Monday, 22 November 2010

Monday 22nd November

When editing our film, we have to look at the opening titles, this is what will make our opening look like an opening instead of a trailer. I have looked at the different openings for three different films from the website www.artofthetitle.com and bullet pointed the information in the opening in order of appearance.

Panic Room

A printscreen of the opening of 'Panic Room'
  • Production Company
  • Distribution Company
  • Actors/Actresses
  • Title of Film
  • Casting by                               
  • Costume Designer
  • Music by      
  • Film Editors                                                      
  • Production Designer
  • Director of Photography
  • Producers
  • Written by
  • Director
Se7en
A printscreen of the opening of  'Se7en'
  • Production Company
  • Actors/Actresses
  • Film Title
  • Actors/Actresses
  • Music by
  • Costume Designer
  • Editor
  • Production Designer                                                      
  • Director of Photography                                          
  • Co-Producers
  • Co-Executive Producers
  • Executive Producers
  • Written by
  • Producers
  • Director
Zombieland
A printscreen of the opening of 'Zombieland'.
  • Production Company
  • Distribution Company
  • Actors/Actresses
  • Film Title
  • Casting by
  • Costume Designer
  • Editors
  • Production Designer
  • Director of Photography                                       
  • Executive Producers
  • Producer
  • Written by
  • Director
From watching these openings, I have learnt that the names of the producers and directors are always shown in the opening credits because they want to be known for the films that they work with. The title of the film can appear at any time in the opening. Also, the most famous or main actors and actresses come up before the less important actors and actresses, their name also tends to appear on its own, and as the less important actors and actresses come in, they are shown in groups. The most important people involved in the film are in the opening credits instead of the end credits because people who watch the films, then start to leave the cinema or turn off the film instead of sitting and going through all of the credits because they can go on for while. They would then not see the most important peoples names.

Classification


I have also looked at film classification. To see how the certificates for films are determined, I have looked at the British Board of Film Classification website. Taken from the BBFC website, these are the six types of classifications, these include:
 
'U'
It is impossible to predict what might upset any particular child. But a ‘U’ film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. ‘U’ films should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror.
If a work is particularly suitable for a pre-school child to view alone, this will be indicated in the Consumer Advice.
'PG'
- Unaccompanied children of any age may watch. A ‘PG’ film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. However, parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger or more sensitive children.
'12A/12'
Exactly the same criteria are used to classify works at ‘12A’ and ‘12’. These categories are awarded where the material is suitable, in general, only for those aged 12 and over. Works classified at these categories may upset children under 12 or contain material which many parents will find unsuitable for them.

The ‘12A’ category exists only for cinema films. No one younger than 12 may see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult, and films classified ‘12A’ are not recommended for a child below 12. An adult may take a younger child if, in their judgement, the film is suitable for that particular child. In such circumstances, responsibility for allowing a child under 12 to view lies with the accompanying adult.
The ‘12’ category exists only for video works. No one younger than 12 may rent or buy a ‘12’ rated video work.
'15'
No one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema. No one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated video work.


'18'
No-one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ film in a cinema.
No-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video.
In line with the consistent findings of the BBFC’s public consultations and The Human Rights Act 1998, at ‘18’ the BBFC’s guideline concerns will not normally override the principle that adults should be free to choose their own entertainment. Exceptions are most likely in the following areas:
  • where the material is in breach of the criminal law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence
  • where material or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – for example, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals. This may include portrayals of sexual or sexualised violence which might, for example, eroticise or endorse sexual assault
  • where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in ‘R18’ works, and in ‘sex works’ (see below) would normally be confined to that category.
In the case of video works (including video games), which may be more accessible to younger viewers, intervention may be more frequent than for cinema films.
'R18'
The ‘R18’ category is a special and legally restricted classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults. Films may only be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas, and video works may be supplied to adults only in licensed sex shops. ‘R18’ video works may not be supplied by mail order. The following content is not acceptable:

  • any material which is in breach of the criminal law, including material judged to be obscene under the current interpretation of the Obscene Publications Act 1959
  • material (including dialogue) likely to encourage an interest in sexually abusive activity (for example, paedophilia, incest or rape) which may include adults role-playing as non-adults
  • the portrayal of any sexual activity which involves lack of consent (whether real or simulated). Any form of physical restraint which prevents participants from indicating a withdrawal of consent
  • the infliction of pain or acts which may cause lasting physical harm, whether real or (in a sexual context) simulated. Some allowance may be made for moderate, non-abusive, consensual activity
  • penetration by any object associated with violence or likely to cause physical harm
  • any sexual threats, humiliation or abuse which does not form part of a clearly consenting role-playing game. Strong physical or verbal abuse, even if consensual, is unlikely to be acceptable.



Friday, 19 November 2010

Wednesday 17th November

Today, me and my group went to take photographs of the different  possible locations that we are going to film the first two minutes our teen horror movie.

Location 1: Kettering Pleasure Park




 Location 2: Kettering Town





Monday, 15 November 2010

Monday, 8 November 2010

Monday 8th November

Today me and my group started the pre-production. The storyboarding and planning of the opening 2 minutes of our teen horror film. We thought of two possible openings and have decided which one to work with.
Also, we thought of possibilities for casting and the location of where we are going to film.

Opening 1
Ellie and Ben, boyfriend and girlfriend, walk through a park holding hands, they go to the Bandstand where Ellie breaks up with Ben. She walks off  while leaving Ben all alone. Ben is confused and raged about the sudden, unexpected break up. He then realises why when he sees his friend Matt, waiting at the end of the road for her. This triggers his anger. Later on, Ellie, her friends and Matt all get ready for the fun party ahead while Ben is alone in the dark stabbing photos of Ellie and plotting revenge. 


Location: Kettering Pleasure Park, around mid morning - late afternoon.


Pros:
- Nice surroundings 
- Autumn Atmosphere 


Cons:
- A lot of people around
- Gets dark early



Opening 2
Ellie and her friends are going into town where they see Ben and Matt. Ellie sees Ben and Matt and goes to speak to them.  Ellie goes up to Ben and Matt goes over to her friends, seeing that Ellie had something to tell Ben. Ellie breaks up with Ben and he is finding it hard to cope and believe the sudden break up. Ellie, Matt and her friends all leave Ben standing there alone, just forgetting about him, she walks off. Ben's anger builds up, seeing her not caring a slight bit and seeing her with Matt, makes him even more raged and jealous. Later on, Ellie, Matt and friends all get ready for the party, leaving their front door while Ben all alone in his room, plans revenge and is stabbing photos in the dark. 


Location: Town, filmed late afternoon. 


Pros:
- Easy to use different camera shots
- good surroundings


Cons:
- Always people there 


We had decided to use opening 2 because it seems like it would be more interesting, but having lots of people around will make it slightly more difficult. We will use a range of different camera shots so that our opening will be interesting. We have thought about possibilities for the casting crew.

Monday 1st November

Today, Myself, Hayley & Leanne pitched our idea for a teen horror film to our teacher and the class. Our teacher gave us the go ahead to start with the pre production stage of making our teen horror.
Our pitch was filmed and will be added at a later date.

Wednesday, 20 October 2010

Wednesday 20th October

Today Leanne, Hayley and I thought of our pitch in more detail and thought of the opening two minutes of out teen horror movie in detail.

Monday, 18 October 2010

Monday 18th October

Today, we looked at what happens in the 3 process', pre production, production and post-production from pitch to screen. We also thought of the synopsis for teen our horror movie to pitch to Mr Henton.

Wednesday, 13 October 2010

Wednesday 13th October

Today we went to the Mac Suite and edited more of our preliminary task and added transitions.

Monday, 11 October 2010

Monday 11th October

In todays lesson, my group, Coppola, filmed our Premiminary task. This consists of myself walking through two doors and a corridor to meet Leanne and then exchanging dialogue about our weekend. We then went into the Mac suite and downloaded our footage onto a Mac and then started to edit the footage using Final Cut.

Wednesday, 6 October 2010

Wednesday 6th October

In the lesson today we learnt that the opening scene of the movie sets up for the rest of the movie. We watched the opening scene of Wrong Turn and looked at the audio and the visual aspects of creating tone in a horror movie.

In the opening scene of Wrong Turn firstly, you see a birds eye view of trees filmed by a helicopter, then you see two young people, one boy, and one girl rock-climbing, which is already a dangerous sport in itself. The music playing is orchestral and starts of slow and then the tempo gets faster to build up fear and tension for the audience. Stereotypically, the boy gets to the top first. There then comes a false scare which is the girl falling but she is then caught by her safety rope. This makes the audience think that the girl is in danger but then recovers. Whilst the girl falls, she screams, and the boy says a vital piece of information, 'who are you screaming for? we're fifty miles away from anyone' which tells the audience that they are isolated and alone.

The boy then turns around and a faint 'ugh' is heard which indicates that he has been stabbed or axed. He then falls down directly where the girl is climbing so that blood drips straight onto her face, this shows the audience that he has been hurt and leaves to the audiences imagination what has happened. The boy is then thrown over the edge of the rock and the girl's safety rope is pulled up to the top sharply and vigorously, while this then happens the tempo of the music gets faster and louder. The girl then then takes out a knife and cuts her safety rope and clings onto the wall, she sees the boys safety rope and uses it as a way of safety and tries to get to it but slips and falls. Once on the ground, a close up is then shown of the dead boys face covered in blood.

As the girl looks up, there is shaking of trees and screaming by whatever caused the killed the boy. The girl gets up and runs away through a small wood. The camera is hand held to show a point of view shot of what the girl is seeing whilst she is running through the woods. Then a close up of her feet and barbed wire, to show why she has fallen over, there is then another pint of view shot to show the car, this represents safety for her, she is so close but then a mid shot is shown of her being dragged away backwards. The audience cannot see what is dragging her because what the audience can imagine is far more scary than what can be shown on screen.

A big part of dialogue in this part of the film is screaming to show fear of the girl. Whilst the girl is running through the woods, the music is loud and fast to create anticipation of what is going to happen next.

Monday, 4 October 2010

Monday 4th October

In todays lesson we looked at the narrative, character, setting and iconography conventions. We watched the opening first five minutes of Jeepers Creepers, Jeepers Creepers 2 and Dead Wood.

Wednesday, 29 September 2010

Wednesday 29th Spetember

Introduction to Horror Film Genre.

In today's lesson we learnt about the concept of film genre and the conventions that we would expect to find in a horror film.

Monday, 27 September 2010

Monday 27th September

In the lesson today, we used the cameras and tripods for the first time. Hayley, Leanne and I filmed our preliminary task which consists of me walking into a building, down a corridor, into a room and talking to Leanne about the weekend.

Wednesday, 22 September 2010

Wednesday 22nd September

In the lesson today, we were in the Mac Suite. We were given footage of a girl texting whilst waiting and a boy walking into a room and them then exchanging dialogue. Then, we were shown how to edit it and add sound using Final Cut.

Monday, 20 September 2010

Monday 20th September

Today me and my group finished off storyboarding our preliminary task. We were also given a presentation on how to use the cameras and tripods which are available to us. Then all the groups were given names of famous directors. Or group is called 'Coppola' after Francis Ford Coppola.

Wednesday 15th September

In the lesson on Wednesday 15th September, I learnt the different types of camera shots, these include Extreme Long Shot (XLS), Long Shot (LS), Mid Shot (MS) and Close Up (CU). Camera angles - High angle, Low angle, Birds eye, Worm's eye, Eye level and Low level. I learnt the camera movements, which are Track, Pan, Zoom and Ark and then given an introduction to using the cameras. Lastly, with my group, we started storyboarding our preliminary task.

My First Post

I was quite excited to start my Media Studies AS level course at Kettering Buccleuch Academy.
In my first lesson I shown how to set up my blog, this also involved how to personalize it and how to change the display to make it more personal to me. I was shown how to use my school email account so that if I need any help, I can email a teacher. I was also shown how to make an account with Slideshare, which is a website which allows me to publish Powerpoint presentations on to my blog posts. Finally, I got into a group with two friends, Hayley Bell and Leanne Mok, and we will soon be making a short performance.