Filming Day

On the 12th of January Laura, Kiah and myself filmed our opening sequence with the help of two voluntary actors! We tried to film as many shots as possible, so that if when we are editing we have a lot of material to work with. During the shoot we had to bear in mind all of the hazards which could have taken place, especially as during the shoot the lights did get quite hot. 
During the shoot we made different decisions to what was storyboarded at some points, because we found that some of the shots would work better than the ones which we had originally planned. We also filmed some extra scenes which we will edit together to create a behind the scenes film. Overall, our day of filming went well and we hopefully managed to capture shots which will be able to create an opening sequence which will appeal to our target market.

Group Discussions 10/01/13

In the lesson today we conducted our audience research. We interviewed three students who were not media students and asked them a series of questions to do with their film habits, such as what genre of films do they watch the most, how many films on average they watch each week etc...
We videoed their responses and uploaded them onto the group blog. We also carried on planning our filming day, which is the 12/01/13. We finalized our cast members and decided on the most appropriate filming times. 

Titles Analysis

A title sequence is a method in both films and television programmes where the most important contributors to the film/programme is displayed, such as the title, cast members, key production members are presented. The title sequence is different from opening credits, which is where the most important members of the production are presented. 

Title sequences usually have music incorporated into them, but this is not always, this can depend on the genre, and type of opening sequence the film makers have wanted to create. Closing credits usually occur in very small print, which contrasts to the titles at the beginning of a sequence because the  writing usually stands out and is hard to avoid reading, especially when there is little action happening in the background, or there is a blank screen behind. 

There are different ways to display a title sequence at the beginning of a film. 

When films have a separate sequence altogether, it is known as a title sequence. One of the best examples of this is James Bond: Goldfinger (1964).

Today, titles are usually put on a black screen or on top of the action as it is happening. Below are various examples of different titles.

Lift and Stairs

Whilst editing the "Lift and Stairs" sequence it was important that I used match on action, which not only helped to create narrative, but it helped to create tension and suspense through various cutaways. I also used different tools on Final Cut to speed up time, in order to not lose interest.

Group Discussions 09/01/13

In today's lesson, we uploaded all of our information on and photos onto our group blog. We also decided that in the next lesson we would try to do some audience research.

Group Discussions 07/01/13

Today, Kiah, Laura and I decided on who our cast would be and wrote the script. We decided on a location for our opening sequence and conducted a risk assessment of what potential hazards there could be. We looked at costumes, and booked the cameras.

Narrative

Todorov's Theory

Todorov’s theory recognises the usual pattern for a storyline. This can often be applied to the vast majority of films.

One film which clearly complies with Todorov’s theory is “Singin’ in the Rain” (1952)

The beginning equilibrium is that the main character, Don Lockwood, is a silent movie star who can just tolerate his co-star, Lina Lamont, and they pretend, for publicity to be romantically involved. Their films are very successful, and are both very famous actors.

The disruption of the film is that “The Jazz Singer”, a film with sound, has been very successful so all film companies are now using sound in their movies.

The recognition is that there is success from sound films, so there is no option but to turn the next Lockwood and Lamont film into a “talkie”. The problem is that Lina’s voice is not seen as suitable for the sound.

The repair for the disruption is for Kathy, Don’s love interest to talk over Lina’s acting, so it sounds like Lina’s voice. However, the audience’s find out that it is Kathy’s voice not Lina’s and she is “the real star of the film”.

The new equilibrium is Don and Kathy to star in their sound film together, “Singin’ in the Rain”.

Levi Strauss' Theory

Another recognises theory is Levi Strauss’ theory, of there being binary opposition. This is clearly visible in Titanic (1997).

Some opposition are:

Rich vs. Poor: Rose’s family expect her to marry into her own class, not someone who is of a lower class.

Male vs. Female: There are clearly to main characters, and Rose is supposed to act like a typical “woman” of that era.

Good vs. Bad: Jack is a good man, and Rose’s true love, which is against Cal, who is a conman who does not want to be humiliated.

Propp's Theory

Propp’s theory relates to both characters and narrative.

He outlined the different roles in films, which is obvious in the film Bridesmaids (2011):

Hero= Annie

Villian= Helen

The Princess/Prize= Lillian, her best friend

The Donor= Rhodes

The Dispatcher= Helen

The Mentor= Annie’s mother

Bridesmaids also relates to Propp’s theory of narrative.

Preparation: Annie lives in Wisconsin, near to her best friend. She has a job and lives with two room mates.

Complication: Lillian is getting married and moving away. Helen, is Lillian’s good friend who makes Annie feel threatened. Annie meets a police officer, Rhodes, who she explains her troubles to.

Transference: Annie is given the chance to be maid of honour and on several occasions, ruins the plans for the wedding preparations.

Struggle: Lillian and Annie are now barely talking, she is forced to move in with her mother, who is helping her life get back on track, after losing her job. Annie is no longer speaking to Rhodes who had become her love interest, and on the day of the wedding Helen tells Annie that Lillian has gone missing.

Recognition: Rhodes helps Annie find Lillian. Lillian and Annie make up and Lillian gets married. Rhodes and Annie then make up and she is now happy to have her best friend back.