Conventions on Film Openings

Here is a short slideshow on what I found about Conventions of Film Openings

Conventions of film openings from Kathryn Thornton

Help from a camera man

On Wednesday in our lesson, Mrs Williams' friend who is a camera man came in to critique our Preliminary tasks and instruct us on how to make the perfect film opening. He also showed us how he would film our Preliminary tasks and corrected us on our mistakes. 

What I learnt from him about how to make the perfect film opening:

• To maintain headroom and to either have a mid shot, close up or a shot of the whole person, not in between, especially as they were walking away from the camera.
• To film at each persons eye line.
• To use up as much space as possible to avoid empty spaces which are not needed.
• To call for action after rolling the camera in order to capture all of the action - you can always cut the director saying "action" during the editing stage.
• Never cross the 180 degree line.
• Finish each shot completely before cutting. 
• Frame the shot when a person sits down. 
• Have the camera at the correct height. 

Foley Sounds

Foley sounds are sound effects which are added to a film or any other media source in order to enhance the quality of the audio. Foley sounds are created in the editing stage.  These sounds can be:

• Swishing of clothing or wind.
• Footsteps.
• Squeaky doors.
• Shattering glass.
• Knocking.

Foley sounds are used in the film Hunger, especially when the doctors puts the duvet over the main character. Foley sounds are also used through footsteps in the hallway in some scenes of the film. However, we would expect to hear these sounds as they sound realistic and they contrast whats happening to the main character. This contrast is the noise of the hallway compared to the silence that surrounds the main character when he is on his deathbed. 

I can used Foley sounds in my horror movie to enhance how realistic it is. For example; I can use footsteps to increase the tension of some scenes in order to make the audience feel tense and scared. Knocking can also be used to create this tense and scary atmosphere I intend to accomplish when making my film opening. 

Here is a trailer of the Film Hunger:

Warner Bros. Studio Tour

On Thursday we went to the Warner Bros. Studios where the film Franchise Harry Potter was made. We toured around the studios and saw all the different props, costumes, make up and sets that were used in the making of the eight films. It was interesting to see how many props and costumes were made for the characters or sets in the film and how many props that were expensive to make but hardly ever appeared in the actual films.

We also had a lesson on film marketing where I learnt how they story boarded each scene in each movie very carefully and with lots of detail. I also learnt that the director used cardboard models of various sets to plan out what he wanted it to look like and also where he wanted to stage the actors and actress and where he wanted them to move to throughout the scene. This was a good way to plan in advance so both the directors, producers, actors and cameramen knew where to move to and which spots they should be standing or sitting in. This plan would also be helpful to the cameramen so they know where to position their cameras to get the best shot.

I can apply what I learnt to my own Film Opening as I can plan out exactly what I want my actors to be doing the day I film my Film Opening. This will help me film the scenes more accurately and easily. Lastly, I will storyboard in great detail what scenes are going to be where and how I want each scene to be acted.

Here are a few pictures I took on my tour around the Warner Bros. Studios: 

Digetic and Non-Digetic Sounds

In our previous Media Lesson, we have been learning about Digetic and Non-Digetic sounds are.

• Digetic Sound: Sounds which exist within the film. A character in a film would be able to hear Digetic sounds. Digetic sounds could be a door slamming or footsteps along a hallway etc.
• Non-Digetic Sound: Sounds which no character inside the film can hear. These sounds could be music playing in the background or a voice over portraying a characters thought for example.

An example of Non-Digetic sounds can be heard in the Film hunger. When Bobby Sands dies sad music can be heard playing in the background. There are also examples of Digetic sounds in this film when the prison doors slam and there are footsteps in the hallway. Lastly, when Bobby Sands dies the audience can hear the faint sound of birds flying away from the tree, this is another example of a Non-Digetic sound.

I can use both Non-Digetic and Digetic sounds in my Film opening. As my Film Opening is a horror I can use Digetic sounds such as footsteps and loud crashes and bangs to amplify the fear of the the audience and to induce jump scares more efficiently. I could also use Non-Digetic sounds such a scary background music and a voice over to show the audience the characters fear. 

Mise En Scène

In the last couple of lessons we have been learning about Mise En Scène. When analysing a sequence of Mise En Scène, you have to look at how the different elements and techniques work together in order to:

• Tell a Story
• Evoke and atmosphere
• Give the audience information
• Provoke the audience to respond
• Highlight key themes.

In Chicken Run, the sky is red when Mrs Tweedy - the antagonist of the film - enters the Chicken Cage. The sky is red to signify danger. When Edwina is carried off to be killed the sky goes dark and the mood changes the scared. After Edwina has been killed, the Sky behind Ginger reflects her sadness by turning a dark blue. I can use different effects to make the sky different colours in my own film opening. As my film opening is a Horror, I can use darker and more sinister colours such as black or brown.

Also, Mise en Scène is used in the film, The Duchess. In this film, different settings are used to portray her departure from civilisation to pure isolation. The settings that are used are:

• The streets of London.
• The courtyard of Devonshire House.
• The hallway of Devonshire House.
• The bedroom where The Duchess awaits the arrival of her new husband.

The streets of London are presented with brown colours, to give it the look of uncleanliness compared to Duchess' carriage which is pristine. Shen then travels through and archway to the courtyard which is clean and more richer and well kept than the streets. Going through the first archway signifies one more step into isolation. She then goes through another archway into the hallway. The hallway is big and grand, this signifies herself in total isolation. The bedroom where she awaits her new husband is small and dark which portrays her as trapped and isolated. I could use different settings in my Horror film opening, to emphasise isolation from Civilisation like in The Duchess. 

Cinematography

In Chicken Run Mrs Tweedy is film from a low angle shot to portray her power over the chickens. This low angle shot portrays her a tall and makes her the evil character due to her facial expression. The chickens are relatively small compare to Mrs Tweedy. Close ups are also shown of Mrs Tweedy's face. This portrays the evil and malice on her face as she prepares to choose which chicken will meet their end (getting their head chopped off) There are also close ups of the chickens faces to portray their fear of her, as they see her as a tall and frightening. After Edwina has been killed, there are several close ups of Gingers (the main character) face. The close ups of her face portray her sadness and teary eyes as she has lost her friend.

In Wallace and Gromit, there is close ups on Gromits face in the scene where they brainwash the rabbits. There is a mixture of emotions like fear and disbelief. Also, the camera is still whilst focusing of Gromit who is a calm and sensible character and when the camera focuses on Wallace who is in the midst of the action, the camera is slight shaky and at different angles to represent chaos. Framed shots are used in Wallace and Gromit. These shots are used when Wallace and Gromit surround the cage containing Hutch (the rabbit that has been brainwashed). Wallace is half inside the cage with hutch and Gromit if on the outside of the cage looking sceptical. Once Wallace and Gromit leave , hutch shakes. This creates tension for the audience as to what is going to happen next.

In my own Horror Film opening I will use a range of close up shots of the protagonist characters to portray fear and a range of emotions in their faces. I will also use close up shots of the antagonists face to portray their evil and malice on their faces. I will also use low angle shots of the antagonist to represent how scary and tall they are compared to the protagonists. Lastly, I will also use framed shots in my Film Opening to give a feel of isolation to the protagonists of the Film Opening.