ART OF THE TITLE - SPEED

ART OF THE TITLE - SPEED

Art of the title Speed opening scene 

Speed is a very action packed film starring Keanu Reeves, about a bus that is clocked on a time bomb, and that has to stay a certain speed to not crash. Firstly, the 20th Centure fox introduction appears, which draws attention to audience because it is a popular company that known for producing very good films. the text is in a 3D blue that is very big, to catch attention. The background is a panning shot running down a building which creates mystery and curiosity. We see some live action at the start which is a lift going down, this being a mid shot. The blue lettering separates the writing from the video behind. This catches the views eyes and so its easier for them to read the credits and recognize the big names from within the film which keeps them interested in finishing the film. I personally really enjoy the font. As the elevator goes down a new credit appears this is very slick which reflects the smooth editing and use of technology. We later find out there someone within the elevator. The title is introduced by coming together from different angles into the middle of the screen. 

After the credits, a scene of a man walking out of an elevator and discovering something off in the electronics room occurs. This also ensues mystery and wonder for what will happen next. During the opening credits, there if fast paced music, to show to the audience what type of film you are watching. It represents a faced paced, action packed film with lots of excitement and build up around it. The music is also very slightly mysterious which also represents action, as the mystery is that there could be a mastermind behind the whole film, which there is, as someone sets off the time bomb and has the intention of blowing it up. There is then a long shot going in towards the mysterious item, being a bag, then camera then slowly zooms in. 

PLANNING: FILM TREATMENT

PLANNING: FILM TREATMENT

Write a treatment for your film opening. A treatment will normally contain:

• A title that is dynamic and engaging
• The top line - an 'elegant sentence' that sums up the action
• The big question - what is the cliffhanger? what is the enigma that will unfold?
• The synopsis - one or two paragraphs outlining the plot
• Characters - brief introduction: Adam, 35, a dreamy design engineer.... Lucy, 25, a disenchanted doctor... Mary, 18, an idealistic student...

NEXT 

• After writing the treatment, you create a STORYBOARD  (hand drawn on the sheets that I give you)
• and a SHORTLIST

BRAINSTORM INITIAL IDEAS

• Girl with super brain being stalked by crazy doctor or scientist
• Aimed at a younger audience, that being young adults potential teenagers
• The scientist wants to take the girl completely to study her and take as a test subject 
• Potentially the government after her
• Some potential locations include; a hospital, train station, science lab

We initially brainstormed multiple different ideas and genres to start off with. We have access to a boat house, and therefore thought planning something which involves that location would be successful. 

Locations for Shots:

• London
• Train station 
• Hospital 
• Elevator
• Woods
• Empty car park
• Walking down an empty dark road
• Dark room hacker screens 

Props: 

• Pin Board
• Documents
• Pictures
• Files
• Doctors notes 
• earphones 

Effects:

• Clips from YouTube
• Titles
• Background music/sounds
• Filters
• POV filters

Simple shots ideas:

• Earphones in music playing walking down lonely street, music out silence. Mixed shots of doctor and girl to create following creepy scene
• Dark room with hacker screens and reflecting in glasses 

Behind the scenes:

We printed images of my friend, Millie, then wrote on the images with

with a red pen to look like she's being stalked. 

We used youtube to create these hacking effects on the screen. 

Here Ollie is taking pictures of Millie through the trees, the long shot with 

trees obstructing the view of the camera will create the feel of that she's being watched. 

Liv is taking more pictures of Millie to add the the "stalkers" collection. 

PLANNING: TOP LINE & BIG QUESTION

 

TOP LINE & THE BIG QUESTION

I watched a presentation by Frank Ash who is the creative consultant for the BBC. He has taught story telling and creativity techniques to teams across the BBC and beyond. What I learned form the presentation was how important it was to focus on the audience: what interests them ,how does the film make them want more. 

For Frank Ash film makers need to think of what the top line and the big question is. He calls the top line 'one elegant sentence' that sums up the story. He then says we then need to leave the audience wanting to find out more which is the 'big question'. Having learnt from Frank Ash's video, I have decided to sign up for Film Distribution from on the Future Learn website. 

FILMING AN OPENING SEQUENCE: ALWAYS FOREVER

 

FILMING AN OPENING SEQUENCE

Here is my start of the film exercise that I completed with a group within my class. We came up with a story line which is illustrated through the items/props on the tabletop. We used a range of camera angles including a long shot and a POV (point of view) shot. We had a small section with live action that included the two 'main characters'. I was inspired by the opening sequence to kill a mocking bird, the multiple use of angles, the child humming in the background and the use of props all put together looked truly amazing. I wanted to achieve this for my own opening sequence I was very proud whit how my opening sequence came out and my friends in which I worked with should be very proud too. 

RESEARCH 

We viewed three examples of opening sequences filmed in in a similar 'table top' style. 

Using art of the title, we watched Delicatessen (1991, Jean-Pierre Jeunet) and noticed how its inventive camerawork tells the story and set up the theme. Another excellent title sequence is was that of To Kill A Mockingbird. We also reviewed last years students.We then use these as an inspiration to create an original title sequence in groups by setting up mise-en-scene using props from out prop collection. 

PLANNING 

Before we started filming, we laid out all the props that were elements of our film narratives mise-en-scene on the table. We also research and discussed audio for the soundtrack of the opening sequence. The option for our title sequence uses the soundtrack Always Forever by the Cults. 

FILMMING

We filmed the 'live action' element, uploaded the footage into the editing software in which was iMovie, using this editing software we planned out titles, credits, special effects and the soundtrack. 

My friends participated with some of the acting and I mostly directed and filmed them. 

BEHIND THE SCENES 

RESEARCH: FILM OPENING ANALYSIS AE FOND KISS

 AE FOND KISS 

1. There were nine titles displayed during the opening sequence to the film. The producers decided to show so many titles to give the film pedigree and to influence possible new audience by showing them familiar names. In which would also create more publicity and catch the audiences attention. 

2. The images that were prioritised in the opening sequence include the nightclub and the small shop.  This is prioritised because it opens up the setting and the establishing scene which shows where we are and what type of culture we are watching; which is the Islamic culture meaning the nightclub has a mixture of cultures. Since this is a Bollywood film they don't have intimate scenes. 

3. The connotations of said nightclub and shop include the introduction of two characters those being the brother and the father. Within the nightclub is Bhangra music and a Bollywood film in the background being projected on the wall. This highlighted the culture of those within the club. 

4. The genre is reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset by use of audio and camera angles. Within the start of the film after Tahara and Casim had run through the school into the music room 'coincidentally' being introduced to the music teacher in which Casim experiences a forbidden romance with. We first pick up the connection between them with a close up to Casims face after her had met the music teacher. They also showed a POV (point of view) shot through the door as Casim. The use of audio is also very important, it because a gentle sweet tune after their first encounter together. Said audio is what gave the name to the film in which is a poem. 

5. The film establishes enigma from the outset via Taharas speech. Through said speech we learn that she attends a Catholic school. Yet she is not a Catholic she is Muslim. Which is her family's religion. As her brother falls in love with a Catholic girl whilst being Muslim; each of them supposedly have their lives planned out for them. 

6. The use of Bhangra music appeals towards the Pakistani audience, whilst the choice of main actors may appeal more towards a younger audience. The choice of setting in Glasgow may appeal to a Glaswegian audience too. 

7. The technology has been used very efficiently. For example There is a pan shot over the skyline of Glasgow, and the use of editing is also very efficient as we have a certain scenes within the nightclub and then we are shown a shop. These are very different settings yet they merge together due to the smooth transitions.

COMIC LIFE

 COMIC LIFE 

I put together these photos and camera angles together with my knowledge of camera angles in media studies, making Sam appear smaller and bigger in certain angles to change his physical appearance. For example I have taken a long shot to make Sam look smaller in the top left photo, by using my knowledge of camera angles. 

ART OF THE TITLE - GONE GIRL

ART OF THE TITLE - GONE GIRL

Art of the title Gone Girl opening scene

Art of the title; Gone Girl. I selected this movie due to its very cold visuals in which creates a very mysterious introduction to the movie. We are introduced with an extremely beautiful young woman that looks very peaceful yet the used audio changes our mind. The man speaking we believe is her husband and as he's stroking her head we see it as a comfortable happy couple until he says 'When I think of my wife, I always think of the back of her head. I picture cracking her lovely skull, unspooling her brain, trying to get answers. The primal questions of a marriage: What are you thinking?'. This is extremely disturbing to the audience.  

Within the next part of the opening sequence there are all types of shots of what appears to be dawn, very early in the morning. There's shots of multiple houses at all types of angles, we see normal people just going about their day to day jobs and living their normal lives. This contradicts what was heard just moments before. Through the disturbance afterwards there is just peace. They oppose each other and this is extremely effective for the audience is draws them in and builds the suspension.

Every shot thats not of the young woman is houses or apartments. This could hint what happens behind closed doors within peoples homes. It creates a mystery it makes the audience think whats going on in each of the houses.