Research
Our first task was to get familiar with creating screen play and story-boards, to make it easier for us when we do the preliminary task and the main task.
For this task we renamed the characters, story name (Twilight Mystery)and changed some places in the story line because we felt to make it our own.
Twilight Mystery
1. EXT: THE GARDEN PATH-LATE TWILIGHT
SAM WARREN 23 is walking down the garden path, looking nervous and as though he doesn’t want to be there, he pauses and thinks.
2. INT: INSIDE THE HOUSE-LATE TWILIGHT
ROXANNE and PAULINE are standing in the hall cleaning and tidying up
VERA
Roxanne there is an expected young man due in any moment, can you entertain him till I return
ROXANNE
(Smirking)
Yes of course, would be happy to
3. EXT: THE GARDEN PATH
SAM starts to walk back up to the door, pauses and knock the knocker creating a loud echoing noise
4. INT: INSIDE THE HOUSE
ROXANNE is in the hallway and hears the someone is at the door, nods and walks towards the door and opens it
ROXANNE
Hello, my aunt will be down presently Mr. Warren, in the mean time I hope you can put up with me
5. ROXANNE lets SAM walk into the house and closes the door behind him
ROXANNE
Can I get you anything?
SAM
Water will be great, thank you
6. ROXANNE leaves the room and heads into the kitchen to fetch the glass of water. SAM is looking around the room with a look of confusion remembering the house
ROXANNE
ROXANNE enters the room again and puts the water onto the table and SAM sits at the table waiting for the aunt to arrive
Do you know anybody around here?
SAM
I don’t know anyone; my sister was living here 4 years ago and gave me a letter, introducing me to some of the people
ROXANNE turns around and faces the fire place
ROXANNE
7. (Eyebrow twitches and she begins to smile)
Then you know nothing about my aunt?
SAM
Well….. I know her name and address and that’s about all I do know
(Thinking and interest while looking at ROXANNE)
ROXANNE
Have you heard of VERA’S tragedy
SAM
No, her tragedy?
ROXANNE
Oh it happened just over 3 years ago during your sister’s time actually, have you wondered why we keep the window open during an October afternoon
SAM
8. (Confused and nervous)
It is fairly warm for this time of year, but what does any of this have to do with her tragedy
9. SAM gets up slowly and walks slowly over to the window and looks out onto the garden, ROXANNE slowly walks up behind him
ROXANNE
Well…. One day right through this window, my poor aunt’s husband and 2 brothers went out for the day shooting like they normally did. However one day 3 years ago they went out and never came back.
10. ROXANNE looks up at SAM and shows a sympathetic look and then stroll and sits on the arm chair looking at SAM
(Sympathetic tone)
There bodies were never recovered, poor aunt she truly believes they will come back and she will see the brown spaniel running down the garden path who also went missing with them that day. She leaves the window open every night waiting for them to walk back through like they used to.
11.Pauses and takes a deep breathe)
She’s waiting for the day when her husband comes back with his white coat over one arm and hearing her youngest brother shouting “Bertie, why did you bound”
(Laughs gently to herself)
He always used to do that to tease her
12. SAM begins to shiver slightly and continued to star through to empty garden, until VERA walked into the living room, SAM smiled with relief
VERA
I’m ever so sorry for being late I hope Roxanne has been amusing you
SAM
She has been very interesting
13.(Looks to the floor and smiles)
VERA
I hope you don’t mind the window open at all, it’s just my husband and brothers are expected back soon and our little brown spaniel only likes to come in this way
(Smiles politely)
14. SAM begins to look back out of the window while VERA and ROXANNE are muttering to one another in the background about the shooting and scarcity of birds
SAM
15. (Desperate tone and nervous expressions)
The doctor is ordering me to have a complete rest and avoid any violent physical exercise or stress; however we have not been able to come to an agreement about my diet
VERA
No? Well I hope it all sorts itself out for you
16. VERA places her hands behind her head and begins to play with her hair as she yawns slightly and begins to run towards the kitchen
(Excited tone)
They are hear at last just in time for tea
17. In the distance walking down the garden path the husband, brothers and spaniel are heading towards the house. SAM staring at the figures shivers and a step back from the window slightly and turn around to look at ROXANNE.
YOUNG BOY
18. (Calling)
Bertie, why you did bound
SAM grabs his stick and hat and runs out of the house and down the garden path and has nearly knocks a cyclist of his bike but never looks back
YOUNG BOY
19. Here you are its mostly dry but a little muddy, who was that who was running along the garden path
20. VERA walks out of the living and into the kitchen
21. INT: INSIDE THE KITCHEN-NIGHT
VERA
(Shouting and confusing look)
A very strange man, he could only talk about his illness and then bolted out the house, you would have thought he had seen a ghost or something.
(annoyed tone)
Not even a goodbye!
22. INT: INSIDE THE LIVING ROOM
Everyone is sitting around the table
ROXANNE
Aunt it was probably the spaniel that scared him, he was mentioning that he had a fear of dogs. I think he said it was due to him being hunted in a cemetery by a pack of pariah gods.
(Giggling slightly)
Even had to spend the night in a grave, while they snarled and grinned at him. Explains why he didn’t stick around long
23. VERA comes into the living room and places food on the table and everyone sits down to talk while ROXANNE goes and closes the window
Opening Analysis
Children of Men
Representation
Where is being represented?
The opening sequence shows that the film is set in London, and one of the major cities in world is being represented.
How is it being represented?
It is being set in the future; we are able to see how built up the city is and is represented to look dreary and dull and is presented like any other day in a major city because of the hustle and busy of traffic which makes the atmosphere look upbeat and busy.
Is it a positive or negative representation?
It is presented looking negative and suggests that the future for the world is bleak because infertility has rendered the feelings of the apocalypse amongst the human race. There is chaos which has broken out around the world however Britain still remains calm and this is a positive aspect because it is the only country which strands out and remains civilized.
How is this created?
The negative and positive representations are created in the opening sequence due to the use of props; these play an important role because it helps set the scene of where the drama is occurring. Britain has been represented in a normal way it normally is with the use of rubbish bags left everywhere, trains completely covered in graffiti with apocalyptic terms and smoke and pollutions everywhere. The atmosphere has been created to look like any normal day however this day is slightly different to any other not because people are rushing around but because people on the street are crying at the youngest person dying, we are able to see this while the shot shows you all the business people and workers watching the news on the large television screens in cafes and at work on their computers. Dialogue also helps in this situation the reports and the behaviour of the characters and the public set a depressing mood this makes the audience connect more with the situation and may also be in anticipation to find out the cause of infertility.
Who is being represented?
The character who is being presented from the start of the opening sequence is the hero of the story and he is represented to be an ordinary man who works in London for a major company.
How do we know he is the hero?
This is character who the camera as followed and is the main focus of the film so far. He also seems to not be bothered by what is going on. This shows that he has a fearless attitude, however this doesn’t show a hero type of person but he emphasises the behaviour of a hero and also you can see he worries even though he put of a poker face of strong opinionated words.
Does he fit all of our established ideas of what a hero in a film should be?
The hero doesn’t conform to the normal stereotypes of a hero and isn’t the normal hero that we expect to see in films. You would expect him to be research and be very serious about the topic but he seems not bothered about it these are one of the stereotypes of a hero.
If yes, what are these: if no, what is there in the text which makes him unsatisfactory as a hero?
He doesn’t appear like a stereotypical hero because he has an ordinary job in London like everyone else and because of this doesn’t appear to be involved in any crime fighting activities that we are used to seeing heroes participating in. his character doesn’t look particularly strong or intelligent to be able to save the world. This therefore doesn’t suggest that he is anything out of the ordinary or special in the opening sequence of the film.
How are women represented?
Women are presented as looking fragile and weak because they appear to be crying and mourning in most shots in the text. Woman are most affected by the events which have occurred in the opening sequence because it is a personal plight as they feel responsible for the end of the future of man kind because of the infertility and also because they are the child bearers and are unable to have children.
How is the future represented?
The future is presented at looking bleak with no hope in the opening because they appear to be a godless society and feel abandoned. There appears to be no respect to human life due to the murder of the youngest person and with the explosion earlier in the text. This creates the mood of the London because people carried on with their usual day through this explosion and suggests that it is a daily occurrence. It could put some depression on the audience and make them feel burdened.
It shows a time where death of people matter especially when it is the youngest person is killed, it show that they are seen as celebrities.
Can you notice any other social groups or places which are represented?
Everything is constructed very fairly to balance out the sorrow and depression it’s seen though men also as they worry about the women and comforts them this is seen in Theo’s work place.
It also suggests that terrorism is throughout the world and is found everywhere. It also presents people of all ages, teenagers and London workers all being affected by the events.
How are these representations constructed?
Terrorism and workers that are affected are shown on the television which shows the mass devastation that is happening in countries all over the world. It is also showing what the groups of people are doing when the general public is traveling into work and we can see the teenager’s behavior when the main character is on the train and teenagers and young adults are throwing rocks at the windows, graffiti and setting light to bins.
Lighting:
What is the lighting like?
The lighting used is dark and all one shade and colour. It reveals what the city looks like and sets the scene of disaster and devastation. Using the dark lighting is being used in conjunction with the pollution in the air which is dark and musty and this again presents a bleak environment.
What is the effect of this on the text?
This helps set the scene and atmosphere and the viewers are able to feel the bleak and depression which is created. There seems to be no hope for the future of man kind and because of this there is no light in the city either.
What is the effect of this on the audience?
This helps the audience to engage and begin to feel how the characters are feeling at certain points in the opening sequence. You are able to feel the lack of hope and depression increasing as the scene gets darker as the explosion goes off and as everyone is hurrying to see the televisions. The audience begins to feel a part of the action and film itself.
Camera Work:
What do you notice about the camera work?
The opening sequence is made of many clips which are all made using handheld camera work and this has been used to help give the impression that the audience are following on foot with the character and this adds feeling and intensity of the film. There is a lot of tilting of the camera and helps give the perspective of London by people passing by. There are many close ups used during times where something has happened for example the explosion a close up of the main character has been used to show the expression and reaction of what has just happened. There are many close ups of the women just after the death of the youngest person has been announced because it shows the feelings and depression that the characters are feeling.
There are also master shots to show the scene showing the audience what is going on, also wide shots are being used to confirm the location of the characters, it is very tracing it follows every objective that is being put forward.
Does it conform to your expectations of a major feature (fictional) film?
This film doesn’t come across with the same expectations of a major fictional film because everything appears to be very average, although it is set in the future. Conducting the daily tasks of going to work and commuting and buying lunch gives the feeling of a normal society when in fact society is slowly dieing out.
Is there anything you think is done differently?
The amount of detail which is presented in the opening sequence is a lot compared to normal films and the normality of the situation makes the background of the film chilling because everything seems to be as if nothing has changed. The way the information has been presented is different because there is barely any dialect in the opening sequence and the atmosphere has only been presented by the use of digenetic sound to help the audience feel apart of the scene and action that is taking place.
Why have the camera shots been chosen?
The choice of the camera shots have been chosen because they want to show the average persons reactions to the situation, and to make the viewer empathize with the situation and events that have just happened.
Editing
What kind of editing can you recognize?
There doesn’t seem to be much editing taking place in the opening sequence because all the scenes are long and smooth.
What does this do to the text?
Using longer clips and keeping the playing smooth and slowly helps to make London appear how it actually is, and this creates a strong representation to an average day in London. The use of editing would also speed the events up and build tension however the opening sequence is trying to set the plot of the film and long and smooth scenes are needed to help the audience feel apart of the scenes ad posted about what is going on.
Does it change the pace at all through the clip?
Not cutting any of the clips down helps to slow the pace of the film down and present it how life is normally.
Sound
What do you notice in particular about the way sound has been constructed in this clip?
There are has been a lot of use of Diegetic sound has been used to present the hustle and bustle of London life. This has also been used in the explosion and these are sounds which also build tension to the audience because there isn’t much sound used in the opening and the few occasions there are is due to an events. There are also non diegetic noises after the explosion for the Film’s title to be shown.
Why do you think these choices have been made by the directors?
The directors have made these decisions because it will help present how this situation could happen, it makes the film appear to be real life rather than over dramatized.
Mise-en-scene (everything you see in the scene)
How have the locations been created?
The locations have been presented by using basic props associated with a major city for example the use of rubbish bags left everywhere, trains completely covered in graffiti with apocalyptic terms and smoke and pollutions everywhere. Nothing has been created; the only difference was the computer in the office was higher technology than present day. As well as the televisions on the trains, apart from that society seems to have not changed much. However these simple changes and props help to create the set and scene and helps create the future time settings.
What in them suggests time / location / situation to the audience?
The use of the new technology suggests the time difference and shows that it is set in the future and the use of buses and daily equipment sets the scene of London.
Genre
What type of film do you think this is, from the clip you’ve been shown?
This film maybe a fictional drama film because of the events which have occurred in the opening sequence and these show that a series of things that had happened and therefore needs to be cured.
You may well think it falls under a number of types (genres)
From what has been shown so far, it does not conform to a number of types of genres.
What is there in this text which you could use to support each of these assumptions of genre?
ie. How are these genres created / communicated in this clip?
Even though an explosion went off, there were no crime fighters or terrorists or anything that suggested people were scared or shocked. However the events suggest that there could be more action later on in the film because this is the opening sequence and for this to be shown it suggests that there is some sort of events which are going to occur further on.
Narrative
What do you notice about the narrative structure of this clip?
There is little dialogue used in the opening sequence, most of the clip is carried by the impact the shots and realism of the situation the camera creates.
This is the opening of the film
What does it do which fulfils your expectations of what the opening of a film “should” be like / include in terms of narrative.
The opening sequence sets the time of the film well and where it is being set. The context of the film is clear and understandable from the beginning and this is due to the different way it was brought across by television and describing the situation through the reports.
Does it do anything different in terms of narrative structure?
This film is different because lot of the plot line isn’t delivered through the character but by the news reports, the action has no dialect and the audience only feel the reactions and tension by seeing close up shots of there faces and seeing the reactions of the world on the news reports.
Audience
Which audiences do you think are being targeted to watch this film?
This film may mainly target at adults because of the context of the film, the plot is topical to them because most adults see themselves settling down with children and that is no longer available to for them. Young teenagers may not understand how the events can cause such reactions and therefore won’t have a true understanding of what’s going on and won’t be affected in the same way as adults will be. I would say that it would be aimed at an audience of 25+ and mainly females because of the infertility aspect of the film. Anyone will enjoy this film no matter what there job is because it is targeted at any working person because the people who are most affected by these events in the film are those of working backgrounds because it is set in the city of London.
From this clip, what is there to attract these different audiences?
The film appeals to women through empathy, people with careers because it is set in London and focuses on a character who works in an office. It may affect those who are single and committed adults because they will either want to start a family at some point, or are married and they will be faced with a ‘what if’ scenario with this film where they have no hope of having children, something most aim to have in a committed relationship.
Values and Ideologies
What kind of messages does this text seem to be giving to its audiences?
Eg. Do you think the film makers are trying to give the audiences messages about current issues?
From watching the opening sequence it suggest that the film makers are linking the idea of infertility back to resent times with women in relationships not being able to have children and this suggests that the number of women not being able to have children is increasing. It is also increasing awareness of the present times for example with terrorism and to increase awareness of what Britain could be like in future years, this is used to help audiences understand while trying to entertain at the same time.
Also immigration which is a huge crisis in out time is also being represented in the movie this time it seems that an extreme action has being taken against it
If so, which, and what is their message?
The message that are being created are the feeling of the world ending and of life having no meaning as is associated with war and terrorism, that blowing yourself and others up lowers the value of life.
How do you know this from this clip?
The news reports and explosion which went of at the beginning of the film sets the time of the film and this shows how used to explosions people in the country have got and adapted to. They appear to be used to the destruction across the world and the news reports show how the whole world is coping and what is going on. This is demonstrating what the world could be like in future years.
Institution
This film was made by Universal Pictures.
How might this affect the film content?
This will affect the film content by the way the events are presented because it is an American company that has set the film in Britain. This will therefore mean they will see London in another way to those people who live here and react differently to the events that occur here. Although it is a well established company, so it will reach a larger number of people than a smaller company.
How might this affect audience appeal?
This will encourage more people to want to watch it because they are a larger and more established company and therefore more people will tend to watch there films.
Pearl and Dean Analysis
Age
The film has put a certificate of an age of 15 on the cover this shows that the audience has to be at least this age. However by looking at the results show that the audiences who have seen and watch this particular film are aged between 25-34. This is in result to the complex storyline which may be very difficult for young teenagers to understand and result s in mostly adults above 18 to be watching the film because they are able to understand and connect with the story line much more.
Gender
The film isn’t targeted at a particular gender however there seems to be a higher percentage of males who watch this film. This is unusual and not what you would expect due to the storyline of the film, nevertheless the storyline is diverse and therefore shows the importance of both male and female characters. The way in which woman have been presented could also lead to woman not to watch this particular film because of the events which occur in the film see woman portrayed as not being able to have children and therefore this goes against roles and purpose. This still interests a small number of females because it is set in the future of 2027 and therefore this may cause interest to see what the future could be like. the film is also very complex with a lot of information included about a number of issues and this may result in males watching it because they understand the political side more than perhaps the females .
Financial Situation
The audience which the film is mainly targeted at is those of the in the middle classes and above, this is due to cinema costs and therefore people being able to afford to go and see the film. The poll also shows that that those in working classes for example those will unskilled and manual jobs also more likely to afford to go and see this film because they will have the money and more time too spend watching these types of films..
Lifestyle
The lifestyle of the audience who will be watching these films a more liking to be those people with an intelligent lifestyle. This would be because they have a better understanding of the issues which are raised in the film and will be able to capture the storyline much better. There is a lot of reference to politics and current issues which are occurring with the work this will therefore mean that these people need to have an understanding of this on a daily basis.
Jaws Analysis
Camera shots and movements
At the beginning of the opening sequence there doesn’t appear to being any camera shots because we are presented with a black background and this shows the actors which will be appearing in the film. This has been used to help add to the mystery of not being aware of what is going to happen but also to help with the themes of the film. There are many camera shots used in the opening, however the first shot which the film is opened with appears to be a point of view of the shark. This has been used to add feeling that the audience is in the scene. This also makes the film different and gives the point of view from another angle which as an audience we don’t expect nevertheless it is used in order to give the audience a clue of what the film could be about. However towards the end of the opening sequence we appear to see another point of view shot which shows the shark’s perspective again creating tension for the audience because we appear to know more than the character.
The next shot appears to be a 2 shot which is on the land in another location. This has been used to confuse the audience and create question of who the two characters are and where they are. This then seems to change and turn into a wide shot which is used to show more of the surroundings and we are able to see that there are many people around. There also appears to be high angle of the surrounding and this is used to make the character look inferior but also that they are not in control. It shows that if something may happen soon and they are not aware of this which adds to the themes and genre of the film. The use of camera movement also puts a twist onto the opening sequence because the camera appears to use a dolly where it follows the characters movement which suggests that we are following them and apart of the scene.
Sound
There appears to be a lot of non diagetic sound and at the beginning of the opening sequence of the film it appears to be slow and low. It is a low pitch and drumming sound which adds tension and worry to the audience from the beginning which adds drama but also make the audience want to know more. This has been used to create a chilling and mysterious mood which will affect the audience. However as the camera begins to show movement when it is under the sea the music becomes faster and deeper and this is used to increase awareness of the audience and what is going on and also used as a convention to indicate there is danger of some sort. The music appear to change at different parts in the opening and this has been used to help set the scene and genre. When the characters are introduced in the opening they are also playing a mouth organs which adds to the calmness and suggests that the characters are at ease.
There is a period of there only being diagetic sound being used later in the opening sequence of the sea and swimming form the character swimming, this has been used to add reality to the audience, however as the camera is following the girl swimming it goes silence and this adds tension and the audience begins to wonder what will happen next.
Editing
In the opening sequence there is a lot of editing used and this has been used to show the film progressing and moving forward. This has been created by editing the scenes so that the audience is able to get different point of views for example we are getting a point of view of the shark under the water but also in the same opening we are getting an idea of what is happening on the land. These cuts are long and have been used and ordered in this particular way to help the audience follow the scene of events. It also confuses the reader because the lengths of the clips are long and slow at the beginning and therefore as the audience you don’t expect any danger until they begin to increase in pace and are cut shorter, this is when the theme of danger and disaster appears.
Mise-en-scene
The use of mise-en-scene which is used in the opening sequence adds to the surroundings and what is happening in the sequence. The use of musical instruments and fire is used to set the scene but also shows danger and mystery.
Character
In the opening sequence of Jaws there are many characters which are presented to the audience. They are presented in a number of ways due to the number of different groups and people who are throughout the scene. There seem to be many young people who are used in the opening sequence and this suggests that they are young and unaware of the dangers of what may occur in the sea at night. This is also used because as an audience we are not completely sure who the main characters are till the last minute of the opening sequence. The group of teenagers who are presented in the early part of the opening sequence appear to be having a good time and the atmosphere feels relaxed and calm. The characters all appear to be surrounding around fire and this could be a clue to the audience that something is going to happen. The fire is significant and creates the tension and mystery of what will happen in the rest of the film.
Location
The location seems to be unclear at the beginning of the opening sequence due to the dark lighting. However we begin to see that it is taking part near the sea and this has been revealed slowly in order to create suspicion and uncertainty of what is going on. Filming the opening near the sea causes all the events to come at once and therefore the audience is shocked at what happened to the girl because it is so quick.
Lighting
The lighting which has been used is dark and warm colours, this has been created by filming the opening sequence in the dark and using the fire light and the reflection of the moon which shines through the ocean. This has been created in order to increase the mood and makes the scene more mysterious because the audience knows something is happening but the dark surroundings are hiding most of the action so we are not quite sure how the incidents happen.
Genre
The genre of the film has been created in a number of ways; it has been created through the eyes of the shark. This is because we don’t actually get to see the shark we only see a point of view shot of what the shark is seeing, his has been used to add ambiguity and mystery to what is happen and of the shark itself. The use of fast and slow music which is used is another thriller convention which is used to create mystery and danger for the audience because we are not sure what’s going to happen.
Inception Analysis
Camera Shot/ Movement and angle
Wide shot has been used to show only a width of where the location is, going further on it moves unto a pan movement showing the audience exactly where the location is at the moment, the pan traces the movement of the sea and emphasizes the vastness of the sea.
At this point the camera cuts to a man who is lying on the floor this seems to the audience that this man had been wasted with the water and put ashore by the sea this is shown by an extreme close up.
During this shot, a distorted wide shot is then taking of a boy playing with sand, it seems the background is blurred out and confused the audience whether they are still in the same location or are in another, it seems like the director may be doing this not to show too much of the location and where he is particularly or what is about to happen.
In the next shot there is a wide shot long shot that has been taking to give more information to the audience and assure them that they are still in the same location as the character, knowing this it seems that the character may have been seeing the two children and may have been a point of view shot also.
Then a close up shot is shown of the man in the sea with a gun poking him, cutting to a low angle shot of the man with the gun it makes him seems superior in so ways showing that he may have power at this point in time.
Another close up is taken to show what was going on with the man in the sea and what he is particularly doing or watt he possesses. Another low angle taken of the gun man it seems that the audience may be in an oriental
location.
There is an establishing wide shot tilt that is used to show the same scenery that the audience had seen the children in, however the children weren’t there, this may show to the audience that he may have been having a flashback, looking at the shot the audience will notice particularly where they are, this shot may have been used to give the audience a bit more knowledge about what is going on.
An interior long shot has been taken now of the building, however leaving the audience confused about what is going on, the camera starts to zoom in to the person who seems to have authority.
Then there is a two shot which shows the head of the person who the audience may think is in authority in this particular place, there is also a focus of this figure whiles the rest of the background is blurred out this may make the audience feel, lost or questionable as to where this place exactly is or what is going on.
There is a close up of the gun and another object that the audience does not know about, its being described as a special bullet of some sort however the audience does not know this and are confused.
After this particular shot the same shot of the figure is taken this time causing the audience to know more about what the object is and what it is used for this is shown by the distorted two shot of the figures as he reaches for his drink, at the same time the audience notices that the figure hesitate when reaching his drink at the same time when the guard dropped the weird object unto the table showing to the audience that they may get a clue on what they are used for.
A wide long shot has been used to show the presence of the room, the character the audience saw in the beginning has been brought in to meet the figure of authority, at this stage the audience have a clue of what is happening, the audience sees that the man seems to be a hostage and is seen as a nuisance.
There is a slow close up- tilt shot of the man being given food to eat, the audience can guess from how fast he is eating that he was hungry for a long time then leading to an over the shoulder shot of the man this viewing a distorted image of how the figure of authority looks like, this feels like the director is trying to keep the identity of the figure of authority at this stage the audience are meaning to see the face of the figure.
Then finally the figure of authority is shown with an over the shoulder shot, this happens by then making the camera focus on the figure and not the man. A close up is then used to show the body language of the man to the question that the figure asked him.
A close up tilt and pan is shown of the figure, the camera traces what he is doing, however the focus of the camera is on the hand of the figure ad him picking up the weird object, and cutting into a close up of the figure moreover the camera still focuses on the hand of the figure and the McGuffin still in a way trying to hide the features of the figure of authority.
A wide shot zoom is then take of the figure this time showing the features of the figure as he talks, he plays with the object as if he had see it before, he then spins the object, whiles the figure speak the camera then shifts the attention of the audience into a close up of the object allowing the audience to analysis the McGuffin.
The next shot is introduced with a focused close up point of a man eating and talking to a person which the audience sees in the next shot, this may be taking in a different location, at that point in time the audience do not really know where they are however there is a different person who has been introduced to the audience.
There is a wide over the shoulder shot of the man who was captured by the figure in the previous scene is seen here again but this time it seems like he isn’t in bondage and is dressed very sophisticatedly looking intellectual. There is a series of close ups and mid shots in the next few shots showing different character that may be included later in the movie, also these few shot shows the expression and reactions of the characters to the audience and it gets the audience concentrated on what is going on in that particular scene.
In this shot it could be said that it is a point of view show that has been used to make the audience feel as if they are part of the movie as if they are there at the scene and understand what the characters are trying to say. Over the shoulder shots have been used constantly to make the audience feel as if they are there this could also be classified as a point of view shot but this time from the bodyguards that are at the door. There are also two shots that are used to just view one character this may have been used to get the audience to recognise the room in which they are in. As the character goes on about what they are talking about there are constant switches between the character to show the reactions of the characters, a pan and tilt are also used to trace this particular character to show the audience see his body language, action and the way he presents himself this including a wide shot which may help the audience adapt to what is going on.A wide shot long shot has been used to show the location in which these three characters were in, there was pan and tilt shots used to show the expression and movements of all the three characters before one of them exited the room.
The two characters that were left in the room have a very short conversation with the angle reverse angle shot which shows each others reactions and expression about what just happened. A sort of low angle has been used to make this character look superior to how he looked before this also shows his expressions and a clear view for the audience to recognise his features, also this shows his reaction to the sudden shake to the building just after the third character left the room, there is a wide shot focus zoom on the glass of wine to show that what the audience were seeing is a shaking but not knowing whether it was a earthquake or a random happening. Looking at the expressions and reactions of the two characters it seems as if they are not startled by what happening and stayed calm in the situation that they were in.
Extreme close up had been used to show the hand watch that the character had this showing every second that has ticked past as soon as it reached 3 ticks the audience are taken to a different place or scenario of where a building had been blown up and people running away from what was happening, this confuses the audience because they are trying to catch up with the pace of the movie, trying to understand the situation and why we have been taken there.
The audience then see a close up of the same characters that we had seen in the previous scene only this time they are in a different location and place which may be seen as a place of destruction.
The audience is introduced to a tracking shot of another character that the audience has no met and it seems like he is looking after the bodies of the previous two characters that the audience just left in the previous scene this makes the audience question what is going and why the bodies are motionless when seeing them in complete location to where they are now. As the scene goes on we also see the body of the third character that had left the room also visible in the different location that the audience are in now, at this point the audience wonder who the character are and what they are doing to be able to travel through realms this makes the audience more attentive to the situation in the scene.
Over the shoulder shots are then used to make the audience view things in the way that the character can see it, during this shot a long shot was taken of the outside showing the chaos and explosions outside moving slowly towards them, the character begins to be hesitant and panicky and this is shown with a constant tracking of the character and a kind of point of view for the audience to feel as if they are there and following the character, the director allows the audience to see what ever is going in the scene because it seems to be an important that the audience is informed.
The character tries to get the other three characters up by checking their pulse this makes the audience feel anticipated and wanting too know more about what is happening.
The ending ends with the same clock that we saw in the previous scene but this time in a different time and location.
Sound
The movie starts off with non-diagetic sound which has a medium pace tempo that makes the audience wonder if there is something bad going to happen then the non diagetic sound dies out to allow way for the diagetic sound used in the scene, where the audience hear the sound of waves in which they meet a character and figure out the location.
Then the around of soulful, calm music takes over making the audience feel as if they are in a memory lane of the characters life or imagination however at the same time the audience hears the screams and laughing of the little children in which may be present or in the characters imagination or memory. As the scene goes on the audience is able to hear the water and their movement causing both diagetic sound and non diagetic sound to clash and work together, then we hear non diagetic sound of wind chimes still in the background from the very beginning, then the diagetic sound shows the audience that they are not in an English speaking country but an Asian country in which they may not get time to figure out however this is done to help the audience figure out where their location is.
In the next scene there is more diagetic sound, this time the audience can hear and understand what the characters are saying this will signify to the audience that it is in fact Japanese that is being spoken meaning that the character has been put ashore from somewhere to the seaside of Japan, they can hear the movement of the guards and the sound all around the characters.
As the head of figure speaks it is assured to the audience that he knows what he is talking about, he speaks of the object that was found this may show to the audience that maybe the character found in the water is up to mischief or on a mission. Moving form that scene we then hear the voice of the character before but this time in an intellectual way, a smart way, like he knows what he is talking about, he is informed, he has depth into the matter and like he is trying to convince someone this may seem to the audience that they may be dream movers. They speak of ideas and thoughts which make the audience more interested in what they are saying, the two characters talk about mind theft, he then goes on to call himself “the most skilled abstractor” showing that maybe he wants to help and gives the ways in which the other character can give him ways to do that.
The second character senses that the third character may know what they know however the audience is not sure what they are talking about because the audience is trying to figure out what they are and what they do, by the sound of the shaking it seems like the two characters left are not very bothered about the shaking and question about what is going on up there however the audience question up where?.
This time the non diagetic sound has become more dominant in ways which are just to create tension and pace for the audience to catch up to; there are sounds of violins and tempo of some sort of bass in the background to create tension.
Editing
The editing in this sequence is very inconsistent and quite tracing this could be good because it helps the audience keep up with what is progressing in the sequence.
During the beginning there was long shot of what was happening however as soon as movement is going on the sequence then cuts become shorter to show the expressions of the characters and to trace the character however as more things come in to be introduced to the audience, as the audience get more introduction on what and who the characters are the shots and cuts become slower and short to help the audience catch unto what the director is trying to portray.
For example during the last scene where the explosion happened the shots inside the house were very tracing and quick so the audience may catch up with the surrounding and also the expressions of the characters in that scene.
Mise en Scene
The mise en scene in this opening sequence is very detailed in props and setting the scene for the audience feel like their in the movie. From the design and architecture of the buildings it shows the audience clearly where they are, it is very interesting in the way the equipment and everything in the scene is set out, it is very detailed and is there to set a clear understanding of the situation happening.
Characters
There are around 5 characters that we meet throughout the opening sequence.
The first was the man in the sea and was at bay, his character later on shows that he is a man of intelligence, it seemed like he knew what he was doing and that he was some sort of helper or hero or something however the characters are not clearly represented to have a certain title as the hero or villain.
The second character I would say is classified as a high authority figure, he seemed to be in charge of the building, and he could be considered or seen as a villain because his characteristic including his face, costume and way of speech the audience may see him as a villain.
The third character was in a different scene and seemed to be wearing the same clothing as the first character maybe showing that he too may be on the same team to convince the fourth character in allowing them to have possession of his thoughts. The third character does seem like a humbler character than the first one even though they are on the same team however he does not look weak.
The fourth character seems to be in doubt about what character 1 and 3 is saying, he wants them to tell him how they will fulfil what they said they will do and leaves the room considering what they have said and also he is Asian which may show that he is from the country he is in.
The fifth character is unknown for what he does, the audience has captured different stereotypes for each character through the way they speak and present themselves and also the location. However this last character is seen in a different location, in a different situation where he is looking after the bodies of character 1, 3 and 4, it seemed like the shaking from that situation was having an effect on where the bodies are actually situated.
Location
The location seems to be a far eastern country, Japan. Not necessarily knowing where in Japan the audience can figure it out because the architecture of the buildings gives the location and also the language that the man spoke in the next scene, this is because this location is a remote area and also the country is very popular in architecture. Most people know the styles of buildings are used there and everything is very familiar with the audience.
Lighting
The lighting in this opening sequence is kept warm and slightly light; it is suggestible that the director may not want to give off a depressing feel because it is supposed to capture the audience as soon as they start to watch it. The internal shots produce a reflection of everything that is happening in that particular room, however it doesn’t make the audience depressed but it encourages the character’s aura that is being represented. It is clear enough for the audience to see the characters expressions and reactions.
Genre
Looking at these conventions there may be an implication that is may be and Action Adventure and Sci-Fi genre because the use of fast pacey music that give the audience a sense of thrill and excitement to get more involved in the movie, the use of establishing shots, and over the shoulder shots help the audience to feel like they are more in the movie which more action adventure movies have. Exotic location has also being used. Transferring from one realm to the next can give off a Sci-Fi genre.
Pearl and Dean
Age
This movie has given the certificate of 12A, looking this result on the right it shows that children fro 4- 14 ay not be interested in this movie or may not be able to understand because looking at the sequence it looks like having an open mind and clear understanding of what is happening will help you capture what is happening later on and it may be judged that people between this age group may have one of these understanding.
Moreover it seems like people the age 15 to 24 may have a better reaction to movie because of the genre, not only this but also they may be able to relate or abstract something from the movie, however the main concern may be that the younger people age 4- 14 will not clearly understand the storyline however the older generation including 25 to 45+ will be able to understand the complex storyline.
Gender
This result states that 50% of each gender will be interested in this movie. It is agreeable because to the audiences appeal it looks like a brilliant movie that has a lot of problem solving which may interest the audience to get more involved in the movie. Both female and male may be interested in it because it is a storyline that appeals to both sexes (Dreams).
Panic Room Analysis
Camera shot & movements
There are many camera shots used in the opening sequence of the Panic Room. The film starts with an establishing, wide shot which helps to establish the scene and show the audience where the action is taking place; this has been used to enhance the location and setting where the film is going to be. The uses of wide shots have been used in addiction to a pan which helps to the depth and dramatize the surroundings and helps the audience feel apart of the actions but also shows the size and area where the film is taking place. The uses of long shots have also been used to enhance and show the audience more of the location resulting in the audience feeling as though they are also a part of the scene. The use of high and low angle shots have been used to add depth to the scene but also creates the feeling that the audience are inferior and therefore results in tension and mystery being created. Sound
There is a constant use of sound which has been used in the opening sequence; there is an example of both diagetic and non diagetic sound. However non diagetic sound seems to be occurring throughout the opening. This has been used to build up tension and adds to the feeling of city life. The music which is used throughout starts at a slow pace to create an unidentified plot and therefore leaves the audience in suspense of what will happen. In the sequence there is constant use of diagetic like traffic which sets the peak hours in where everyone has to make their way somewhere, this enhances the sound of impatience and sets the scene to the sound. Furthermore the non diagetic used in this sequence starts of at a slow pace giving the audience the sense of tension causing them to want to know more. As the sequence continues the pace of the music quickens and starts involving a ticking clock adding more anticipation for the audience causing more mystery to the sound. The sound and pace of the music matches with the speed of the camera movement, it makes the audience think the sequence is ambient.Lighting
The lighting which has been used in the opening sequence shows the audience that the film is set outside in the daylight. When the camera appears to be at a low angle it feels like the audience is in the scene as the buildings appear to tower over them which a brighter and natural light increases the brightness in the scene which makes the city look like any other day.
This particular shot shows the contrast between the light and dark within the sequence, in some shots in this sequence there are brighter part of the city, this shot enhances the light and dark and makes the audience feel split between two different scenarios. This shot shows the use of reflection of the buildings from the daylight letting the audience get that feel of a normal day.
Characters
Through out the opening sequence the audience doesn’t meet any characters but when it came to the end we meet two characters which the audience assumes are part of the movie.The woman seems to be confident and sure of what she is doing however the second character looks like she does not know particularly what is going on which could foreshadow the characters personality and the clueless behavior leading to trouble later on in the movie.
Location
The location is set in a major city, this could signify that it’s a city where the audience could get lost. The opening sequence reveals a series of buildings that are identical to one another, this leads the audience to confusion and distracting them from what is about to happen. The camera shots have captured the location in a big city however the way it has been presented sets it as if it was condensed city, resulting in the audience feeling lost but also creates the feeling as though we are following the camera and this adds tension because we are unsure of what will happen next. At the end of the opening, we see a different location which sets a different meaning to what the audience saw before, creating further confusion and mystery to what will happen later in the film.
Editing
The editing which has been used in the opening sequence appears to have slow shots. The speed of the movements are also slow they don’t speed up to add any tension or suspense, but they do give the audience a load of information to take in so they are able to catch on what is happening in that particular scene.
Genre
From looking at the opening sequence there appears to be suspense which is created by the use of the music because it adds paces and mystery because we are unsure of what is actually happening because of this it suggests it could be a thriller film of some sort. The camera shots and movements used suggests action adventure conventions which are to show the location causing us to assume that it may be an action adventure movie because the slow camera movements around the buildings analysing the features of the buildings and what may be happening inside.
Pearl and Dean analysis
Age
The film has a certificate age of 15 and this means that anyone from this age is able to watch it. The poll shows that the most popular audience of this film is aged between 15-24; this is due to the storyline of the film. The storyline isn’t to complex and the characters and audience which are also in the film are simple and understandable.The issues which are included are not to complex and don’t need an understanding of what is happening in the world. The film also attracts older adults because of the thrill and drama which occurs in the film, it’s a film which has been created and produced to attract a wide range of audiences.
Financial situation
The financial situation of this film is shown in the
poll, this shows that the most popular class is those people of the working class, this is due to the cost of going to the cinema on a daily basis and because of the time they are able to spend visiting the cinema.This is also because of the storyline of the film and the events which happen, it isn’t targeted down to those who will be able to understand it due to them having a general knowledge of politics or the world and can therefore be enjoyed by everyone.
Gender
The film appears to attract more males than it does females, this is only a small difference but this could be in result to the thrill and storyline of the film. The film is much more chilling and mysterious to some films and therefore may scare females more than it would males.Lifestyle
The lifestyle of the audiences isn’t set for this particular film because it doesn’t have a particular theme and doesn’t relate to any particular subject in the world. However it appears to be targeted at those of a working background because of the issues and settings of the film, the film isn’t to complex and therefore is suitable for everyone.
Se7en Analysis
Camera shot/Angle/Movement
In the opening sequence of se7en we see a range of different camera shots, angels and movements. These are the elements which build up the tension and set the theme and genre, the shots used causes the audience to feel confused because they are not sure what is actually going on. There are a lot of high angels occurring throughout the opening sequence and they are used to create the feeling of the audience looking down on the objects, there are no characters which are fully revealed due to the use of close ups which are used to create suspense and tension. There are a number of close up shots of the book which includes the motion of the pages turning on the table. The use of the master shot of the book which appears at the beginning and end of the opening series show the characters personality and shows how organised and intelligent he is which can cause the audience to feel uncomfortable. There doesn’t appear to be much movement from the camera and this has been done in order to show and emphasise the movement of the character and the objects. From the opening series all the shots appear to be filled inside an enclosed area where it creates confusion to the audience. Mise-en-scene
There appears to be a lot of detailed images of books and this creates questions to the audience because it could be information which is relevant to the character in the film or be a symbol which is used throughout the film and is an important aspect to the plot. The constant use of dark images of people suggest what the genre of the film is and starts the audience wondering what type of character it is, from the opening it suggest that the character can be sinister due to the shots of sharp objects and images of people but also intelligent due to the constant referral of books. The Mise-en-scene which is used in the opening sequence of the film makes the audience feel uneasy and tense because of lack of information which we receive on the character or plot.Characters
In the opening sequence there aren’t any characters directly introduced, the only part which is introduced is there hands which adds suspicion and hides the characters identity. From the opening we are not sure whether he is the main character because we have no information on who it is or what they are doing, we are also unclear whether they are a protagonist or antagonist. We are givens some clues about the character and what he is like sure to what we see him doing and his movements. The shots suggest that the character could slightly dark and mysterious due to the cutting of photographs and highlighting words in books. This also suggests that maybe he is slightly twisted because many of the pictures look as though they are of people that are dead but we are not sure about this because nothing is revealed in the opening sequence. The character also appears to be a little crazy because we are not sure what is going on and we see him slicing his skin off of his finger using a knife. This shows further what type of character he is because he is trying to hide from something he is doing.Location
The location of where the opening sequence is filmed isn’t clear, however we are able to see that it is filmed in a dark room and by looking at the clues the equipment gives away, it looks as though it is in an office or dark room for producing photographs. The location of where it is set, creates a dull and dangerous environment due to the lack of natural light and the use of the photographs and books creates the sense of death and mystery. It causes the audience to ask questions about the character, what is doing? Why is he in there? And what are the books and sharp objects for?Narrative
From the opening sequence death is a major theme which seems to be created, the use of sharp objects and dark location is used as a narrative clue to what may happen later in the film but also helps to set the genre of the film. The plot of the film is difficult to understand and causes the audience to pay attention and look out for details which can be put together just like clues. the lack of dialogue and identity of the character can be intimidating and uneasy for the audience because its not clear what will happen next. From the opening sequence it suggests that the character is looking for revenge for the people that he has in the pictures. This could relate back to the newspaper and book articles which are very religious based. There are a lot of references back to God and when putting the pieces together it suggests that the people in the newspaper cuttings do not hold the same beliefs and thoughts as he does. The slicing of his skin on his fingertips shows that he is trying to hide his identity further, which is ironic because as the audience he has hidden his identity to us but is now trying to hide his identity because he is up to something which shows how clever and organized he is.
Genre
The genre has been created in a number of ways and from the opening it appears to be a thriller of some sort. The camera shots and locations add to the type of genre because they help to create tensions and anxiety for the audience. We are not quite sure what the characters intention is at the stage in the film because it suggests revenge but the dull lighting and sharp objects show that maybe murder and death is a possibility later in the film which could cause the genre to be a horror.
Inception Opening Credits Analysis
Se7en Opening credits Analysis
Panic Room Opening Credit Analysis
Children of men opening Credit analysis
Jaws Opening Credit Analysis
Analysis of the opening credits in Inception, Jaws, Children of Men, Panic Room and Se7en
In the opening sequence of the films we had analyzed al the credits were presented in a number of ways. The most popular method of presenting the credits was to present the information in a certain order which the majority of the films we analyzed used. In all the films the production company is always included to start the opening of the film and this is important and been used to show the audience which company has produced the film. The ordering of the credits vary depending on each of the films opening sequence and this is because some of the film openings which we analyzed such as Se7en included every major person and role which was important for the film to be successful whereas Panic Room only displayed certain areas such as the major actors and directors.
Jaws presents the information in similar order to se7en but with slight changes. The name of main actors were displayed in the same shot which is different from many other thriller openings which we have analyzed. The opening credits also contain the names of the screen play writers which wasn’t mentioned in the other films
Panic Room and se7en have both divided the credits up slightly by displaying the actors and directors in a range of areas, for example one actor was shown and then a director name was displayed and then went back to another actor who was featuring in the film. This has been used to create the feeling of uncertainty which the opening sequence is trying to create. The presentation of the credits is also important for the opening because the fonts have to be appropriate and in all the films the titles and credits appear to be presented as part of the scene and the fonts and text sizes have been used to draw attention.
On the other hand Inception and Children and Men were films where the opening credits didn’t follow any particular order and didn’t present half the information which the other openings had. The only information which the audience is presented with in the opening of Inception is the company logo of the production company, whereas half way through the opening Children of Men the film title is presented on a black screen half way through the opening sequence. These opening credits have been revealed in this way to add suspicion but to also open the films plot and storyline more to the audience so they are not distracted by the credits.
Comparison Se7en and Panic Room
PLANNING
Screenplay:
INT: Psychiatrist’s office
JULIA, a 17 year old girl, frail, pale is sitting in a chair in the middle of a room, she’s looking traumatized and shaken, she’s talking to a psychiatrist , however the audience is unable to hear what she’s saying.
DR THOMPSON
(in a soothing voice)
Now I want you to think back to that time.
And when I click my fingers you will open your eyes
DR THOMPSON leans forward curiously and clicks his fingers, then JULIA opens her eyes widely. The sound of clicking forces JULIA to go back in time to remember a terrible encounter.
EXT: Forest, afternoon
JULIA is running through a forest, she continually glances behind her. It is from her body language she is being followed, and she is doing all she can to prevent being captured.
INT: Psychiatrist’s office
JULIA talks quickly however the audience can not hear her talking, as she stares into thin air as the memory gets closer.
DR THOMPSON leans in with interest looking very focused and concentrated on JULIA.
EXT: Forest, afternoon
The killer’s is shown handling a rope as he slowly walks further into the forest.
INT: Psychiatrist's office
JULIA frantically moves as if she was back in time with the events that were happening in the forest. Constantly holding on to the chair and moves with fear.
EXT: Forest, afternoon
The killer has reached the destination where JULIA has fallen, he walks boldly towards her playing with the rope in his hands.
Storyboard
Preliminary Task
Research questionnaire
1. What is your gender?
a) Male
b) Female
2. What is your age range?
a) 12-17
b) 18-23
c) 24-29
d) 30+
3. How many times a week do you visit the cinema?
a) once a week
b) twice a week
c) four or more times a week
d) never
4. What genre of films do you tend to watch?
a) Horror
b) Thriller
c) Comedy
d) Rom com
e) Adventure
5. What type of music would you connect to a horror film?
a) slow and mellow
b) loud and rock music
c) Fast paced
d) Classical music
6. How many hours should a movie be in your opinion?
a) 1hr 30mins
b) 2hrs
c) 2hrs 30mins
d) 3hrs or more
7. Do you like the movie to:
a) to go deep into the psychology of the characters
b) to have a back ground story
c) to be action packed
8. Do you like the opening of the movie to:
a) go deep in detail about the story
b) to be mysterious
9. Would you like celebrities to star in the film?
a) yes
b) No
10.What attracts you to a movie?
a) The music
b) The story line
c) The actors
d) The lighting
e) Critics
Research Questionnaire Analysis
Graph 1:
This graph shows the results of the ages of the people we sampled; this graph shows that the majority of the people who completed our questionnaire were between the ages of 12-17 with a total of 65% of people we asked being within this age group. Looking at this information we can see that people ages between 12-17 and 24-29 were the most popular ages of people we asked. Since 21% of those sampled were aged between 24-29.
These results are important because we need to target our opening towards a certain age group in order to make the film successful and encourage as many people to see it as possible. Looking at this graph we can see that the majority of people are more likely going to watch our film are those aged between 12-17. This therefore means that we need to create a storyline and opening which will attract them to the film. This graph will help us make decisions on what will happen in the film and the genre of the film. This is important because we want the film to be designed for them and therefore don’t want it to be too difficult to understand or get into.
Graph 2:
This graph shows the number of people that we asked who were male and female. This shows that 64% of the people we sampled were females and only 36% were males, this will therefore help our research because it will give us results on whether our film will be targeted at mainly males or females depending on what genre of films they tend to prefer and how often they visit the cinema. It was important to ask both males and females because we wanted to create an opening to a film which will be appealing to both genders. Asking both genders allows us to create an opening to a film which will attract both and therefore make the film more successful.
Graph 3:
This graph shows the number of times people visit the cinema, 42% of the people we sampled said that they went the cinema at least twice a month. This was important because it shows that the cinema is still popular and therefore we would be able to attract many people to see our film. The second most popular was once a week with 29% of people we sampled visiting the cinema every week. There was only one person who never went to cinema and this is beneficial to us because it shows that there will be many people who will be able to come and watch our film.
This will therefore benefit my film because there are many people who would be watching it on a regular basis and this will help it succeed. This also shows that both males and females of the people we sampled visit the cinema so this help the film is successful.
Graph 4:
This graph shows that 36% of people which we asked preferred psychological films. The second most popular sub-genre which people preferred were crime sub-genre thrillers, compared to other sub-genres. However when looking at the second most popular sub-genre people preferred 29% of people said crime. However only a small percentage of people preferred political and supernatural with 14% of people we asked preferring supernatural and 7% preferring political. These results are beneficial and help us establish what kind of opening sequence people are looking for. All this information will help us with the opening sequence decision of our own film. This information suggests us that we should probably play on the psychological aspect of our story main character because this is what the majority of the people we asked wanted. It also suggests that we should have an element of crime within the film this way we will be able to attract a wider audience. These results tell us that we should not create an opening sequence about political films because this is not what the majority of people we asked wanted and therefore may result in our film not attracting as many people.
Graph 5:
The most popular answer to ‘What type of music would you connect to a horror film?’ was Fast paced music with 36% of people preferring this. However 35% of people also said they liked loud and rock music but no one like classical. A film with fast paced music is usually a film which contains drama, action and suspense. These results has help us to establish what sort of music would be the most popular, therefore based on this information will try and include the music which causes suspense and drama which is stereotypical for a thriller film. However 29% of people also liked slow and mellow music and this could also be used because it will help cause mystery and surprise and help bring the film more alive.
Graph 6:
The graph above shows the amount of time people preferred a film to last for, the graph shows that 65% of people preferred at film that only lasted for 1 hour and 30 minutes. The second most common was 21% of people preferring a film which lasted 2 hours. This information is important and shows that no one would like to watch a film which was 3 hours or more and 14% of people would only like to watch a film which was 2 hours and 30 minutes long.
These results will help us when creating our opening because it will help us create the opening based on the plot of the film which isn’t to long. Knowing that people prefer shorter films will also help us create an opening which isn’t to long and therefore will keep the audience interested, which will result in our film being more successful.
Graph 7:
In order to create an opening, decisions have to be made on whether dialogue should be used or shouldn’t. 57% of people we smapled preferred to have dialogue in the opening sequence of the film however 43% said no. This shows that there is a higher percentage of people who feel that dialogue is important in the opening and helps them understand the plot and film more clearly.
This information can help us with decisions on whether we should use dialogue in our opening, if we were going to follow the information based on this graph then it would show that we should use some form of dialogue, however we also have to consider the conventions used in our genre of film. Using this information it shows that the results are very close and therefore in order to add suspense and uncertainty not including dialogue would be best.
Graph 8:
The graph above shows the different types of elements which are used within an oepning sequence to a film. Out of the people which we sampled it showed that 43% of people preferred the opening sequence to go deep into detail about the characters. The second most popular element was 36% of people liking the oepnign to be mysterious so it adds interest to the film and prevents the film being boring. Whereas 21% of people felt that the opening was just an effective part of the film. This information will help us with our oepning because we can interrupt these ideas and include them into our opeing. It will be important to include these ideas because it will help to attract all audiences and result in more people watchign the film. It aslo shows that including mystery and detail to a character by unfolding events in some in order to help the audience to connect to the chracter but aslo feel apart for the film.
Graph 9:
This graph shows whether people prefer films that go into deep psychology of a character, that have a background story or is action packed. The information shows that 43% like films which go into deep psychology. 36% of people prefer films which have a background story and therefore means that are able to connect and follow the film more easily. 21% of the people we sampled also like a action packed film, all this information will help us with our film. Looking at this information it shows that it is important that we make sure that we are including a background story which can be presented through the opening sequences but also create a film which makes the story which is surrounded by a central character. All of this will therefore help us create a film which is full of action and encourage as many people to watch it.
Graph 10:
This graph shows what attracts people to films, the music, storyline, actors, lighting or critics. There was an equal amount of people who said that the storyling and actors were the most important aspect of a film, with 29% of people both agreeiogn with this. However 21% of people also felt that the music was important. Critics don’t appear to make a great impact on whether people watch a film because on 7% of people selected this. All this information will help us make decisions on the elements which we are going to use in our film.
Preliminary task storyboard
Preliminary task Screenplay
INT–School corridor
A young GIRL is silently walking down a gloomy corridor, she seems nervous and uneasy.
She slowly arrives to a door, and pulls the handle down and walks in.
INT-A classroom
The young GIRL walks timidly towards a desk, and sits down opposite a young boy about the same age.
The young boy does not make eye contact and he just sits there with a vacant expression in his eyes.
BOY
I am sorry
(Sounding sympathetic)
GIRL
Why?
(With a tearful voice)
BOY
Sorry
GIRL
Why are you doing this to me?
Main Task
Location:
Characters:
