Evaluation of First Cut

First Cut - OHSINJA 

The First cut of OHSINJA went better than i thought it would be, The Lighting was what i was looking for however some areas were a bit darker than i anticipated. Here are a few Shots of my First Cut.

Zoom/Medium Shot - The white Text fades in/out of the shot (This was Edited in After Effects using a Font Titled 'I Still Know'. The Shot has no Color Correction which i can work on in my next Cut. (I need to also add more transitions to my text to make it better and more appealing to my product)

Panning Shot - of the Setting (Allows audience to view where its set) The clip has no Color Correction or any Speed Adjustment. (I need to add a color correction layer, add some texture to the scene. the original footage looks too natural for a Horror Film. Possibly lower the speed of the shot - the pan is too fast)

Dolly Shot (Right to Left) - Shot viewing the on the mantle Piece above the fire place, This gives the Setting an innocent feel. (Add some Texture to the shot make the footage a bit darker - add color correction. Change the font of the text + slow the fade in/out)

Extreme Close-Up (Shot of Clock) This shot is to emphasize that its a normal day yet time is ticking fast - the future of this character could be over in a second. (Add color correction to the shot + slow the shot down so that audience can see the change on the clock).

Establishing Shot (Viewing the Character in the Chair) at the moment we don't know anything about the character or what has happened to the character, this makes the audience skeptical about what could happen later on in the film. (Slow the speed of the shot down so that it feels like time is slowing down - link with the clock. Add color correction to the shot, make it darker)

High Angle Shot (Character looking at Mysterious Book) The angle was used to emphasize that because the character is looking at the book it shows that he has power but we don't know what power the book has at this moment in 'Time'. His Face is Darkened so that you can't see what he looks like - Identity Hidden (Use color correction - lighten the darker areas to make the shot stand out)

Medium Shot (Close Shot of Character) At this moment the Characters Face is still Hidden even more where by the Candle Holder is in his way of the camera. as the candles aren't lit yet it emphasizes the fact that darkness is surrounding him. (use color correction to make the shot stand out - try to make the dark areas lighter)

Medium Shot (Character walks over to a Kitchen Draw) The Character has his back to the camera to keep his identity hidden even with the dark lighting (add color correction + bring the contrast up - scene is very dark. make the shot lighter but keep it dark too to create a dark atmosphere)

Close-Up (Character pulls draw open to grab Kitchen Knife) The Darkness of the room helps to create suspicion to what he has taken out of the draw - Adds Mystery (lighting in this shot is different - add color correction but try to match the color with the other shots to make each shot blend equally. Change font of text and slow the speed of the fade in/out. also make the text on the top line smaller than the Actor/Crew Name)

Extreme Close-Up (Lighting of the Central Candle) - The Central Candle was lit to create light to stop the darkness coating the Character - Tries to bring Hope to this Dark Scene (Change font on text, slow fade in/out + make top line smaller. change color of shot using color correction + add a transition to blend two shots together)

Medium Shot (all Candles have been lit in a circular motion) - The Character lights all the Candles Present to create a feeling of Hope. The Candles are positioned in a Circle - Circle of light, This symbolises Hope - Circle of Protection (add color correction - due to the candles being lit it has made the shot brighter only a bit of tone needed. Change font on text, slow the speed of fade in/out and make top line smaller)

Close-Up (The Character sits back down in his chair, Grabs the Knife and starts to raise his hand) The Character is staring at the book as he raises his hand to show how he wants to release the spirit from within him. the stabbing of the book shows us that the power in which he uses to stab the book is how much it hurts him. (add color correction to the shot + add transition to change between shots. Change font in text, change speed of fade in/out and change size of top line)

Over the Shoulder Shot (Continued shot of the frame before) As the Character raises his hand, his arm crosses the Candle holder with the knife in hand. This action symbolises how hes cutting the hope (because he has the knife in his hand, when he raises his hand its like hes cut the candle holder in two) - emphasises how he is no longer relying on Hope (add more tone to the shot using color correction, add a transition between the shots - make them blend together and change the font in the text, change the speed of the fade in/out and change the size of the top line)

Extreme Close-Up (Character is Staring at the book - looks like hes confused - mind dead) He looks mind dead because he is unsure about how it will end. It could either go really well or end in a tragic way (brighten the contrast in this shot using the color correction and also make the light of the candle stand out on the characters face)

Titles Appear with a loud Orchestral Bang - Their is a Spelling Mistake 'OHSINJA' the H is missing in the shot. the Text is too Sharp. It needs to be more Spooky and Horrifying. (change the blur speed - get rid of it and make the text bold instead of fading it in to make bolder on the screen)

At the end of my First Cut there is a fair bit of work to do Editing wise and Musically. I will take my Feedback and my Teachers Feedback and improve my Cut further. This may Include Taking out the Music and adding more depth to my Sound Effects. Shortening some Shots and Possibly changing the Texture of the Shots by adding Colour Correction and adding some Filters.

Film Title

Logo/Titles

Looking at different Opening Titles for different Horror Films (Saw, The Devil Inside, The Possession) the one that stood out most for me is ‘Insidious’ when it instantly appears on a black screen at the end of the opening credits with scary music played behind it. i have interpreted my titles to feel similar (Text Wise) I have made my Text a dark Red Wine Colour with a bit of contrast. The Text Fades in with a different Variation using ‘Fast Blur’ which makes it fade in from different  Areas (Horizontal/Vertical). 

The Font is a weird sort of Carved font called ‘I STILL KNOW’ from DaFont.com. it helps give the scene a dark feel plus it blends well with the contrast of the first shot in the scene (Door Shot)

The Company Credits are a bit Different Compared to ÖHSINJA Text. This text is a distorted font with White and Red used (White at the start then it changes to a blood red) - the Fast Blur has also been used again to help to convert the white to the red.

Representation in Horror/Thriller including Characters

Production Schedule

Production Schedule – (ÖHSINJA) 

Date W/C: 3/11/14	Task   Continue with Script/Storyboard	Complete Y/N The Script/Storyboard is almost complete just need to add notations to the Storyboard + end the Script
W/C: 10/11/14	Finish Script/Storyboard/Film Schedule + Get Actors/Costumes/Make-Up	The Script/Storyboard is now complete. The Film Schedule is complete and actors and costumes have been done ready for filming
W/C: 17/11/14	Upload Filmed Video Files to PC + Start Editing	Once filming is complete then i will upload the video files
W/C: 24/11/14	Continue Editing + Graphics/Titles	No Titles/Graphics aren’t complete as of yet but will be once in the editing process
W/C: 01/12/14	Creating Music + Finishing Graphics	Music Isn't complete as of yet but will be once editing the video files is complete
W/C: 08/12/14	Upload all elements of Foundation onto Blog	No
W/C: 15/12/14	Film to be handed in to be marked over the Christmas Break + Blogging all stages of the Filming/Editing Process	No

Film Schedule

Film Schedule – (NIGHTMARE) 

Date - 12/11/2014	Task	Complete Y/N
08.00 - 15.30	Remind Actors to meet outside Media at 16.00 for Filming
15.30 - 16.00	See Ms Spencer + Pick up a Tripod
16.00 - 16.30	Leave Landau with camera, Costumes and make way to Location
16.30 - 17.00	Get Actors Prepared/Ready with Make-Up to Act
17.00 - 17.30	Film Scene + Take Stills of Location/Shots used during Filming
17.30 - 18.00	Complete filming and Pack-Up

Recce

Casting

Casting

In My Production, Sam Young (Aged 17) will act as Charlie ‘The Main Character’ in which we see in the opening scene. The Props in the Scene are fairly straight forward, Matches, A Knife, Candles and a Book will all be used within the scene, other props such as Photographs, Clay Figurines and a Clock are also used but this is mainly part of the Setting/Decor to help set the scene to emphasize the fact he’s an ordinary Young Adult. Ben Woodward (Myself) found the Actors who would be acting in the film, however for the Opening Scene only one character is present in the scene.

Role Allocation

Role Allocation

Before this Project i was in a Group of 3 people but i left my old group to pursue my idea which stayed with me for a long time whilst being in my old group. Because of this decision i am working on my own, meaning that I am the Director, Producer, Camera Person, Script Writer, Illustrator for Storyboard, Sound Manager, Editor and other jobs. 

Storyboard

Character Profiles

Character Profiles

Charlie

Charlie is aged between Seventeen/Eighteen, around average height with short hair. Charlie is a

Student wanting to go to university to study Media (Wants to be a Director within the Documentary field) He’s a very Ambitious character who has his eye set on what he wants in life. He is a Leader, strong and open minded, he has a good connection with his friends and family (However this changes within the film). If he sees a challenge he will do all he can to try and reach for it no matter the cost. Charlie has a soft spot for Horror Films (Loves hearing about Demonic Possessions and Ghost Haunting - Knowing that is purely for entertainment for the Audience, he doesn't believe they're real).

Black Figure - ÖHSINJA

ÖHSINJA is a Demonic Spirit which has been held within the Book titled (شيطان ) ÖHSINJA is a Demon which was imprisoned into the book in the 18th century. The Demon was imprisoned because ÖHSINJA is a Sorcerer who was possessed by the devil. ÖHSINJA has a secret name which only charlie knows at the end of the film in order to save him (the end is the scene we see at the start of the film but continued) His secret name is ‘شيطان’ - ‘ÖHSINJA’. شيطان is arabic for Demon which is written on the front of the book. (Charlie is the only person who can see ÖHSINJA due to the fact the Demons spirit is inside him)

Script

ÖHSINJA 

Ben Woodward, Sam Young 

Black Screen

SFX - Ticking fades in 

Shot of Front Door slowly fades in 

(Camera Zoomed into the Front Door - Slowly Zooms out) 

Text - T.U.B Productions Presents

Fade in/out 

SFX - Demonic Spirit Sound

Text - A Media Studies Film

Fade in/out 

Camera - Pan of Living room 

(View of Fireplace, Mirror and Pictures)

SFX - Demonic Spirit 

Dolly Shot of the Mantelpiece 

from Left to right of the Mantel piece - Smooth

SFX - Demonic Spirit

Extreme Close-Up on the Clock Ticking

Dolly Shot Continues of the Mantelpiece 

from Left to right of the Mantel piece - Smooth

Pan of Living room 

(Camera turns to The Character sitting down at the table starring at something)

SFX - Demonic Spirit + “I AM DEATH”

Medium Shot - Behind character 

(View of The Characters Back with two candles either side of him)

Medium Shot - Camera Aimed at the Demonic Book 

(Camera on the right side of the Character)

SFX - “I AM DEATH” - Demonic

Camera - aimed at the front of the Character sitting at the table. The Character then gets out of his chair.

(Viewing the Candle Holder, Two Candles and the Character)

Medium Shot - Character walking over to a Kitchen Draw to grab something

Close-Up on the Kitchen Draw - Character opens the draw and tries to find something

(Camera on the Right side of the Draw)

Close-Up on the Left side of the Draw - same actions as the shot before 

(Character grabs a knife and closes the Draw)

Medium Shot - Character walking back with the knife in his hand 

(Camera mainly focusing on the knife - Character then sits back down in his chair)

Extreme Close-Up - Shot of Knife being Placed on the table 

Extreme Close-Up - Shot of Character picking up a box of matches

Close-Up - Character opens the Match box and Takes a Match out

Extreme Close-Up on the side of the Match Box - Character strikes the match box and creates a flame

SFX - Match Spark

Extreme Close-Up of a candle being lit 

(Left Candle lit First)

Close-Up of candle Being Lit

(Right Candle lit Second)

Extreme Close-Up - Character gets another match and strikes it agains the match box again behind the candle in the middle 

(Focus on the flame spark behind the candle - focus changes to the middle candle once its lit)

SFX - Match Spark

Camera Zooms out from middle candle viewing the candle holder as a whole

(Character lights all candles)

Extreme Close-Up - Character blowing out Match Stick

SFX - Blow + Heart Beat fades in

High Angle Shot - Character sits back down and places hands back on the table

Extreme Close-Up - Character Picks up Knife 

Close-Up on Characters Face

(Lighting - Dark on the left side of face and Light on the right side of face)

SFX - “I WILL KILL YOU” - Demonic

Close-Up - Shot in front of Character viewing Character + Candle Holder 

(Character raises his hand and is ready to stab the book)

Close-Up - Shot of Character raising his hand 

(Camera aiming at the Characters Shoulder)

Extreme Close-Up on the Characters Face - Worried

SFX - “GET OUT…”

Close-Up on the Book Being Stabbed 

SFX - Loud Orchestral Bang 

Jump Cut - As soon as the knife impacts the Book it immediately jumps to the text ‘OHSINJA’

(Focus fades in till the text can be seen clearly then fades out to black)

Target Audience

Target Audience 

My Film is directly aimed at the Male Gender, aged between 15+ due to the fact my Main Character is Male and 17. The Film is also aimed at Female's but the Male Gender would be more attracted to the film. However most horror films are rated 18+ meaning that most teenagers cant watch them, by rating the film 15+ this allows teenagers to watch the horror film possibly creating more of a gross profit if it was to be distributed to a cinema.

Feedback - Miss Spencer

Genre feedback - Some interesting research, you have loooked at the conventions and given examples. At the moment this is at a level 2/3 border, in order to improve you should:

• Look at the history of the genre (from the 1920's)
• look at the sub genres and discuss theor importance to your work

Representation Feedback - You have been methodical in your thinking here, but I would like you to concentrate on the genre you are studying. This will help you in your own film planning and research.

Horror Genre - 2.2

Horror Genre

Horror is a film genre seeking to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's primal fears. Inspired by literature from authors like Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker, Mary Shelley, horror films have for more than a century featured scenes that startle the viewer. The macabre and the supernatural are frequent themes. Thus they may overlap with the fantasy, supernatural, and thriller genres.Horror films often deal with the viewer's nightmares, hidden fears, revulsions and terror of the unknown. Plots within the horror genre often involve the intrusion of an evil force, event, or personage, commonly of supernatural origin, into the everyday world. Prevalent elements include ghosts, aliens, vampires, werewolves, demons, gore, torture, vicious animals, evil witches, monsters, zombies, cannibals, and serial killers. Conversely, movies about the supernatural are not necessarily always horrific. 

Characters:

-The Protagonist - often a female role, most morally standing/smartest of the group. Almost always survive in order to be part of a sequel 

-The Sex Appeal - Role often filled by a promiscuous Woman, often the first to be killed + are the first to expose their body 

-The Irritating Character - Often partnered with the ‘Sex Appeal’ and often the first to go - due to their behaviour (The Viewer is usually happy when they have been killed off)

-The Unlikely Hero - Generally the one the audience suspects to be the antagonist because of their actions/appearance in the film

-The Antagonist - The ‘Bad Guy’ of the film - usually revealed at the end of the tim. usually killed off at the end/wounded in some cases to make room for a possible sequel

-The Token Black Guy - Often the one to sacrifice them selves to save others or to act as the muscle of the group - Sometimes take the role of ‘The Irritating Guy’.

-The One who gets his Comeuppance - ‘Side Kick’ of the ‘antagonist’ - Only interested in their own well being but always killed off before the end. 

Conventions of a Horror Film 

- Good Versus Evil

- Depression

- Religion

- Childhood Issues

- Revenge

- Supernatural

- Beyond Death

- Science Goes Bad

- Zombie Apocalypse

- Nightmares

- Madness

- Insanity

- Lust

- Self-Consciousness

- Envy

- Suicide

Horror Film 1 - The Possession
The Possession is about a young girl who buys an antique box at a yard sale, unaware that inside the collectible lives a malicious ancient spirit. The girl's father teams with his ex-wife to find a way to end the curse upon their child. Some conventions in the film include (Good Versus Evil, Religion, Supernatural, Madness etc) the film is about an exorcism, one of the main stereotypes within the Horror Genre. Within most Horror films, to create a suspenseful atmosphere the film is mainly built up of Diegetic Sounds e.g (Door Slam, Creaking Floorboards, Wind, Rocking Chair sound etc) the Soundtrack however is Orchestral - Non-Diegetic, meaning you can hear the soft but deep sounds of a violin, Scary wavy Brass section or even the loud slam of a Drum. Also in the film (Inside the Box) it contains a dead moth. The moth is a symbol of sensitivity and impulsiveness, in dreams it can mean impending danger, and has traditionally been associated with psychic powers and their development. And of course like butterflies, they represent transformation. It is said that moths are an omen (Portent of good or evil) death in some cultures too.

Horror Film 2 - Saw
Saw is about Two men who wake up in a secure lair of a serial killer who's been nicknamed "Jigsaw". The men must follow various rules and objectives if they wish to survive and win the deadly game set for them. some conventions in the film include (Good Versus Evil, Insanity, Madness and maybe revenge and suicide) The film is like a game show, they both must complete a task in order to go onto the next level (in this case survive). Just like in The Possession, the sounds are mainly Diegetic e.g (Door Slam, Creaking Floorboards, Wind, Rocking Chair sound etc) but there is also a Soundtrack played over the top of the footage. Jigsaw is related in some sense to a clown (Scary Make-Up Mask, Rides a Clown Size, Children's Size Trike) Clowns are again a main stereotype of a Horror Film. The main Clown Horror film of all time in my opinion has to be 'IT' the story about Pennywise the Clown. As it says here "Some researchers believe that coulrophobia cases increased after the 1990’s, when Steven Spielberg directed the classic horror film “IT” depicting a murderous clown was released" - http://www.coulrophobiafacts.com/ 

Representation

What is Representation? 
Representation is to Present/to Depict, Something that was already there but has been represented by the Media. Representation is the way in which meaning is given to the things which are depicted that stands in for something.

Examples of Representations in Film Openings 
Friends with Benefits -

Who is being Represented - in the scene we see Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis before they meet breaking up with the partner they are with before they get together in the film.
In what way are they being represented -  Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake are being represented as the innocent characters as they break up but Justin Timberlake gets dumped instead of him breaking up with his girlfriend. This was done to help show how work is more important to him than a relationship at the time (he was late showing up at a concert and his ex had a go at him, this led to their break up) however Mila Kunis breaks up with her Boyfriend because she doesn't think the relationship is working well so they break up. They are represented as the innocent characters at the moment as if one of the characters has a history of cheating it is kind of predictable to what happens later in the film. because we see them as being innocent they are clean meaning anything could happen in the film and we wouldn't expect it.
Who is representing them in this way - The Director is representing them in this way to help build a story like i said before, we don't know anything about the characters so with them being innocent at the start things could change in the film later on.
Why are they being represented in this way - The Characters are being represented in this way to help create a story without any hidden secrets about the characters. Like I said before this was done because we (The Audience) have no idea what the character is like, so we learn while the characters are learning.
Is this representation fair + accurate - This representation is Fair because its a natural representation of the characters. we don't know anything about them making them 'Innocent'.

Insidious
Who is being represented - In the scene we see a child sleeping on a bed then round the corner we see the Old Woman holding a Red Candle then the titles 'INSIDIOUS' Appear
In What way are they being represented - In The Scene the Child sleeping is being represented as the innocence. due to the fact hes sleeping and completely oblivious to the Old Woman in his room. Children are represented as the innocent ones as they are the youngest and isolated characters within a horror film. this made it easy for him to get possessed.
Who is representing them in this way - The Public see him as being innocent as he's only a child but later on in the film we see that the childs dad was once possessed by the Old Woman when he was a child. meaning that it was destined for him to be possessed.
Why are they being represented in this way - The Child is being represented in this way to create an uncomfortable feeling for parents and parental guardians because it would scare them to think it was their child.
Is this representation fair + accurate - it is accurate as it creates an uncomfortable feeling towards parents/guardians like i said before i wouldn't say its fair as even the father didn't know he was once possessed otherwise he would be waiting for the day to come.

Feedback - Miss Spencer

An excellent set of analysis, with lots of detail and good use of technical language. These are at a sound level 3, in order to improve add some screen grabs to illustrate your point, ensure you cover iconography and editing, and discuss the effect on the audience throughout.

Well done
Miss Spencer

Concept Idea

Title - ÖHSINJA

Locations - Home of Charlie

Characters - Character 1 - Charlie

                   - Black Figure - ÖHSINJA

Props - Candle

          - Match Box

          - Matches

          - Knife

ÖHSINJA Costume Idea

                     - Black Cloak - Torn and burnt at the bottom

                     - Red Eyes

                     - Grey Hands - Black, Long Finger Nails

Lighting - fairly light but still dark

Music - No music will be used in the scene

Mini-Plot - At the Start of the film a Young Adult named Charlie is sitting down at a table with a Demonic Book in front of him, the Character walks over to a kitchen draw and grabs a knife, he sits back down and lights the candles placed in front of him and stabs the book once done (This scene is set towards the end of the film in which it says at the end of the opening scene '24 hours before'). The Film is about a Young Adult called Charlie who finds a book outside his house one day and decides to read it, as he's reading the book he becomes lightheaded and wakes up not even knowing hes been possessed by the Demon named ÖHSINJA. 

Character Micro Description

Main Character - Charlie

Aged between Seventeen/Eighteen, around average height, Charlie is a Student wanting to go to university. He’s a very Ambitious character who has his eye set on what he wants. he’s fairly brave however when it comes to clowns he becomes scared - Coulrophobia (Fear of Clowns). He hates Horror Films but loves Adventures. If he sees a challenge he will do all he can to try and reach for it.

Black Figure - ÖHSINJA

Average Height, Covered in Black (Black Cloak, Hood, Clothes). The Black Figure is the Possessed Demon from the Book that Charlie opened later on in the film. The Black Figure has a secret name which only charlie knows at the end of the film in order to survive (the end is the scene we see at the start of the film but continued) His secret name is ‘شيطان’ - ‘ÖHSINJA’. شيطان is arabic for Demon. (Charlie is the only person who can see ÖHSINJA due to the fact the Demons spirit is inside him)

Conventions of a Horror Film

- Good Versus Evil

- Depression

- Religion

- Childhood Issues

- Revenge

- Supernatural

- Beyond Death

- Science Goes Bad

- Zombie Apocalypse

- Nightmares

- Madness

- Insanity

- Lust

- Self-Consciousness

- Envy

- Suicide

Things To Do

-   Poster

-   Editing

-   RECCE

Horror Opening Scenes

Horrors
Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunter - 2013 

Opens with Two Children 'Hansel and Gretel' walking through a forest and come across a house made out of candy and sweets. The Children start eating the House until the house door opens leading the Children inside. As the Children enter the house the candles light up instantly - like magic 'relating to the Witch'. The Witch then emerges from the darkness like a solute - relating to a haunting spirit (Evil).

The Witch captures the children and places Hansel in a cage and Gretel working for her, Gretel is able to break out of her chains and stab the Witch with a nail and push her into the oven where she burns to death. Costume is important in this film as the film is set in the 19th century meaning that they need to be wearing old fashioned clothing. The Witch however looks a lot darker than how she is originally written in the fairytale itself, she is wearing a black, distorted dress like clothing with what looks like a goblin looking makeup effects to make her look scary and evil. Because this is a horror film it has to be dark so because they are walking through the forest in the dark, makes it very suspenseful to what might happen to them. The Lighting however in the house is a little bit lighter but a it still has a very scary atmosphere. The Editing in the scene is mainly used when

Gretel fights back and the Witch tries to kill her with her spells but it has no effect on her, the effect looks like a heat wave but with some green particles flowing towards Gretel. The effect isn't over the top as it has to be in some sense believable somehow as it is a mythical story so they have to try and aim for the expectation that myths are real. The Camera work such as Medium Shots and Close-Ups were used to help bring out the emotion/expression of the character - relating to Love, as it helps to make the character look more scared/worried. In the opening scene there is hardly any music as its a Horror film, them music generally tends to calm the audience down but because there isn't any music it makes the audience more scared and makes the scene more suspenseful. Sound Effects how ever were used in the opening scene E.g when the Witch emerges from the darkness and when the Witch uses her evil powers to attempt to kill Gretel etc.

World War Z - 2013 

Opens with a Montage of clips (Like The Purge) but in this film it opens with happy looking footage of the sky, a beach, a city 'everyday things we can potentially see' but with suspicious/creepy music played in the background 'this is

the opposite in The Purge the Music is happy and the footage is violent and scary. Their is also an over layering of voice overs from News Broadcasts talking about this illness and about world issues involving health (the montage is the build up towards the present day 'the start of the release of the infection to the point where people are dying). The Soundtrack is building up from start 'Quiet' to end 'Loud and Vibrant' The music sounds like something you would hear in a TV show like Holby City or Casualty due to the fact its about human health and death. Costume wise there isn't

anything really significant about the opening in particular its just a montage of News Broadcasts and establishing shots. The Lighting at the start 'The Sunset' could symbolise the fact that bad things will happen because the light of the sun is often associated with Hope and Religion, the fact that the sun is setting could mean that the hope is slowly drifting away - not even the help of religion and god can help them. The editing in the Opening Credits is really good as it is basic but it stands out because of some mirror transitions and some shapes reflecting the image in the background

or blurring it out a bit, this helps it be less basic and more practical. Also the camera work is set out to be news because of the fact its News, the world has a threat and its trying to be resolved - people need to know about the Virus in order to try and keep themselves safe.

Thriller Opening Scene

Thrillers

The Dark Knight - 2008 Opens with the Company Credits but with a twist. Normally 'Warner Bros' would stick to their original title screening with the company theme tune and normal CGI intro with bright colours but this opens without the Company Theme and without the bright colours.

Instead it opens with a Fade in - from black 'Transition' with a purple filter but no music is playing in the background not even the symphony soundtrack - this helps to build up the suspense in the scene at the start this continues even through the DC Comics title screen until an establishing shot of a city can be seen as the camera zooms into a building 'there is a very quiet ticking sound - like a clock 'relating to the thought of running out of time - time is of the essence' as the camera zooms into the building the ticking sound 'Diagetic sound' progressively gets louder until the framing changes to two guys in one of the rooms of the building, smashing the glass 'Glass Sound Effect is loud - Diagetic Sound'. The two guys then set up a grappling gun and fires it towards a roof top of another building 'The Bank' the ticking sound can still be heard in the background even when the frame changes to The Joker standing on the side of a street walk holding his mask in his hand - the mask is facing towards the camera, this makes us think about who the man is but we can already tell that he is the joker due to his purple suit in which he is wearing. The Joker then gets in the car in with two other guys already in the front seats, the soundtrack then builds up adding a synth layer on top of it. As the two guys who are zip lining towards another roof top a deep bass drum can be heard which helps make the scene suspenseful because they could fall - its very dangerous plus it helps to tell us that they are dangerous. The Joker arrives at the bank and the two other guys fire bullets into the air - the music progresses and becomes more vibrant and suspenseful. As the other guys reach the safe the music calms down a little bit focusing more on the ticking as the hostages in the bank are all holding grenades - Relating to the ticking sound. One of the Bank Workers doesn't get caught and has a shotgun, he then takes a stand and tries to shoot The Joker in with makes the music a lot harder and brighter - like a hero is trying to help. The music corresponds to

the hostages and bank workers really as the ticking signifies the grenades and the bright, vibrant sound responds to the hero. The music starts to get stronger as the drilling machine on the safe breaks and the worker is walking towards The Joker firing his shotgun, this is like the bank is fighting back and the villains are slightly falling. The Joker then shoots the Bank Worker making the music quieten down a bit. The Music stays the same up until the Bus Crashes into the bank - Diagetic Sound. The Costumes in the scene are very relatable to the comics as the fact that all the villains in the scene are all wearing clown masks makes there identity secret but its ironic because they all work for The Joker yet The Joker is working with them, this is his plan because at the end he is the last one standing with all the money and as he reveals himself (Takes off the mask) this makes him the leader of many villains. The Make-up in the scene is not cheesy what so ever, the make-up for The Joker makes it look like he's been wearing it for a very long time - due to the distortion of the paint and the sweat marks on his face making his red  mouth pain sync with his white paint. The Lighting in the scene is like an everyday city which is what makes the scene realistic. Even tho the joker is a clown villain, the story is very believable. The Lighting makes the City look Perfect meaning that this could happen to anytime, anywhere. The Editing in the opening scene is very good and is quite strong, because when The Joker is in the car with the other two criminals with clown masks on they are talking about The Joker - they unfocused The Joker in the background, this made him blurry and not very visible but you can still make out that he is there in the back of the car.

The Purge - 2013

Opens with a deep orchestral soundtrack (making the scene suspenseful) with text fading in and out. The text says 'America, 2020, Unemployment is at 1%, Crime is at an all-time low, Violence barely exists, with one exception...' it then fades out and a quote appears on the screen saying 'Blessed be the New Founding Fathers for letting us Purge and cleanse our souls, Blessed be America, a nation reborn' it also then fades out but the deep

orchestral track fades out and happy, early morning music is then played over a montage of what happens during the Purge, but the music starts to get darker (more emotional) the happy music played over a montage of death could symbolise the fact that America in 2020 is proud of this day which occurs ever year and that it helps to bring piece to the nation yet its the worst thing to do. They are a nation who wants nothing more than piece, the purge is a way to let criminals and evil people get the anger off there chests but the irony about it all is that some people do it for fun which could tell us that its really just an act of childishness (America can afford it basically) the happy music can also symbolise the innocence about it all as even innocent people who try and cower away from the purge still get killed even though they are hiding, the music could be a tribute for the dead. When M-E-S comes into play the costumes used are very dark yet normal, they are basically men wearing jackets, tracksuits and costumes 'this includes masks and weapons'. they are meant to be dark and in

some sense scary due to the fact this film is about death and horror, they are basic costumes because of the fact that the murderers are potentially normal everyday citizens of America - anyone can be a killer even if they look innocent. The lighting in the scene isn't really normal due to the fact its filmed at night time however we can talk about editing as well because the camera lens filters are like thermal
The Editing in the film is very good especially with the transitions at the start of the film with the CCTV Camera montage of footage shot during previous Purges since its started. Its like a time line of events building up to what could happen this year in the Purge. The Camera work is set out like a CCTV Camera like I said before as it kind of tells us that even shots wouldn't be taken on foot as the Purge is too dangerous, the Camera Crew are trying to keep it fairly realistic and use CCTV as there camera feed.

Feedback - Miss Spencer

I gave you feedback a while ago Ben, but don't really feel you have acted upon it. Could you please ensure that you tackle the changes I have suggested and then reply to this feedback letting me know what you have done.
Thanks

Feedback - Miss Spencer

Film Opening feedback:
There is loads of detail and a clear understanding of the influences/conventions of your genre. Your ideas are in keeping with the genre. However there is far too much detail for an opening of a film, look back at the film openings you have studies, and watch some more. How many scenes does there tend to be? how much of the narrative is revealed? how much of the character is built up? How much of the stting is established?
Do you think your ideas fit in with this? THey seem to be whole film ideas rather than just the opening.

Have a look again, you do need whole film ideas, but you also need to be clear about where the opening you are making will end.


Analysis of film openings feedback:
You have made an excellent start Ben - using lots of media language and often discussing the meaning of the elements you have picked out. You have also thought about conventions of the genre and linked them to the elements you have picked out.
I would like ot see a little more detail however (make sure you cover Sound/mise en scene/ editing and camera movement/framing etc)
Your work is currently on a level 3 but in order to improve you should:

Use your Foundation Portfolio Booklet to ensure that all posts have the correct title, and make sure they are in a similar order.

You are marked on grammar and punctuation etc, check through your work for this, including capital letters for "I" proper nouns etc.

Break up your work with JPEG images throughout you analysis (stills from the film) and a video of the opening sequence in order to illustrate your analysis (make then relevent to what you are talking about throughout)

Ensure your work it titled appropriately - put the genres together in separate posts (one post for each genre - two films for each genre!)

Think about the questions below, ensure you are addressing all of them.

  Study the opening sequences of any film from the Thriller, Horror, and Romantic comedy genre. E.g. Seven, The Dark Knight Rises, Halloween, Notting Hill, Love Actually etc. Analyse how the sequence has been constructed through its use of: Camera angles, shots, movement, Editing, Sound, Special effects and Mise-en-scene etc.

· In terms of editing how have the separate images been put together - Think in terms of frequency of cuts, fades in/out, jump cuts, dissolves etc.

• What visual images appear on screen throughout the sequence? And what do they mean?
• · Describe what narrative (story) is being displayed in the sequence from start to finish.
• · Describe what kind of music; diegetic/non-diegetic/incidental/ambient etc. is being played over the sequence.
• · How and what titles are being displayed during the sequence and in what order.
• · What kind of characterisation is evident? - Age, gender, relationships etc.