Group 3 - Music Video

Group 3 - Digipak

Group 3 - Digipak
Our Digipack, top left - back, top right - front, bottom left - inside panel, bottom right - inside panel (CD)
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Tuesday 30 September 2014

Art Of The Title Evaluation DYM


1. Summarise your film idea. Provide a brief synopsis and outline what happens in your film opening
Our film, called Teddy, is about a psychotic boy at school who believes something is constantly following him. Indeed, as the boy walks around school, an evil spirit in the form of a Teddy follows, getting closer and closer.

2. What kind of information has been included in your film opening?
Establishing shots - shots 1 3, 4, 5, and 6 are all establishing shots which lets the audience know clearly that it's a school setting. 
Abstract shots - shots 2, 4, 6 and 8 are our title shots in which you see the school setting but also a bit of the Teddy bear to create suspense.
Introductory character shots - in some shots we see the main protagonist, a boy with black his clothes and a constant cold, detached facial expression, giving the impression he may be psychotic. We see the evil teddy, getting close and closer like a stalker. It finally comes to perch on Alistair's shoulder, intending harm, whether psychologically or physically is up to the audience to decide.

3. How do the titles link the main film idea?
The titles' fonts give the audience a sense of the horror genre, which is what we intended. However we did run out of time and did not choose a suitable font. Ours looks slightly like it should belong in a comedy, similar to the well-known film 'Ted'.

4. Summarise the expected audience reaction. What should the audience be thinking by the end of your opening? Is your opening clear or ambiguous?
The audience should be disturbed by the teddy but also by the boy's slightly strange aura and depressed, cold facial expressions. They should be suspenseful of what would happen next. We created a dark atmosphere by creating a clear opening which shows the protagonist, antagonist and the storyline however the ending is ambiguous as we don't know what the teddy will do next...

5. Identify three things that you included in your grid that are important in the construction of an opening sequence and explain their role in understanding the film.
Establishing shots - to set the scene so the audience know where the rest of the action will mainly take place.
Character shots - are less important depending on what kind of genre the film is however if they are introduced, the main protagonist and antagonist should be shown.
Range of frames - to create variety, making it more interesting, but mainly to make the audience view characters in a certain way or to see certain things.
Titles - to provide important info and to establish genres as well

6. How effective is your project as a film opening? Explain your answer.
I think we have a good order and narrative flow as we introduce the Teddy slowly by eventually revealing all of its body and face in the last shot. However our film opening needs a more macabre font, ours looks like it belongs in a comedy film. This takes away from the horror atmosphere.

Friday 26 September 2014

Accident Sequence Evaluation BLK


This is my group's video where we filmed an accident in six shots , attempting to follow the rules of continuity and use no editing to create a successful video.

Techniques we used to aid narrative flow (continuity):
We tried to use a variety of shots and frames to achieve continuity. Our first shot is a wide establishing shot which pans nicely across our setting, letting the audience know where everything is taking place. In shot 3 we employ a slight worm's eye view which allows the audience to focus on the cup and realise that something key will happen with it. Next the shot cuts away to Mario's face which is the logical order for the audience's focus to go and thus the narrative flows smoothly. The shot is a close up to show his facial expression as he sees and picks up the cup. Shot 5 is from a high angle and pans downwards to show Mario tripping up. We then cut away down to his eye level to show his frustration and disappointment at his accident. Overall we used a variation of frames and angles, cutaways, an establishing shot and a good sense of order and logic.

Things we could have done differently to aid narrative flow (continuity):
The narrative transition from shot 1 to 2 was bad. From establishing the main setting, we then jump cut to a completely different location to show the main character running in from the right. Although we knew shot 2's location was right beside shot 1's location, this jump breaks the continuity rules and narrative flow as it is too big for the audience to join together. I should have had Mario run into the frame. In shot 3 we break the match on action rule as Mario comes into the frame from nowhere. Again there is an illogical  gap making the narrative hard for the audience to understand. I should have had Mario coming in from the right instead of from behind the benches. Shot 4 does not transition well to shot 5 as it is not a matched cut. There is also disruptive laughter from the cameraman. From shot 5 to shot 6 we should have filmed it from a lower angle as a stronger difference is needed between the two frames. These are the changes I would make if I got the chance to film the accident again.

Tuesday 23 September 2014

Film still analysis DYM

Lucy film still


GENRES
Action, Thriller
This is clear from the Asian men is black suits which suggests they are part of a gang/triad/mafia organisation and are involved with illegal activities. There is also a woman holding a silver case which is classically found in action films. It may contain weapons, money or substances such as drugs. The curtains in the room are closed suggesting things are going on which others should not see.

CHARACTER
The blonde woman is the main character as she is centred in the shot. She is a victim and, from her facial expression and tense sitting position, seems afraid, confused and anxious. She is the representation of the classic damsel in distress.

NARRATIVE
This woman is being interrogated or victimised in some way and may be killed. Her face is desperate and she looks like she is about to cry. She is unfortunately involved in some kind of criminal activity and this is clear from the Asian men in suits standing behind her which creates a trapped atmosphere. She cannot escape. She also looks like the only victim. She looks vulnerable in party gear, which suggests that she may be a party girl who likes to have a fun but more importantly that this situation was unexpected. She clings onto a briefcase which creates suspense and hooks the audience in. Perhaps she has some sort of control. Perhaps the faceless opponent she is looking at wants the briefcase.

Practical Still Image Reflections BLK


Still image of Serena


1. In this shot, a girl is lying on the floor, dead.

2. We twisted Serena's arm into a strange position to make it look broken, connoting some kind of struggle/violence before death. Death is connoted through her closed eyes and her pose (fallen on the floor) as this position is typically associated with death in films. She is also alone in a corner on a carpet which suggests that her death is not natural. The scene isn't that of a typical death setting such as a funeral. Instead her surroundings are slightly anonymous.

3. We shot this at Serena's eye level so that the audience would be able to see her facial features to know she has died. We positioned her centrally in the frame so that the audience focuses on her and knows she is a main character. We also had her wear black clothes as it is the colour linked with death. We also chose plain surroundings so as not to distract the audience's eyes from Serena.

4. The angle at which the light was coming from lit the photo nicely, showing her face more clearly. The focus of the shot was perfect, as it focuses on Serena more than the carpet which takes up a lot of the frame.

5. If we were to shoot this photo again I would change the exposure on the camera to darken the lighting and create a more macabre and horror-like atmosphere. There is too much light which doesn't leave much room for mystery and the feeling of the unknown which is typically present in horror films. I would also ask Serena to make a more disturbed face because she seems like she is sleeping peacefully rather than having just died.

Thursday 18 September 2014

Film opening analysis DYM


Easy A whole movie (just watch the opening)

Film: Easy A
Genres: Comedy, Romance
Setting: High School in California, summertime
Time scale: roughly 2 months

10 min opening sequence narrative: The films opens by showing the high school setting in one, continuous shot with Olive - the main character – narrating. She needs to tells us her side of the story on how everything went wrong.  

Do the events link to each other or are they distinct, unconnected events?

The events do link to each other well however there are cuts from the past, which shows her school life, to the future, where Olive is recording her side of the story on camera. As she narrates, the frame switches back to how it all started in the beginning.

Which characters are introduced and what are their roles in the film? How do we find this information out?

First we are introduced to Olive's best friend, Rhiannon who Olive has always felt inferior to because Rhiannon is not a virgin. We see them walking together and talking about boys as close friends typically do. From this the audience knows that the film is a typical high school drama chick flick. Mr Griffith is Olive’s favourite teacher however it is implied that Olive makes a lot of trouble later on creating doubt as to whether she is still his favourite student. This creates suspense and leaves the audience wanting to know more as Olive does not reveal everything yet. Maryann is a preppy, blonde, popular girl who is obsessed with God and religion and dislikes Olive because she overheard Olive telling her white lie of losing her virginity in the toilet. We know they don’t get along as Maryann calls Olive and Rhiannon 'whores' to their faces.

How much story information is revealed and how is it revealed to the audience?

Olive told a white lie of losing her virginity which spreads like wildfire around the school changing her image to that of a 'slut'. This is revealed by the fast forwarding effect of the camera frame to show everyone around school passing on gossip about Olive. It is filmed in one shot to not only create a narrative flow but also to create the feeling of the gossip traveling a long distance all over school.