Establishing our groups and ideas
In class, we have been put into groups to start thinking about our ideas for our opening title sequence of a thriller.
We all shared our ideas, none of which we thought were either interesting or achievable. So we developed a new idea. We have yet to establish what the synopsis of the film is but the opening sequence is like this:
A close up shot of a digital alarm clock. It is dark and in a bedroom. The window is opening and there is wind coming in and blowing the curtains. There is a shot of a tap dripping making an eerie noise. All of this tension builds up with a heartbeat sound effect over the top of the clip, then suddenly the alarm clock starts blurting out music, and the man in the bed slams it off with his hand.
I will be working with Luke and Vlada in this task. One of the potential weaknesses could be that we could get bored as our idea is fairly simple. However, a potential strength could be that it is very effective as it is so simple.
Friday 18 October 2013
Media Terminology
Connotation and Denotation
We give labels to things to know the difference between similar things.
In using a name or a label which our audience has used before, we evoke a meaning for our audience. This is the meaning which we intend to evoke. This is denotation.
However, in using a name or a label which our audience has used before, we evoke not only the meaning we intend but also a varying range of personal memories of other occasions when this word or label has been encountered. This is called connotation.
For example, when we think of a kitchen knife, many things could come in to our heads as we think of things that relate to personal memories or simple stereotypes.
Denotation refers to the basic interpretation of the light hitting our eyes, but connotation refers to the meanings we then associate with what we are seeing.
If you make the connotations that the producer of the media text meant you to make, this is called a preferred reading.
If you make different connotations from those which the producer intended you to make, then this is called an oppositional reading.
We give labels to things to know the difference between similar things.
In using a name or a label which our audience has used before, we evoke a meaning for our audience. This is the meaning which we intend to evoke. This is denotation.
However, in using a name or a label which our audience has used before, we evoke not only the meaning we intend but also a varying range of personal memories of other occasions when this word or label has been encountered. This is called connotation.
For example, when we think of a kitchen knife, many things could come in to our heads as we think of things that relate to personal memories or simple stereotypes.
Denotation refers to the basic interpretation of the light hitting our eyes, but connotation refers to the meanings we then associate with what we are seeing.
If you make the connotations that the producer of the media text meant you to make, this is called a preferred reading.
If you make different connotations from those which the producer intended you to make, then this is called an oppositional reading.
Video
Preliminary exercise: Continuity task involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180-degree rule.
Main task: the titles and opening of a new fiction film, to last a maximum of two minutes.
All video and audio material must be original, produced by the candidate(s), with the exception of music or audio effects from a copyright-free source. Both preliminary and main tasks may be done individually or as a group. Maximum four members to a group.
Preliminary Task Video
Our Preliminary Task: The Final Product
Recently, I filmed a short sequence, the storyboard of which has been posted earlier. Seeing as I was ill on the day of actual filming, I decided to help another group with their editing instead of edit the film on my own that I filmed on a different day.
Here is the sequence we edited together:
Overall, I am pleased with what we put together and believe that we edited well considering it was our first project.
Recently, I filmed a short sequence, the storyboard of which has been posted earlier. Seeing as I was ill on the day of actual filming, I decided to help another group with their editing instead of edit the film on my own that I filmed on a different day.
Here is the sequence we edited together:
Overall, I am pleased with what we put together and believe that we edited well considering it was our first project.
Sunday 13 October 2013
Opening Title Sequence Ideas
An Opening Title Sequence to a Thriller
Recently, we were asked to come up with four main ideas for a thriller opening title sequence. I shared all of these ideas with Adam and he decided this one had the most potential:
Synopsis- about a woman who is a maid and cleans hotel rooms for a living. She is in a dead end relationship and this could be a significant storyline. One day she meets a dodgy looking man who she is weirdly attracted to, they start talking as he is staying in one of the rooms at the hotel she works. Eventually, they meet up in the evening and it turns out he's a criminal.
Opening Title Sequence- All set in a hotel room: she could be vacuuming, making the bed, fluffing the pillows etc. when she finds something or notices something unusual. I have yet to decide what this should be but have made a spider diagram with a few ideas which should help me decide. This will also help with determining the complete synopsis of the film.
Here is the spider diagram:
If you click on the picture of the diagram it will enlarge.
Recently, we were asked to come up with four main ideas for a thriller opening title sequence. I shared all of these ideas with Adam and he decided this one had the most potential:
Synopsis- about a woman who is a maid and cleans hotel rooms for a living. She is in a dead end relationship and this could be a significant storyline. One day she meets a dodgy looking man who she is weirdly attracted to, they start talking as he is staying in one of the rooms at the hotel she works. Eventually, they meet up in the evening and it turns out he's a criminal.
Opening Title Sequence- All set in a hotel room: she could be vacuuming, making the bed, fluffing the pillows etc. when she finds something or notices something unusual. I have yet to decide what this should be but have made a spider diagram with a few ideas which should help me decide. This will also help with determining the complete synopsis of the film.
Here is the spider diagram:
If you click on the picture of the diagram it will enlarge.
Sunday 6 October 2013
Editing: Part Two
Finishing our short sequence
This lesson we finished our first editing adventure (hooray) using Final Cut Pro.
We had a few problems in this lesson with understanding and correcting mistakes on the computer. We each took about three turns on the computer (as that was what time allowed) and 'seemingly' made our piece not fit together. We had problems with connecting the sound and video smoothly, but this was quickly resolved by using 'B' to cut the audio shorter and using 'A' to drag the pieces overlapping so they fit perfectly.
The video should be ready to upload soon (once we're told how to do that...) and then you can watch for your viewing pleasure one of the best short films you've ever seen.
Analysing Sequences: Kill Bill
Kill Bill: Beatrix Buried Alive
The other day in class we looked at a scene from Kill Bill involving one character being buried alive, here is the scene:
This scene specifically uses a lot of Diegetic sound which is enhanced for the audience to feel like they are in the movie. A unique thing about this clip is that in a substantial part of the sequence, there is no picture at all, only sound and a black screen. This creates suspense for the audience as we can only hear what's going on and therefore can't fully understand exactly what is happening. This type of effect allows the audience to create their own image inside their head and usually, as the noises we're hearing at horrific, e.g dirt being dumped and heavy breathing, it is more gruesome that it would be, giving the clip a powerful sense of mystery.
However, this clip also uses Non-Diegetic sound in the form of a tune being whistled. This adds to the effect of the scene as it creates a suspenseful mood and atmosphere. The whistling is quite a sad, melodic song and this tells the audience that what is happening isn't a good thing.
There is no speech in this clip, which also adds to the unusual atmosphere. As an audience who as only seen this clip and not the film, it makes you question about what is happening, and makes you feel as if you've missed something, like the reason for the woman being buried. This clip uses a lot of sound but no words but still has a powerful effect by using loud Diegetic sound to explain what is going on.
The other day in class we looked at a scene from Kill Bill involving one character being buried alive, here is the scene:
This scene specifically uses a lot of Diegetic sound which is enhanced for the audience to feel like they are in the movie. A unique thing about this clip is that in a substantial part of the sequence, there is no picture at all, only sound and a black screen. This creates suspense for the audience as we can only hear what's going on and therefore can't fully understand exactly what is happening. This type of effect allows the audience to create their own image inside their head and usually, as the noises we're hearing at horrific, e.g dirt being dumped and heavy breathing, it is more gruesome that it would be, giving the clip a powerful sense of mystery.
However, this clip also uses Non-Diegetic sound in the form of a tune being whistled. This adds to the effect of the scene as it creates a suspenseful mood and atmosphere. The whistling is quite a sad, melodic song and this tells the audience that what is happening isn't a good thing.
There is no speech in this clip, which also adds to the unusual atmosphere. As an audience who as only seen this clip and not the film, it makes you question about what is happening, and makes you feel as if you've missed something, like the reason for the woman being buried. This clip uses a lot of sound but no words but still has a powerful effect by using loud Diegetic sound to explain what is going on.
Thursday 3 October 2013
Analysing Opening Sequences: Vertigo
In similarity to Goldfinger, this opening title sequence uses a woman's face therefore objectifying her. In most common thrillers, someone gets into trouble or murdered, and if the 'killer' has a series of victims, stereotypically the first one to die will be an attractive female. However, this shows a warped version of the woman's face turn into a spiral, this suggests that the film could be supernatural or involve someone with mental illness.
The use of the colour red in this clip signifies danger as when the camera zooms into a close up of her eye, she looks scared and then it turns red. This makes the audience think of blood and danger, two things that are specifically linked to the thriller genre.
The use of zoom and focus throughout this clip highly enhances the effect of the clip as it really draws the audience into what is happening. This sequence is very random and does not tell us much about the film, therefore leaving the audience on 'the edge of their seats' and wanting to watch more.
Wednesday 2 October 2013
Analysing Opening Sequences: Goldfinger
This opening title sequence uses the device of keeping a colour scheme throughout, which is a fairly common for thriller films as it sets the mood. The gold here represents luxury and higher class and as people's faces are projected onto the gold body parts, we know that this is a signifier that these people are rich and in power.
As is common in a James Bond movie, there is a theme song running throughout. This song is called 'Goldfinger' and therefore the pictures on screen need to match with the song and vice versa. Within the editing, there seems to be almost a rhythm between how long a shot stays on screen to when it changes according to the music. This makes the audience want to watch the piece more as it flows and is easy watching.
Throughout the opening title sequence, we are shown snippets of the film to come, which is designed to keep the audience on edge and for them to continue watching. This is done inventively and uniquely using projections in order for the audience to be intrigued by the way they are presented.
Another theme throughout this sequence is the objectification of women. As they say in the industry, if you put a woman's body on screen in intriguing positions, the male AND female audience equally are interested in the aim and objective of this woman.
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