently not up to a PASS standard. You will have to spend quite a few hours now getting on top of it and getting it sorted out. The media room and all media teachers are very open to 6th form students coming in and working. We need to see you in there.
I have begun my FINAL marking of Research & Planning today for the rest of the class. As I am only looking at your blog now, you will have until this Friday 11th Feb to complete both sections.
I have spent quite a lot of time in the past going through your blog, giving you checklists of work to complete and giving you advice on how to improve your work - all to get you the best possible chance of gaining a B in Media. This is all pointless, if you do not work harder at completing your blog Tom.
Here is what I will expect to see - you have quite a bit to do:
Research Section:
Post 4 - You need to fix this one. JIN ran a lesson on this. You should watch the opening of the Sixth Sense and make a detailed list of all of the job roles that appear on the screen as the opeing credits role.
Post 8 - Brick needs images
Posts 9 - missing?
Post 11 - missing?
Post 14 - this needs to be visual. You should select 5-6 of your favourite movies in your chosen genre and take screen shots of key scenes to SHOW rather than tell the conventions of your genre. As you are aiming for a high grade, your work needs to reflect care and creativity - it needs to be visual
Post 16 - Read my comment - needs relevant pics
Posts 17-18 - Read my comments - needs proper questionnaire uploaded and an analysis of your findings in graph form.
Planning:
You have no posts?
There are 11 to do, and you will have these completed by Friday this week.
I will not be allowing you to go out filming while your blog is so incomplete. You will have to explain this to your group as I am sure it will be quite an inconvenience to them. You cannot film if you have no evidence of planning.
Final mark for you is this Friday 11th Feb.
I have just been right back through your blog to see how you have responded to the earlier round of teacher feedback you received in Mid January. I am really concerned that there is no evidence at all that you have gone back into your blog to check the comments we gave you about where and how you can improve, and I am really very concerned that you have not posted anything to your blog since Jan 18th. That was 3 weeks ago? What have you been doing?
Tom, there is an expectation for all subjects in A Level that each hour in class should generate at least another hour of work for you to complete outside of lessons.
You are targeted a B grade, but there is not a single post here for 'Planning' - you have been working on this section now for 4 weeks?!
This blog is currently not up to a PASS standard. You will have to spend quite a few hours now getting on top of it and getting it sorted out. The media room and all media teachers are very open to 6th form students coming in and working. We need to see you in there.
I have begun my FINAL marking of Research & Planning today for the rest of the class. As I am only looking at your blog now, you will have until this Friday 11th Feb to complete both sections.
I have spent quite a lot of time in the past going through your blog, giving you checklists of work to complete and giving you advice on how to improve your work - all to get you the best possible chance of gaining a B in Media. This is all pointless, if you do not work harder at completing your blog Tom.
Here is what I will expect to see - you have quite a bit to do:
Research Section:
Post 4 - You need to fix this one. JIN ran a lesson on this. You should watch the opening of the Sixth Sense and make a detailed list of all of the job roles that appear on the screen as the opeing credits role.
Post 8 - Brick needs images
Posts 9 - missing?
Post 11 - missing?
Post 14 - this needs to be visual. You should select 5-6 of your favourite movies in your chosen genre and take screen shots of key scenes to SHOW rather than tell the conventions of your genre. As you are aiming for a high grade, your work needs to reflect care and creativity - it needs to be visual
Post 16 - Read my comment - needs relevant pics
Posts 17-18 - Read my comments - needs proper questionnaire uploaded and an analysis of your findings in graph form.
Planning:
You have no posts?
There are 11 to do, and you will have these completed by Friday this week.
I will not be allowing you to go out filming while your blog is so incomplete. You will have to explain this to your group as I am sure it will be quite an inconvenience to them. You cannot film if you have no evidence of planning.
Final mark for you is this Friday 11th Feb.
18.12.10
Audience Research Results
Do you like the 'end' of a film at the beginning of the film?
The results from this question show that half of the people surveyed do not mind if the opening is at the beginning which suggests that as long as their interest is maintained during the opening which is essential for the enjoyment of any film.
What time of day do you like the thriller opening to be set?
Most of the people surveyed said that they want the opening to be set during the night time as it is a very eerie atmosphere which is essential for the start of the thriller to get the atmosphere correct for the rest of the film.
Do you prefer 'fast' or 'slow' paced music in the opening?
Our results from the survey show that people prefer slow paced music. This could be because slow paced music aids in the setting of an atmosphere which is needed throughout the film as it helps to entice the audience in the world in which we are creating for them.
17.12.10
Questionnaire
Thriller, Hot or Not?
In this questionnaire we will be researching information about the opening of our thriller.
We are gathering the information about our thriller opening so that we can establish a unique and interesting idea that will appeal to our target audience.
Instructions:
- circle appropriate answer.
- Answer questions truthfully with your own opinion.
Question 1
Do you like the end of the film to be shown at the start?
Yes Sometimes No
Question 2
'I like a cliffhanger ending.'
Strongly Agree Agree Don't know Disagree Strongly Disagree
Question 3
Describe you ideal thriller location.
......................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................
Question 4
Do you prefer fast paced or slow paced music at the beggining of a film?
Fast paced Slow paced
Question 5
List 3 features you expect from the following characters:
Killer:
...............................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
Victim:
.......................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
Question
Do you like lots of titles at the start of the film?
Yes No
Question 7
What time of day do you expect a Thriller opening to be set?
Day time (Early Morning) Mid Day Nighttime
Question 8
Do you think the opening is an important part of the film?
Yes No
Why?
.......................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
Are you male or female?
Male Female
What is your age?
.........
14.12.10
My Thriller Images
I think hat this is a good image because the fire looks very menacing and ominous, also you can not see what is being burnt. I think this would be a good shot in a thriller as it is a well composed shot and it is very mysterious which is good for the opening of a thriller when you are trying to create suspense.
I feel that this is a good shot as it follows the rule of thirds and it looks as though the trees/bushes on either side of the path are trying to cover the path. The shot is also good for the opening of a thriller because it is hard to tell what is at the end of the path and also, i feel that a thriller film is journey just like walking down this path.
I feel that this is a good shot because in the foreground you can see trees which makes it feel as though the camera is 'snooping' around just like in the opening to the sixth sense. In the background you can also see a building which raises questions such as 'What is in the building?' and 'Why is it hidden in the woods?'. This is a good thing because a thriller opening often leaves the audience asking questions which get answered later on in the film.
This shot also shows the rule of thirds with the trees on either side of the building and again rises questions to the audience. I think this is a good shot as it shows the building has been vandalised and in a slow opening to a thriller this shot would be used to set the scene to the audience.
I feel that this shot would be good for a thriller as the foreground is blurred which suggests movement to the prospective audience whilst the twigs and branches of the tree appear to be 'hiding' something which would raise questions to the audience engaging them deeper into the film.
12.12.10
Opening Sequence Analysis
'Analysing Kill Your Friends' and 'Two Eyes Staring' from http://www.watchthetitles.com/
Kill your friends uses a pan shot to show the opening titles. This is effective as it shows the audience aspects of the night before slowly, but it also has the names of the people who worked on the film hidden in the shots. This gives the viewer something to look for in every frame of the opening titles. A focus pull is used to draw the viewers attention onto the NME magazine which is showing the actors who are in the sequence. We can tell this is an opening sequence because it establishes the setting during the pan shot and is slow paced due to the editing.
The editing in kill your friends consists of mainly cuts bet there are a few transitions such as white flash which shows the audience that it has gone back in time and explained the previous shot by a flash back. This happens several times in the opening sequence but it also correlates with the party the night before, because as we begin we see the alcohol everywhere but as the pan shot continues we see drugs showing the audience how the night progressed.
In this opening sequence there was a lot of props, a few of which i have already mentioned but there a few clever techniques involved in prop selection. The credit card for example, has the name of the executive producer but the credit card is also there because of the drugs. All the props used fit in with the setting and the story that we have been shown through the flashbacks. the mise en scene of this piece relates to a student party or a high class sophisticated party because of the champagne. This tells the audience that the characters that haven't been introduced yet, are successful and maybe upper class as they are all in suits.
The sound in this piece is mostly non-diegetic as it is mood music to set the mood for the rest of the film.This shows that the morning after the previous night is very chilled out as nothing is moving but it also shows that only a fraction of the night before is remembered such as the flashbacks.
This is a very effective opening sequence as it doesn't give away the plot but it only provides the audience with snapshots of the night before which gives them the freedom to make up the rest of the night and also to let their imagination run wild with the possibilities of what could happen next.
Two Eyes Staring is a very different style of opening sequence to Kill Your Friends. The starting frames use an effect that looks as thought they are symmetrical and it also gives organic properties to the shots, such as one looks as though it is being filmed from the waters reflection on the surface. This property adds an eeriness to the shots making the audience feel on edge before the film has properly started. The opening images remind me of pictures that would be shown to psychopaths in older films to see what their interpretation of the images is, this could communicate to the viewer that what you see is not always correct creating an air of mystery.
In this opening sequence the only sound is non-diegetic where as in Kill Your Friends there was also diegetic sound. This aids in creating an eerie feeling as the music is very slow and mystical bridging between the shots. This opening would grab the audiences attention and prepare them for the film which is essential for a successful opening sequence.
This sequence is very low key and dull which also helps to calm the audience down before they start the film and to communicate to the viewer that what follows the sequence is very dark and ominous, it gives nothing away just like a good opening sequence should but it it would be hard for the audience to understand the reasoning for this selection of edits, shots and music until the film has begun or ended.
Kill your friends uses a pan shot to show the opening titles. This is effective as it shows the audience aspects of the night before slowly, but it also has the names of the people who worked on the film hidden in the shots. This gives the viewer something to look for in every frame of the opening titles. A focus pull is used to draw the viewers attention onto the NME magazine which is showing the actors who are in the sequence. We can tell this is an opening sequence because it establishes the setting during the pan shot and is slow paced due to the editing.
The editing in kill your friends consists of mainly cuts bet there are a few transitions such as white flash which shows the audience that it has gone back in time and explained the previous shot by a flash back. This happens several times in the opening sequence but it also correlates with the party the night before, because as we begin we see the alcohol everywhere but as the pan shot continues we see drugs showing the audience how the night progressed.
In this opening sequence there was a lot of props, a few of which i have already mentioned but there a few clever techniques involved in prop selection. The credit card for example, has the name of the executive producer but the credit card is also there because of the drugs. All the props used fit in with the setting and the story that we have been shown through the flashbacks. the mise en scene of this piece relates to a student party or a high class sophisticated party because of the champagne. This tells the audience that the characters that haven't been introduced yet, are successful and maybe upper class as they are all in suits.
The sound in this piece is mostly non-diegetic as it is mood music to set the mood for the rest of the film.This shows that the morning after the previous night is very chilled out as nothing is moving but it also shows that only a fraction of the night before is remembered such as the flashbacks.
This is a very effective opening sequence as it doesn't give away the plot but it only provides the audience with snapshots of the night before which gives them the freedom to make up the rest of the night and also to let their imagination run wild with the possibilities of what could happen next.
Two Eyes Staring is a very different style of opening sequence to Kill Your Friends. The starting frames use an effect that looks as thought they are symmetrical and it also gives organic properties to the shots, such as one looks as though it is being filmed from the waters reflection on the surface. This property adds an eeriness to the shots making the audience feel on edge before the film has properly started. The opening images remind me of pictures that would be shown to psychopaths in older films to see what their interpretation of the images is, this could communicate to the viewer that what you see is not always correct creating an air of mystery.
In this opening sequence the only sound is non-diegetic where as in Kill Your Friends there was also diegetic sound. This aids in creating an eerie feeling as the music is very slow and mystical bridging between the shots. This opening would grab the audiences attention and prepare them for the film which is essential for a successful opening sequence.
This sequence is very low key and dull which also helps to calm the audience down before they start the film and to communicate to the viewer that what follows the sequence is very dark and ominous, it gives nothing away just like a good opening sequence should but it it would be hard for the audience to understand the reasoning for this selection of edits, shots and music until the film has begun or ended.
10.12.10
Double Indemnity Analysis
Cinematography:
The opening to Double Indemnity uses an establishing shot to show the erratic driving of the boss of the insurance firm. This makes the audience wonder what has happened or what is he speeding towards? When the car finally stops and the man exits the car the camera uses a tracking shot to follow the action as he enters the building. When he then enters the lift a two shot is used which is very effective as we still haven't seen the main characters face yet and he is resilient to carry on the conversation which also raises questions within the audience creating an air of mystery surrounding the character. As the main character enters his office we see him sit down (mid-shot) and as he has taken his jacket off it is revealed that he has been shot which is very mysterious for the audience as they do not know what has occurred previously. The next shot is a close up as he records the 'confession' which allows the audience to see the emotion in his face which is very effective.
Mise-en-Scene:
The main character is very mysterious. This is created for the audience through the costume as he is wearing a long trench coat so we can not see underneath it and a hat which covers his face for most of the opening. This character is also made more suspicious for the audience as when we see him drive it is very edgy which unnerves the audience as they do not know what is going on or going to happen. When the character sits down during the opening sequence he lights a cigarette which is very typical of the time as they didn't know the true harmful effects of smoking which helps to show the time the film was made (late 1930s). As it is a black and white film (film noir as it is classified today) the dull lighting and darkness aids in the prevention of revealing the main character as he is in the shadows. When it is revealed that the character has been shot, we see that he is wearing a suit which is very typical for the time the film was made/set as it is also seen in 'Kiss Me Deadly'.
Sound:
As soon as the credits start to roll we hear a very fast paced and edgy piece of music which creates a tense atmosphere for the film which is reinforced through the following shots as nothing is revealed to the audience creating an air of mystery. There is dialogue in the opening which is not usual for the thrillers we see today, the dialogue helps to tell the time period and the status of the characters as one is the boss and the other character operates the lift.
Editing:
Considering the time period in which the film was made there is no specialised effects within the film apart from the titles which are very particular. The size of the text that contained your name depends on the importance of the role played which is a very good idea as it easily communicates to the audience who is important. Also after the titles are shown they fade away to reveal a creepy background of a man with a limp walking towards the screen which is very mysteriouse.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)