Although we were just copying an opening sequence, it was hard to remake it because we had to get all the details down to perfection. We had some difficulty fully remaking it as we didn't have some of the props as facilities we needed to make it identical. I thought we used what we had very well and we used the music exactly like they did in the real thing. There were definitely things that we could improve on for example in one of the clips Adam is seen in the background when he shouldn't be there. Also, when we are speaking in the car, it is hard to hear our voices because of the music in the background and the wind is very loud. If we could get rid of little mistakes like that it would improve the outcome of the video. Overall I think we did pretty well and we were happy with what we did.
I am surprised how many film production companies make coming of age films as they are directed at quite a small audience. The cost of film production is a large amount but i am not really surprised because I knew that already, plus much more money is made than the cost of production. There are a lot of production companies however I am now surprised because there is a lot of money to be made.
We could use the style of Breaking the fourth in our opening sequence as this can be used to great effect because it engages the audience, which is key. It turns the film into a sort of diary and gives the audience a lot of information about the characters feeling and emotions. We could use Hughes' style of film about teenagers finding their maturity as these films are often successful.
Learning comment
We found this task difficult to complete as we had to combine all the skills we have learnt such as match on action and shot reverse who. Although we made a few errors we executed the short film well and we used a range of shots. The match on action was seamless however the shot reverse shot ended up being too quick as we didn't leave enough room between cuts making it look unnatural.
Using the match on action technique was difficult because you we had to make it look like it was one whole continuous shot. There were many things that needed to be considered such as making sure you were walking on the same line throughout so that when it changed to the next clip you weren't far away from where you were previously. Editing was also challenging because timing was crucial and it is important to make it look seamless. For example when walking through doors we had to edit it so we changed camera angle at the exact right moment and when walking around corners we needed to make it look like he was continuously walking. . If we did it too early or late it wouldn't be effective. There were things we could improve on for example when we showed the shoe laces being tied up, the person walking as several metres further up the path on the next shot. If the person had started walking before, it would have looked better. Also some of the shot were a bit too long which looks a bit tedious for the audience. In one of the shots a woman could be seen walking her dog however in the next shot she is not there. This is something to improve on.
This piece of work was very challenging because of the amount of accuracy needed when filming and editing. When filming, it is essential that you use the right techniques and don't break the 180 degree rule which is difficult. This rule is very important so that you don't confuse the audience and if you make one small mistake it can make a huge impact on the final product. Filming the shot reverse shot was also difficult because you had to film it all twice but from different angles and also had to judge how far away to stand. You need to remember to stand in the same spots, make sure the lighting is the same and wear the same clothes so that it looks like the two people are talking to each other in a full conversation instead of it being in two separate filming's. This makes it very challenging to film.
The editing is also hard to do. Because the final video is made up of two separate videos, when editing you have to make sure you crop out very other sentence so words aren't repeated and which is difficult because there is often overlapping. The editing process is also hard because there are a lot of clips and you need to edit them to get the part you want.
If we were to do it again we would show down when taking so that there isn't overlapping and it is easier to edit. We would also film closer to the person for the shot/reverse shot to get a better effect.
This is the story board that we used to plan the video. It says what each person says and where they stand etc.
Learning comment
I have learnt that the best films have the best opening sequences. These opening sequences are good because they use a range of camera shots, use lighting and sound to express feeling and set the scene, and draw audiences in by being either action packed or relatable to the audience. Opening sequences are important in films to catch the attention of the audience and set the scene of the film.
The production company etc are shown on screen at the start, this is found in every opening sequence.
The dialogue is quite a messy and informal font, like it has been hand written. This makes us think that the film is going to be quite funny and laid back and that the target audience is young people.
From the opening scene we don't get much of an idea about the narrative of the film however it is obvious that it is a comedy. We are introduced to the main character. This is very important because these are our first impressions of him
The music isn't dramatic but is funky and relaxed which allows the audience to relax and enjoy the film. The music is not serious.
This is the opening sequence of 'Skyfall'.
This is a very action packed and energetic opening scene. We don't see an text on screen but we do see a lot of violence, which shows the film is aimed at adult and teenagers, not children.
The soundtrack is used to great effect. It is quite sharp and quick, loud music which makes it dramatic and grabs the audiences attention. It uses the trademark James Bond music which everyone associates with the James Bond films. The music insinuates that the film is going to be action packed and will keep the audience on the edge of their seats.
I like the quick start to the film as it really sets the tone for the rest of the film and suggests that it's going to be a quick pace. The opening sequence gives away quite a lot of the narrative compared to others, as we see which character is the secret agent and which character is the enemy as well as what they are fighting for.
This is the opening sequence of Jaws.
In this opening sequence we see Chrissie getting eaten by a shark. The music in this scene is very clever as it slowly builds up to the climax. It stars off slow and quiet but soon get faster and louder. The music creates a big dramatic effect and gets viewers on the edge of their seats. The camera angle is also used effectively, with some of the filming under the water in the point of view of the Shark.
There is no text in this opening sequence.This first two minutes of the film really sets the scene that the film is going to be very gory and scary and it looks as though the film is aimed at young people as in teenagers because of the gore.
I like this opening because its very dramatic and action packed and grabs all of your attention.
This is the opening sequence of Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
In this scene Ferris talks to his parents and manages to get the day off school. Although there isn't loads of action it sets the scene of the film. Not too much is given away about the narrative of the film and it is kept open to interpretation and to make the audience want to watch more. The dialogue shows the name of actors and production company. The font of the text is quite cartoony which shows the target audience are young and that the film isn't a serious film. The font suggests that it is going to be a quite light hearted film and funny rather than scary.
This is the opening sequence of 'Breakfast Club'.
The scene starts with a voice over of a man reading a letter he has wrote. This voiceover technique is an effective way to explain what's happening instead of text on the screen or just someone reading something out. It gives information.There is also chilled music in the background which is laid back instead of dramatic, implying the film isn't a horror and is going to be easy to watch. From the opening scene there are elements of the narrative revealed, as pupils gather at the school, and the voice over tells us why they are there although not too much is given away.It's also obvious that it's a comedy coming of age film as there are elements of humour shown.
This is the opening sequence of 'Juno'
This opening sequence is clever because it combines real life footage with cartoon drawing animations. This is a simple concept but is very effective and indicates that the production company might not have a big budget to do something more complex. The music is quite country and sets the tone of what the film is going be like, where it is set and the characters involved.
There is text coming up on the screen with the production company, producers and actors etc. The text is very cartoony which suggests it is for a young audience and is a light hearted film. Extremely little is given away about the narrative of the film as there is no dialogue and not much action happens.
Learning comments
What i have learnt about great opening scenes is that they all use different conventions to set the scene of the play. Music, dialogue and other techniques are used to show what the film is going to be like and make a great start to the film. Music can be used to add tension and dramatic effect in thrillers or make the audience relax and start to enjoy the film if it's a comedy or coming of age film. The text shows the target audience of the film and what it's going to be like and the actions of characters hints at the narrative of the film and what to expect. The amount of narrative shown in opening sequences varies a lot however it is usually not a lot because the audience doesn't know the characters that early in the film. Opening sequences can be a really important part of a film and play a big role in it being successful.
