Analysis of previous AS Media Prodjects 2013/2014

When watching the previous examples of submitted work, I considered the mark scheme and what was required from the pieces of work. Because of this I focused on the following key aspects:

1. Materials being appropriate for the intended target audience and task
2. Using titles appropriately for the chosen genre
3. Using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set
4. Shooting material appropriate for the task, including controlled camera work, accurate framing, variety of shot distances and attention to mise-en-scene
5. Using editing so meaning is apparent to the viewer and making selective and appropriate use of shot transitions and other effects 

Roses Are Red

The first clip that I analysed was called Roses Are Red and was intended for a female democratic target audience aged under 25. The genre in my opinion was a drama/Chick Flick as it started by featuring a teenage girl who the audience see going through her daily routine of getting ready such as putting on make-up.

Good aspects within the clip include:
1. The titles are used within a creative way such as written on photos around the mirror.
2. The sound within the clip is used effectively for the genre as its upbeat and gives a girly vibe.
3.The use of props works well with the make-up helping to keep the clip feeling like a chick-flick.
4. Use of editing and transitions such as using a time lapse and freezing the screen when approaching the magazine.
5. A range of camera angles and movements have also been used such as following the feet using a tracking shot.
6. Interesting and effective use of lighting in the opening with the phone as the source.

Improvements needed within the clip include:
1. Camera work is shaky and unbalanced in certain parts such the handheld movement to the art book.
2. Music jolts in certain transitions.
3. Some use of actions and movements look to forced and unnatural such as the drinking from the cup.
4. The costume title is unreadable due to the size and also the camera distance.

Study of Title Designers

 

Peter Frankfurt

 

Peter Frankfurt is the creative director at Imaginary Forces, a design agency for films, which he co-founded in 1996. His most famous projects include creating title sequences for films such as Se7en, Men in black 1 and Men in Black 2, the number 23 and charlottes web. His work has been honoured by the British Design and Art Directors Club, The New York Art Directors Club, The Clios and The Association of Graphic Artists

 

 

Imaginary Forces

Imaginary Forces is a design-based production studio with offices in Hollywood and New York.

Their award-winning work includes main titles, feature marketing, experience design, branding, commercial advertising, and interactive design. Founded in 1996, Imaginary Forces has created the main titles for films and broadcast titles such as Se7en, Mission Impossible, Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire, all three Transformers films and 500 Days of Summer. 

Imaginary Forces' commercial work includes spots for PowerAde, Microsoft, and Nike; re-brands for USA, the Science Channel, and CBS Sports; stage experiences for the Academy Awards, the MTV Video Music and Movie Awards, and the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show; and recent interactive projects for Pepsi and The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles.

 

Documentary on Film Openings - 'Watching'

 

1) What does Thomas Sucliffe mean when he says "Films need to seduce their audience into a long term commitment, While there are many types of seduction, the temptation to go for instant arousal is almost irresistible".

What Thomas Sucliffe is saying is that a film needs to be able to appeal to the audience and draw them in right from the opening and keep their interest until the very end. He then goes on to say that every director wants to achieve this within their films - its almost irresistible.

2) According to director Jean Jacques Beineix, what are the risks of "instant arousal"?

Beineix claims that if the opening of the film is thrilling and the audience become instantly aroused, then the problem of staying on that level occurs as peoples expectations are high.

3) Explain why "a good beginning must make the audience feel that it doesn't know nearly enough yet, and at the same time make sure that it doesn't know too little".

The beginning could arguably be the most important part of the film. The director must ensure that the audience are captured and interested in order for them to want to watch on. This is not achievable if they know everything as there is no point in watching the film. The audience need to be hooked and fed information throughout to keep them watching. With that said, the other way is that the audience know to little. This could create a problem due to them losing interest or them not understanding the complexity of the film and with give up.

4)  What does critic Stanley Kauffmann describe as the classic opening? Why does this work?

Stanley Kauffmann described his classic opening consisting of firstly an establishing shot, leading into the close up of a building,  to the window of the building, in through the window of the building, then past the receptionist desk, to the private office, and finally leads to a shot of the main character. Kauffmann's classic opening works well because it allows the audience what the film is all about and creates them a picture. They see the setting, characters and work out how the film will follow on.

5) Why is Kyle Cooper's title sequence to the film Seven so effective? 

Kyle Cooper's opening to the film Seven is effective as it provides the audience an insight into the later film. The sound is gripping and thrilling while the visual aspects of the film entice the audience and make them want to watch on.

6) What did Orson Wellies want to achieve with his opening to the film A Touch Of Evil? What did Universal Studios do to it? Why? 
For the opening to A Touch Of Evil, Orson Wellies wanted the audience to be caught off guard and have no time for preparation before the film. To do this, the film opening featured no titles or music whatsoever. However, Universal Studios didn't felt this was a risk and would cause a negative effect as the audience were not being introduced to the film properly in the classic way therefore they added music and credits to the opening.

 7)What is meant by "a favourite trick of Film Noir"? What is the trick? 

The trick referred to as "a favourite trick of Film Noir" is when the opening is actually the end of the film. This is a clever trick as it draws the audience in and keeps them guessing through out the rest of the film how it could possibly result in the previously seen ending.

8) How does the opening to the film The Shining create suspense?
The opening to the film 'The Shining' creates suspense as the camera work used represents a car being stalked. The camera stays fixed on the car and follows it keeping a large distance making the audience feel like a predator. This is combined with the low undertone which creates an eerie and dark atmosphere where the audience feel on edge as anything could happen.

 

Target Audience Research

Memento - Analysis of an opening sequence

Target Audience Reaserch

This data allows us to base our protagonists personality, character and appearance around our data recorded by survey monkey. Majority of people said that he would beat the antagonist and a strong minded male. Another popular aspect of a protagonist would be heroic. Our group are using the data and re-developing our protagonist to a more younger male who has a strong mind and body to complete the situations in hand. We also had a response that said ‘Cares about those around him’. This could be used however I believe this could become into the conventions of action-adventure. 

The data given to us shows that the antagonist should be a foreign male who is from a stereotypical ‘evil’ country. Our research also said that he should have characteristics of him being sly and cunning. As a group decided these were the best responses form our feedback and have chosen these specific feedback to develop our antagonist.

 

In our survey we asked the gender of our audience, the majority was male, indicating we will most likely aim our film towards the male gender.

  In our survey we asked the age group of our audience, the majority who responded were under 18 and so we will be aiming our film at around that age group.

 Within our survey we asked the question of what conventions people expected to see when watching a Thriller film - gaining a wide range of results. The main answers involved adding suspense and mystery to the atmosphere. Therefor my group and I will focus on this within the opening sequence to allow the film to begin by drawing in the audiences attention and making them feel on edge and unnerved. Another common result was having detectives/cops as characters which supports the character ideas that my group and I held. Lastly, a good plot twist was also a common answer meaning that my group and I must include a well thought out and gripping narrative that incorporate a shocking twist to keep the audience entertained and the film inline with the genre of Thriller.

We asked the people taking part in our survey whether or not they found it important to share a relation with the main character of the film. The biggest response was ‘yes’ with 54.55%. Because of this result my group and I will try to incorporate likeable and also common personality traits into our main character allowing the audience to feel a bond resulting in them wanting to see the character succeed.

We asked the audience what they thought about violence in films, there were mixed reactions but most said that it can be good to an extent and if used creatively, this had made us think about the amount of violence we should show in our extract and if it is needed.

                                                                                                     

Distribution Companies - Vertigo Films

Vertigo Films is the distribution company my group and I have chosen. It was Founded by Allen Niblo and James Richardson in 2002 and produced over 28 films and distributed a further 35 since 2010. Vertigo also owns a successful post production company in Berlin called The Post Republic and is also a partner in the sales company Protagonist Pictures along with Film 4 and Ingenious.

Vertigo Films mission is to 'commercially drive independent cinema' which is why we chose them as our distribution company since our film is low budget and independent meaning the two will fit together. Vertigo Films is also a British company which appealed due to our group wanting our opening to feature British locations and actors.

Other Vertigo Films productions have included;
- Walking on Sunshine
- A night in the woods
- Point Blank
- The Firm
- Street Dance 2

Audience Feedback

The audience feedback from our film pitch highlighted some important areas that we as a group had to address and work on in order to develop our film further. 

The main questions raised were regarding
- The details within the plot
- The main character
- The films ending

Looking at these we came to an agreement that the following changes should be made within our film;
- We are not going to show the protagonist's death as due to the lack of equipment it would be extremely hard to show at a high level

- We also changed our plot making the story more realistic with the victims body being discovered after 3 years forcing the case to be re-opened [meaning our protagonist had a reason to solve it]

- We also came to the conclusion that the protagonist needed a change of name and his identity/characteristics clearly thought through to make him as real and interesting as possible

The audience feed back also gave some interesting and helpful opening sequences and films that would benefit our own, helping to give us ideas and some influences, such as Tinker Tailor Soldier  Spy.

Wallander - Opening sequence analysis

The opening sequence for Wallander creates strong emotions against the antagonists through the use of mise-en-scene, camera work, sound and editing which keeps the audience engaged and wanting justice. The clip draws the audience in through an early development of character and audience relationship leaving questions such as 'Did the girls really murder him?' and 'If not - who did?'.

 

Mise -En - Scene
The opening shows the audience a clear contrast in the characters by using costume. For example, the girls who are identified as the murders are seen wearing gothic style clothes of blacks and covered in piercings. This represents the girls as cold and unloving due to their lack of colour enhanced by the blunt expressions on their faces. The piercings also make them seem unapproachable and off putting meaning that the audience are less likely to feel sympathy for them as the potential murders as instead they are repelled by their image. This contrast to the detectives costume of a suit as he seems more approachable and respectful influencing how the audience see and feel towards him as the protagonist. Props are also used such as the blood dripping knife shown through a close up. The knife signifies how a violent crime has been committed and makes the audience feel tension and resentful towards the murders making it easier for the clip to play on the audiences emotions as they have a lot of detail.

Camera Work
An establishing shot is first used and features the countryside allowing the audience to see the location and set the scene. The camera then uses a zoom to focus on the vehicle where the murder took place. By using these techniques the audience can see how isolated the victim is from everyone and everything making the audience feel helpless as they know that nobody can save them. An extreme close up using shallow focus shows all of the victims possessions inside of the car allowing the audience focus to only be on what the director wants them to see such as the photo of the victims family. This makes the audience empathise and feel remorse for the character as they have been shown some of the victims life meaning they have formed an attachment to them.  Shallow focus in again used when the police car arrives drawing all the attention towards them showing its importance and authority.








Sound
Sound is used within the opening sequence for Wallander such as the productions title. The musical score used in the titles is slow in pace and builds emotion that relates to the scene the audience just witnessed by including lyrics like 'Knuckles bleed' helping to place the audience on edge and feel sympathy towards the victim. The end of the score also featured hyperbolic sound of the scores last word having an echo that stays with the audience and leaves a cold and unnerving feeling with them. A strong use of ambient sound is also used throughout the clip such as the girls walking and their death breathing. This all adds to the tension and atmosphere of the scene unfolding due to the silence making it all seem more real. Lastly, a sting is also used once a close up of the murder weapon is shown increasing in a high and uncomfortable pitch making the audience wince.

Shutter Island Analysis

Opening Sequence Analysis

Genre analysis of The Usual Suspects

                               

The production ident for the Usual Suspects is Metro Goldwyn Mayer. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The opening titles are all in capital letter of a light blue/white. The titles fade in and out creating tension and a suspicious atmosphere for the audience. They also appear of the left hand side of the screen again meaning they are out of the audiences main eye line and focus placing the audience on edge.

The first shot is a close up of a character lighting a cigarette immediately having the audience take a dislike as we associate the character as 'bad' due to this habit as the 'good' never have these floors.

We are then introduced to the another character who again we feel wearily of due tot he fact that we don't see his face throughout the scene. The character is also dressed in a costume of a long black coat making him seem suspicious and unnerving which all adds to the tension of the thriller genre.

A medium shot of the character is then shown to the audience with the prop of a gun immediately signifying danger and violence strong themes within the genre of thriller. Without begin able to see the character's face, the audience also have no connection to him unlike the previous character meaning they will have more sympathy for the character begin shot.

The use of deep focus here forces the audience to look at the flames that are spreading making them panic

 and feel the tension as they know someone is going to get hurt. The musical score also enhances this feeling as the pitch heightens while the tempo picks up dramatically heading for a climax.

Seeing the other 'villain' ,as the audience would now associate them with, fleeing from the murder scene makes the audience dislike the antagonist even more. As they cant see who it is they feel suspicious and want to know more helping the film become more thrilling for them. The use of low key lighting also adds to the mysterious elements of the opening.

 

Mood Board

On Photoshop i created a collage of things that I thought looked visually nice and pleasing to look at. Adding effects and condensing them all together formed a picture that helped to define my tastes and likes that would be useful when coming to determine my opining genre and placing forward ideas.

The Sixth Sense - Analysis of an opening sequence

Mise-en-scene, editing, sound and camera work are used in The Sixth Sense in order to portray to the audience information that every opening sequence should answer such as 'Who are the main characters' and 'What is the main plot'.

Mise-En-Scene
The opening to The Sixth Sense contains mise-en-scene. For example in the scene when Dr Crow finds one of his former patients in the bathroom, no costume is used to show the characters unstable mental healthy placing the audience on edge as his movements are shaky as he is trying to  cover himself making us feel on edge and nervous to. The mental character also has make-up to represent scares and bruises again portraying his ill health as he is harmful to himself suggesting that he may also be harmful to Dr
Crow making the audience empathise with Crow who is the protagonist. Mise-en-scene is also used in the form of lighting such as when Dr Crow enters the bedroom lighting in the bedroom is low key creating gloom and suspense although the bathroom light is on foreshadowing what is about to happen. This is unusual in a thriller/mystery film as the director is hinting at the plot however it is extremely effective as it misleads the audience.

Sound

Sound is important within the opening sequence to The Sixth Sense as it creates the mood and atmosphere through out the scenes communicating to the audience how they should feel. For instance, the low tone and use of strings in the musical score create intense tension that magnifies as the score increase in tempo and pitch until it reaches a climax when Dr Crow finds the patient. This is complimented by the use of ambient sound within the clip such as the disconnected phone lying on the ground beeping continuously which gives the audience their first clue that something is not right and builds tension onwards. Ambient sound is again then used when the mental patient slams his hand against the bathroom door sending shocks of hyperbolic sound signifying that the character is violent and dangerous making us empathise with Dr Crow. Finally, silence also plays a part in the sequence creating tension with it misleading the audience into a false sense of security then shocking them suddenly

.

Camera Work  

Camera work in the sequence is used in order for the audience to feel nervous from an outsiders point of view rather then as the character themselves. For example, in the first scene Crow's wife is in the wine cellar where a longshot is used, followed by a camera movement of tracking, from behind suggesting that she is being watched and then followed. The long shot also shows her empty

surroundings communicating that she is alone and vulnerable causing the audience to feel on edge.

Another camera movement used is panning such as in the one of the opening shots when an array of thank you cards are shown. This establishes to the audience that Dr Crow is good at his job and also sets the location as we see his house and possessions leading us to understand his wealth through his success.

  

Editing   

Finally, editing is used in the opening sequence in order to set the scene and show the passing of time for the audience. 'South Philadelphia' is written central on the screen in bold black letters displaying how the plot has moved on answering our previous question of "Did Dr Crow survive?"

The ending of The Sixth Sense opening sequence has helped to identify the main characters, plot and location of the film which has captured the audiences attention and pulled them in to continue watching through us wanting to know questions like "Is Dr Crow getting a second chance at life?"

Detailed Study of the Structure of an Opening Sequence

 

Preliminary Project

Introduction

My name is Bethany Smiles and i am 17 years old. I am currently taking an AS Media Studies course at Glenthorne High School. I chose to take media as i have developed a great passion for the subject through the creative aspects beileveing that media holds a great importance within society that i would thoroghly enjoy to potentially embark on in the future as a career.