Risk Assessment

Editing of Opening Sequence

Improvements: 

More camera angles - Birds eye view

Lighter

Close up

Different shots of the hands

More arch shots

Text on screen

Non - diegetic

change shots up

USB shot

School Website

-Finish filming
-Sharper editing



-Shorten shots
-Add credits
-Test different music
-Add institution



- Add institutions
- Shorten the downloading scene
- Make sure that the institution doesn't overlap the downloading scene
- Music jumps when the character is about to turn it down
- Shorten the downloading scene



-Could shorten title animation
-Edit music ending



-Changed ending



- Added Film4 to the start

Script

Typography

How typography might look:

(By James Lewis)

Shot List

Sound

A playlist of Possible songs that we could use for our opening sequence.

The following songs are ones which we think would better suit our opening.

Kygo feat. Conrad Firestone Instrumental

This song works well with our opening sequence as it is a chill background music which would compliment our opening sequence without being too over the top. This song fits the purpose  of us having music which is to allow the audience to have something to listen to other than the sound of our character typing on the keyboard.

Nada Funk - Yuma King

This song makes our opening sequence more upbeat yet slightly changes the audiences views on how they view the character. it would make our opening more interesting and gain the audiences attention, but doesn't suit how we originally interpreted our opening sequence.
The song is a good length which matches up with our opening. It also gives the audience a better image of our character.

MitiS & MaHi - Tribute

This would be a good song for background music as it has no dialect and has a quite consistent throughout and it isn't too upbeat or too depressing. Although, even though it does have good qualities it and would compliment our opening sequence as relaxing background music, it doesn't really suit our characters personality or his actions.

ACTIONABLE | ROYALTY FREE MUSIC

(From Bensound)

This song would work well with our opening sequence as it suits are characters objectives and create a tense atmosphere. This song also offers a different perspective from the other songs and completely changes the way the audience look at the character and the opening sequence as a whole.

Audience Profile

(By James Lewis)

Character Profile

Name: Brian Redford
Age: 17
Height: 6ft 1in
Weight: 133lbs
Nationality: English
Accent: Essex
Skin Colour: White
Hair Colour: Brown
Hair Style: Styled up and to the right
Eye Colour: Blue
Facial Hair: Stubble
Origin: London
Current Place of Living: Thornbury
Moved because: Wasn't making friends at his old school and his dad got a job opportunity in Thornbury doing his dream job
Home: Detached 3-bedroom
Relationship with Mother and Father: Doesn't talk to them as he spends all day on his computer
Relationship with Friends: None, as he doesn't leave his computer and is bullied by just about everyone when he does because of his intellectual abilities
Job: No job
Dress Style: Usually just casual-wear but sometimes he just throws on the first thing that he can find 
Religion: None
Hobbies: Hacking into the school's databases and changing the grades of people that bully him
Favourite Music: Electronic
Favourite Sports: None
Favourite Food: Whatever food that has been brought up by his Mother. He does like Doritos a lot though
Positive Trait: Focused
Negative Trait: Highly antisocial
Sense of Humour: None and never laughs because he doesn't have any friends to make him laugh
Temper: Loses it when he gets his hacking wrong with a slight problem. With other people, he stays calm, almost all of the time
Ambitions: Wants to either topple governments or (more likely) hack into a well-known conglomerate, and, instead of being prosecuted, getting hired by said company to improve their firewalls
Audience Dislike or Like: For just the opening scene, I think that the audience's opinion will be mixed as they don't really learn anything about him in just the opening scene. If the audience were to see the rest of the film they would probably feel sympathy because it would show the audience that he gets bullied from everyone at school because he is intellectual

(By Ali Grimsell)

Thinking of a Concept/Final Idea

Preliminary Task

        This task required me to create a short scene of someone opening a door, crossing a room, sitting down opposite another character, exchanging a few lines of dialogue and then walking out of the room. As well as this, I also had to follow three rules:

Match on Action
- This is an editing technique to help with continuity
- The shot should portray a character doing an action then cut doing the same action from a different angle
- This creates a 'Visual Bridge' which can help draw the audience's attention away from the slight continuity issues

180° Rule
- This means that the camera cannot turn more than 180° throughout the scene

Shot/Reverse Shot
- Continuity editing technique in conversations or a character looking at an object
- Ties in with the 180° rule

Representation in Films

Representations in films from KitFielder

Audience Research

(source The Breakfast Club Prezi)

In this task We created a questionnaire for people to answer after watching the opening sequence of Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

(By Ali Grimsell)

(By James Lewis)

From this we I have learnt:

• The age is very important to the audience
• Coming of Age films are mostly enjoyed by teenagers
• Action/Adventure are enjoyed by Teens to young-adults
• Comedy is appealing to almost all ages

Title Research

Title Research of Superbad & Easy A from KitFielder

        For this Title Research task I analysed two Coming of Age Film's title sequences; Superbad and Easy A. After analysing them I found out how important typography is and how it can greatly improve your opening and make it successful in engaging your audience.
        These are the new codes and conventions that I have learnt:

• The order in which the names appear
• use the font to leave connotations of the narrative
• Typography needs to be interesting and appealing to the audience
• Font should suitable for the films narrative
• Importance in Order of text
• Where to place it etc. if its important information then place in the centre of the screen
• Use the background to make the text stand out
• Use the surrounding of the text to support and emphasize it
• Film title can have different font to stand out

        After researching title sequences I believe that the most important point of typography is how it gives your film's opening sequence its own identity, this is achieved by using the same font though out the title sequence.

Narrative Structure

        Juno

        The Breakfast Club

        American Pie

        From this task I have learnt that most directors follow the same conventions to make the opening sequence as effective as possible at establishing the narrative structure and appealing to the audience.
        The conventions which are followed are:

• Todorov's Equilibrium theory. This means that the opening sequences should give hints towards the narratives equilibrium
• Prop's Character Types - This means that the audience should be able to identify who the characters are and what role they role in the film. For example in The Breakfast Club We are able to see that Principal Richard Vernon is Portrayed as the villain and the five students play the roles of the Hero's and princesses.
• Levi Strauss Binary Opposites - In most opening sequences there was a clear binary opposite introduced through the opening sequences. The most common to occur is Good Vs Bad and Young Vs Old. These binary opposites are most common amongst Coming of Age Films as they are common stereotypes
• Barthes action codes - This means that the opening sequence give hints towards the further narrative.

Analysis of Previous Students Work

Grade: A

Strengths and Weaknesses: They used a variety of different Camera angles which engaged the audience be introducing the setting. They also made professional use of the typography by choosing a font which fits well with the narrative and the placement of it.
 However, their chosen music featured in the opening sequence doesn't fit with all the scenes, so a better chosen song could have have been more fitting for the action shots.

Is the material appropriate for the target audience?: I think that it would gain a lot of interest from the target audience because of its narrative. However, I feel the audience would struggle to relate with any of the characters, which is usually a common way to engage the audience. However, this movie suggest that the audience may use this as some sort of escapism.

Sound Quality: They have played music throughout the opening sequence and have used no dialog. I believe this allows the audience to use their imagination to think about the narrative.

Camera Work: They have used a a wide range of camera angles and are all shot in good quality. yet, in some of the shots the camera is visually shaky.

Does the editing suit the genre?: I think that the editing does suit the genre as it switches between characters which engages the audience as it reveals some character development and also give some hints towards the narrative and context.

Is the mise en scene appropriate for the video?: I think that the mise en scene is appropriate for this opening sequence as the use of high and low key lighting allow the audience to get a better feel for the mood and atmosphere in the scene. I think that the use of costumes allows the audience to identify the the good from the bad people.

Overall Areas of improvement: Overall, the few things I think they could improve on are their music chose, I feel they need music which emphasizes the action scenes. Another improvement they could make is how they try to reveal clues of the narrative as for at the moment the audience are left slightly clueless.



Grade: B

Strengths and Weaknesses: They have made really good use of sound and music to support what is happing in the scene. they have also been able to use the music correctly in situations, for example to silences to build tension in the scene. They have also make good use of a fake institution.
Although, the dialog is not at a consistent volume which makes it a little difficult for the audience to hear. They have also shown some poor editing skills as at one point we can clear see a cut in the scene.

Is the material appropriate for the target audience?:  I think the material is appropriate for the target audience as it is an interesting narrative and the audience are quickly engaged by whats happening.

Sound Quality: The sound quality is pretty good and can be considered as one of their strongest points. Their use of non-diegetic sounds have been professionally done and fit in well with what is happening. By doing this they have allowed the audience to become more evolved with whats going on.

Camera Work: They have used a range of different camera angles which work really well and allow the audience to get a good idea of what going on and where they are.

Does the editing suit the genre? I think that the editing does suit the genre and engages the target audience because of that. This is because some on the shots they have done allow the audience to get a really good sense of the atmosphere and what the director was trying to do.

Is the mise en scene appropriate for the video?: I think that they have made good use of the mise en scene as the setting they have used allows the audience to get a good understanding of where they are and what type of movie it will be, this also shows a well developed narrative.

Overall Areas of improvement: The improvements that could be made are the the clear editing so that the audience done see any cuts. They also need to be careful about the props they use and not to show any clear mistakes.

From this I have learnt:

• Use a range of different camera angles
• Have a relatable narrative
• Have a song which is fitting creates mood and atmophere
• Have a setting which fits the narrative
• Clean cuts in the editing

Producers And Distributors

        After researching Producers are Distributors I have learnt that even if a company is labeled as a minor companie they have still produced popular award winning films and worked with well known actors/actresses, for example Apatow Productions have produced films such as Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and Superbad. However this is what is expected from major companies, yet as well as producing large films, major companies have also produced and supported small budget films.

Conventions Of An Opening Sequence

 (Juno done by James Lewis)

        From this I have learnt that Coming of Age Films seem to follow similar codes and conventions to each other. After studying two openings in more detail I have found out that to make a more appealing opening for your target audience you should follow some of the following codes and conventions:

• Use the same font through out
• use complimentary colours to make your text stand out more
• Use a range of different camera angles
• Use body language and facial expressions to give your characters an identity
• Have the main character as someone who the audience and relate with
• Use the opening to engage the audience and catch their attention
• Allow the opening to give hints for the further narrative

        When creating my own opening sequence I will try and include some of these effective codes and conventions to make it as appealing as possible.

Director Case Study - Greg Mottola

        Greg Mottola is a director whose films often capture the funny, embarrassing but very real moments of being a teenager. Most the the films that greg mottola has directed do not have similar narratives, moreover what he has directed often contains characters which are have realistic characteristics and allow the specific target audience to relate with. Mottola’s has a good understanding on what engages a target audience people interested in comedy genre films. 

        When it comes to mise-en-scene and technique Mottola didn’t have any distinct style that he would rely on, although his opening sequences usually gives the audience an introduction into the narrative and presents the main character. Although in Superbad is uses a more abstract introduction by only using silhouettes and text.
        His opening sequences and films don't not share a similar narrative; they all exist within the comedy genre.

        From this directors case study I have learnt that to engage the audience through the introduction it is a good idea to give an introduction to the main characters and cause the audience immediately gain interest in the character and the narrative. 

History Of Coming To Age Films

        From this task I have learnt that throughout history coming of age films have been directed by following some of these key conventions:

• Introducing The main protagonist in the opening sequence.
• Using an effective font to express connotations. 
• Narrative driven by main characters desire.
• There doesn't need to be a singular antagonist.
• The title is usually engaging to the target audience.

        After researching the history of coming of age films it has helped me think of ideas and conventions which I can use when creating my own opening sequence.

Famous Opening Sequences

        From this task I have learnt that the best opening sequence are the ones which begin the narrative for the film and have a relationship with the rest of the film. Most opening sequences immediately attract the primary target audience and present the audience with important information. I have also learnt that it is best to present the institutions, directions and actors names clearly and so that they stand out.