NM: Storyboard Ideas

JS: Storyboard Ideas

These are some of my story board ideas

JS: Film Openings - research

Task

• Embed an opening from a film that you think is effective and uses techiques you would like to emulate in your own production.
• bullet point technical codes (media language techniques) that you have noticed. Any narrative, action techniques that you could represent in your production.

Link #1 - The Dark Knight Rises Opening Scene (Nolan, 2008)

Techniques:

• Characters describe the main villain before the audience actually see the villain for the first time.
• Quick cutting rate used to show fast paced scene.
• Main villain's first appearance is a close up of his face.
• Fast soundtrack to show fast paced scene.
• High angled shot to show the dying man so the audience looks down on him because he is inferior to the main villain.

Link #2 - Lord of War (Niccol, 2006)

Techniques:

• Consists of the production, transport and use of a bullet, a unique film opening.
• Titles appear on screen with the shots of the bullet.
• Soundtrack is a song about war which is also what the movie is about. The soundtrack also helps with continuity
• Dark, gloomy colours used to enhance a war look appearance.

Link #3 - Spiderman (Raimi, 2002)

Techniques:

• Credits stuck in spiders web.
• Narration at the end of the opening.
• Theme of the opening sequence matches the theme of the main character
• Lots of different camera techniques used.

Group 10- Production ideas

The following consists of our current ideas on our production:

• Plot and genre-
• The film genre that we have decided to use in our production is thriller
• Our films plot consists of a psycho, who the police are trying to catch as he is a serial killer

Characters-

• Police detectives
• 1 main and dominant police officer
• Victim
• Serial killer

Mise en scene:
Costume-

• serial killer- long coat, glasses
• detectives- Black overcoat, hats
• victim- normal clothes
• main officer-

Lighting-

• Low key lighting when focus is on serial killer
• High key for detectives

Props

• Weapons: knives, screwdriver, guns (remember cant use guns + knives so find substitute)
• Phone
• Photos
• Maps
• Torches

AH- Past film openings Feedback

'9 Mile point'

• Good use of voice-over, accompanied by various layers of sound (consisting of news recordings)
• Lighting used well- Low key lighting enables them to incorporate shadows into the production which is iconic of thriller genre
• After effects enables them to edit software in a more developed and complex manner
• Use of prosthetics in order to make people look like zombies
• Panning used in order to follow characters actions.
• Tracking shot filmed out of a car in order to film someone running was very effective

'Damnation'

• Slow motion of bullet from gun was very effective visually- this was edited within After effects (more advanced then premier)
• Lots of layers within the clip helped add complexity into their ideas
• Clip overlaying another gives two dimensions to look at
• Use of panning used effectively

'Gutted'

• Good use of prosthetics used in order to create verisimilitude
• Handicam evident, along with editing techniques to show the time and date the film was set in, once again helping to create verisimilitude

AH- Preliminary Task Feedback

Brief-

The task is to produce a short film clip on anything of our choice taking place within the school location; however the production must consist of the following elements:

1) Continuity editing: vary distances and angles, pans, steadicam, cutaways etc.

2) 180 degree rule: ensures the correct perspective is used, shot-reverse-shots, over the shoulder shots.

3) 2 lines of dialogue: consider digetic sound. Is it conventional of the genre? Enigmatic? Part of narrative?

4) Opening of a door: framing, close ups?

What did you learn about filming?

In terms of filming we learnt the various aspects needed in order to produce a complete film sequence. This meant that we had to learn how to use various filming and camera techniques, as well as how to create continuity within the editing stage. Therefore we were able to put all of the clips that we filmed exactly as we wanted together in order to complete the task set, which I personally believe we handled well.

What are your best shots?

In our opinion, we believe the shots where we used handi-cam in order to establish a point of view shot was very effective as we believe the movement of the camera and the distance of shots when we used this were filmed well, and personally it gave us good continuity in order to connect with the next clip. Furthermore, we also believe the use of low angle and high angle shots were used well in order to establish power within the clip. These are both techniques which we will have to take into consideration within the next task.

What difficulties did you encounter?

Firstly, due to the snow we had to make changed to the location of where our production took place, so therefore we filmed it inside as opposed to out, however we adjusted to that idea. We did experience some issues in terms of editing the very last part of the scene, however these were due to the fact that it was hard to film it in the way that we would have liked, and therefore we also found it quite hard to edit it to look smooth and create continuity.

What did you learn about editing?

In terms of editing, we learnt various elements using the software ‘Premier.’ We learn at to import clips, as well as cut them down, how to add in various transitions into the clip, and also how to fade music and adjust the volume.

What did you do in post-production that was successful?

In Post-production we had a group discussion in order to come to a consensus about the production and input ideas. All our ideas we made in this were evident within the clip. This shows that it is successful as we carried the task out as we had planned, however the only aspect changed was the location of the filming

Evaluate your production.  What are the strengths and weaknesses?

Our production focuses on a chase scene which incorporates various aspects of camera and filming techniques in order to create tension amongst the audience. Therefore we also used a soundtrack to accompany this and once again build on the tension which was effective.

On the other hand we did find that the end of the production had some weaknesses in terms of filming technique at the last clip.

 What tips would you therefore give yourself for the opening sequence production?

In terms of our next production I would therefore make sure we plan it well again. Also to ensure we establish good camera techniques throughout the film so that they we can edit them well enough to create continuity throughout.

Here are some examples of the shots we used

Group 10- Preliminary Task (Final edit)

Our final edit for our preliminary task

AH: Genre research

Task

• Research the conventions of horror and thriller genre.
• Research a horror opening and one thriller opening.
• List the conventions that are present within both of the film openings.

Horror conventions-

Location:

• Small communities    
• Asylums
• Tunnels
• Countryside
• Isolated places
• Dark woods/alleyways
• Haunted/abandoned houses
• hotels

Technical codes:

• POV shots to show things from others perspective E.G a monster or someone watching them secretely
• Expressive camerawork as opposed to natural
• Disturbing sounds E.G Ambient digetic sounds such as footsteps or non-digetic such as a heartbeat
• Use of edditing to either faced pace- showing panic, or slow paced in order to build up to something jumping out at you
• Handheld camera shots are evident in order to show things from an individuals account

Iconography:

• Dark colours such as black and red. Red can therefore connote things such as danger or blood
• Expressive lighting that is non-naturalistic. Often low key to create a dark effect in order to create aspects such as dark shadows
• Props to identify certain characters. For example: chainsaws, masks, religious icons

Dark colours create non-naturalistic perspective. Dark figures also create eeriness with faces covered

Themes:

• Good vs evil
• Supernatural
• Religious
• Revenge
• Nightmares
• Insanity

Thriller conventions:

Sub genres:

• Mystery
• Crime
• Psychological

Plot:

• Society shown in a dark/dangerous way
• Majority have a happy ending where the antagonist looses (either killed or arrested)
• Have plot twists and cliff hangers
• Plot builds towards a climax

Characters:

• Criminals (murderers)
• assassins
• Stalkers
• Someone on the run

Themes:

• Terorism
• Political conspiracy
• Persuit

Locations:

• Ordinary suburbs
• Cities

Technical codes:

• Variations within camera shots in terms of angles and shot sizes
• Use of incidental music
• Use of aspects such as mirrors and stairs
• Low key lighting in order to create shadows

Example-
The Ward (Carpenter, 2010)

Techniques:

• Begins with a camera panning down the ward which uses low-key lighting, accompanied by a sountrack which sounds like someone is whistling to create an eerie effect on the audience
• Use of opening credits along side images which get shattered. Use of special effects in order to do this.
• Images used within the opening credits help to connote horror, as they depict people being tortured.
• Non digetic sound of shattering used in order to show destruction.
• Transition used in order to create continuity and move into the next scene.

AH: Film openings - research

Task

• Embed an opening from a film that you think is effective and uses techiques you would like to emulate in your own production.
• bullet point technical codes (media language techniques) that you have noticed. Any narrative, action techniques that you could represent in your production.

Link #1- Zombieland (Fleischer, 2009)

Techniques:

• Use of slow motion during opening credits shows destruction within the clips.
• Opening music juxtaposes American society, as the use of their national anthem contradicts the destruction within the opening scenes handi-cam at the start helps to establish a point of view shot to create verisimilitude.
• Prosthetic used in order to make people look like zombies.
• Voice over used in order to give audience knowledge and insight into the opening scene.

Link #2-  The Avengers (Whedon, 2012)

Techniques:

• Use of a sound bridge during the change of clips is used in order to create
• Use of editing between each clip, where transitions are used in order to once again create continuity between the clips by integrating transitions between them
• Panning shows aspects of the genre such as the costumes.
• Use of weapons used help to reinforce genre of the film. Use of close ups help to emphasize them.
• Bold music helps to establish a 'heroic nature'

Link #3- Creep (Smith, 2004)

Techniques:

• Soundtrack- use of high pitched strings create scraping sound which adds to the tension of the start.
• Dietetic sound of women in background conveys panic.
• Use of prosthetic show blood, which relates back to the horror genre.
• The title 'Creep' has blood smeared on it which connotes blood and danger, once again relating to the horror genre.
• Use of transitions in order to create a distorted image, which makes the audience pay more attention.
• Close up of operating equipment.

Group 10- Preliminary task (Discussion ideas and Brief)

Brief-

The task is to produce a short film clip on anything of our choice taking place within the school location; however the production must consist of the following elements:

1) Continuity editing: vary distances and angles, pans, steadicam cutaways etc.

2) 180 degree rule: ensures the correct perspective is used, shot-reverse-shots, over the shoulder shots.

3) 2 lines of dialogue: consider diegetic sound. Is it conventional of the genre? Enigmatic? Part of narrative?

4) Opening of a door: framing, close ups?

Ideas from group discussion-

• Within our group we each contributed various ideas to what we are going to do. We came to an agreement that the genre of our production would be a drama, which will consist of a short chase sequence.
• The production will focus on a member of a gang going after a male in order to return them to their 'boss.'
• We have already settled on various camera techniques that we are going to use such as the use of: over the shoulder shots, mid shots/long shots, close ups, high angle/ low angle shots, point of view shots, two shot etc.
• We decided that we would all act on a part within the production, therefore it gives us all an opportunity to have a chance filming some of the content.
• We decided on various props to use such as: weapons, hats, masks etc.

Storyboard

This story board shows the various elements to our production, and it is used as a step by step process in order to film our preliminary task

This story board shows the various elements to our production, and it is used as a step by step process in order to film our preliminary task