Group: Further Concept Development - Location and Characters

We are thinking of using lcations like the woods in Soutborough, as well as the nearby church grounds. Moreover, there is an abandoned slaughter house in Frant, we feel this would also be a good location because it reflects the genre of our opening.



With regards to further ideas with characters, we are still building ideas around a derranged killer pursuing a nervous and vulnerable victim who is trying to escape.

JR 6245: New Idea

I really like the opening to I Am Legend, it uses several different screen shots at the beggining to show important establishing shots of a particular place. I think it could be a good option to use this technique to introduce a location to our clip. What do you guys think?

JR 6245: Technical Analysis

I Am Legend

Camera	Duration	Mise-en-scene
The scene opens with a still shot, an establishing shot of the city from the perspective of facing down one street.	6 seconds	The street has been intruded by wildlife like plants and greenery sprouting, to connote that there is no longer maintenance. Also there are some birds flying around, tweeting.
Birds-eye view shot over the city streets, gliding through the air as if the movement of a bird, directly above one straight street in which the protagonist enters the shot by driving up the street, up the screen exactly vertical.	13 seconds	It is again very quiet, there is no movement other that the camera itself and the single car driving. Everything else is deadly still however there are still many objects in place, set design, cars and buildings all around.
Camera cuts to close-up of gun then the protagonist picks the weapon up and as he does so the camera pans up to follow his movement but as he lays the gun in his lap the camera continues to pan, as to view his face.	6 seconds	He is wearing normal clothes, a thin jacket as the weather looks quite mild. The inside of the car, similar to the outside, is very clean.
Camera positioned behind the car as it accelerates, camera retains the same distance from the car as it moves.	2 seconds	The car appears to intrude on a flock of birds, crows. As the car speeds up the birds are alarmed and squawk as they simultaneously flee the path of the car. This reinforces the quietness of the scene, the amount of birds feel safe enough to land on a road.

AS: Technical Analysis

The Haunting in Connecticut

Click Picture for Link to Opening Sequence

Camera	Duration	Mise en scene
Close Up of Woman	6 seconds	Clothes connote that she is being held for questioning and that she has committed a crime
Medium Shot of Woman	3 seconds	She looks refined to a chair and is being forced to speak into a camera, this also reinforces the idea that she has committed a crime
Panning	3 seconds	The newspapers shown on the table suggest that there has been a story or event that has made the headlines. This has an enigmatic effect on the audience
Two Shot of mother and son in car	20 seconds	This shot shows the boy waking up, connoting he is tired or he could be ill and this creates suspense and tension because the reason for his supposed tiredness or illness is unknown

DS: Film opening analysis 3

Resident Evil Apocolypse -  Narrative and Representation & Ideology

Narrative:

• The narrative is juxtaposing with the introduction the back line story of the film and contributes to it's explanation.
• The audience is positioned as an outsider as they are being informed of something you would believe they are unaware of.
• The narrator is identified as the main character as she herself explains.
• The major themes are science and zombies.
• Tension is created with use of critical vocabulary that are usual taboos in society.

Representation & Ideology:

• The social groups are limited in this scene as it based around a few human survivors (one being female - a progressive representation) against a world filled with zombies.
• The ideological discourse is that women are capable of survival in physical dilemmas and difficult situation and that male scientists are not as superior as originally thought.
• The genre is taken seriously with little comedy as it is an apocalyptic survival film.

What I learnt from this:

• That narrative can have a key role in explaining the basis of a story to an audience, however my group is not likely to use one due to the difficulty to make it effective.
• That representation is key to a film and my group will make sure we consider in depth how we represent our characters and establish an ideology to create an enigma.

DS: Film Opening analysis 2

The Ring - Media Audiences and Institutional Context

Media Audiences:

• The target audience for this film is most probably the horror audience which is ages 15-24.
• The preferred reading of this opening is that the girl is vulnerable and is targeted by the demonic girl.
• Personally as a British teenager, I read the text as being supernatural and completely fictional. My age may be why I am unfazed and unconvinced by the material in the clip.

Institutional Context:

• This opening does not include a star. However I believe this to have a positive effect as it makes the clip more familiar with the audience and allows them to relate to it.
• This film was produced by the industrial film company Dream Works Pictures.
• The film was marketed traditional and virally with a website being set up with a fan forum within.
• I don't believe the institutional context is evident in the opening because there are very few conventions used that would normally be associated with an industrially produced film.

What I learnt from this:

• That it's important for my group's production to identify a target audience so we can shape the content of our opening to the wants of our target audience
• That we need to create our opening to our strengths, we know we do not have to resources nor facilities to create an industrial-like production therefore, we will play to our strengths and go for a purposely amateur and realistic idea.

JR 6245: Initial Ideas on: Location, treatment, props, sound and characters

Location:

• Woodland Areas
• Abandoned Areas
• Rural Areas
• Nursery

Props:

• To-do-list
• Red pen
• Dolls
• Knife

Characters:

• Various victims
• Murdering antagonist
• Deceased victims

Sound:

• Scared screams of victims
• Evil laugh from killer
• Stabbing noises
• Panting
• Panicky dialogue

Treatment:


Opening shows what the audience presumes is a derranged killer, they never get to see his face. The killer is seen going through a list ticking off names, but the motives behind his behaviour is not known. It connotes that he has killed the people due to the screams and music, as well as the mise en scene. Various cuts vary from the acts being done and his list. As the final task is carried out, the name is not ticked off. The scene cuts to the victim with parallel editing which implies this is the person who is being targeted.

3 main lines of action will hopefully be used, one for the shots positioned with the antagonist ticking the list and wealding other things, one for the location of slaughter house where flashbacks of previous murders occur and another line of action to show the final person on the list being hunted and chased by the murderer. The cutting rate of these lines of action will give these main scenes longer establishing time and other short shots of other things such as shots of weapons or blood will be cut quickly and sharply to give a razer like effect, possibly with high pitched, sharp music sounds over the top. Also as the scenes inter cut at a faster rate the music has to compliment this by speeding up at a louder and faster tempo.

JR 6245: Preliminary Task

Preliminary Task, 27 Jan 2012.

Preliminary Task Feedback

Group 2: Preliminary Task

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-21qbS7bZM


 1.  1.Outline brief (continuity, 180 degree, 2 lines of dialogue, opening door)
 Continuity editing means created logic coherence between shots. The 180 degree rules is where two characters should always be positioned with the same relationship to each other.We included two lines of dialogue in our clip, we used them at the end so that the story is summed up by the protagonist. The shot where the protagonist opens the door is used with cutting on action to create a sense of realism as we follow his movement.
2.  What did you learn about filming? What are your best shots? What difficulties did you encounter?

From the task, we learnt that it is always best to get two of every shot you take so that you have the option to choose the better one of the two. Moreover, we learnt it takes a lot of time and thought to be able to get the correct shot that you want. One of our best shots is the shot after the deal has been done, where the two different characters go their separate ways. Also, another one of our best shots is the handicam shot of the chase, placing the audience with the characters.

3.  What did you learn about editing? What did you do in post-production that was successful?

 When editing what we had shot, we learnt that the most difficult part is to condense the footage down to help ensure the project doesn't get boring for the audience. Our most successful thing that we did post production was cutting out the beginning and ends of shots that were longer than they needed to be. This helped maintain a smooth flowing clip that engaged with the audience.

4.4.  Evaluate your production. What are the strengths and weaknesses? What tips would you therefore give yourself for the opening sequence production? 

The main strength of our production is the variation of shots. Considering this was our first attempt at production, we are happy with the variety of shots we were able to capture. One area we believe we can improve on is improving our panning of the camera for shots, as well as trying to enhance the steadiness of future handicam shots. Therefore tips we would give ourselves for the opening sequence include:

• Smoother panning in shots
• Try to steady the handicam shots slightly
• Position the camera in better places for shots

DS: What I learnt in today's lesson 23/01/12

In today's lesson I learnt -

• How to set up the tripod
• How to use the camcorders
• How to do a pan shot, CU and handicam
• Safety when using the equipment

AS: Analysing a film opening 3

Tears (Sang-soo, 2006)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K136askLqTc

Media Audiences:

1. The target audience of this film is regular horror film viewers, mainly a young audience.
2. The preferred and most probable reading of the opening extract would be that the girl is innocently playing on her swing and then is the subject of a horrific situation. The other possible reading may be that the girl may be picturing what the audience sees in her head, and she could therefore be interpreted as having a mental illness or suffering as a result of witnessing something equally as horrific in the past.
3. As a British teenager, I read the text as including an innocent girl playing on her swing, where she is the subject of a horrific situation. At her young age, I therefore have sympathy for her and I believe this is because of my background where I have been protected and cared for in a safe environment and therefore would not ever imagine myself as being in that situation. 

Institutional Context:

1. The opening indicates that a bankable actor and a star has not been used in this film. 
2. B.O.M Film Productions Ltd produced this film, they are an independent Japanese company.

3. The director spent five months amongst the homeless runaway children and got to know them. Therefore the reality aspect was something that they tried to push for when marketing the film. 
4. The institutional context is not however evident in the production values of the opening. 

JR 6245: Lesson Review 23rd January

In todays lesson we used the camera and some equipment for the first time. After setting up the tripod a couple of times it became easy to understand for future use. We used the camera by capturing some basic shots which seemed harder than expected however the tripod is a very useful tool.

JR 6245: Film Opening Analysis 3

Saw 1 (Wan, 2004)

Genre:

• The tension begins in this with the silence and with the introduction of small, quiet diagetic sounds the audience can detect an echo which involves generic conventions of the Horror genre.
• Again the panicy tone of the initial character is understood by the audience as there is a great sense of tension in the room, it is dark, it is echoed, there are other eary sounds in the distance then there are questions that are unanswered: Why is he chained up? Why is he there? Who is holding him captive?

Film Language:

• As the lights come on the man squints and looks in shock from the light which shows the audience just how dark it was before and to reinforce this point the camera shows a POV shot in the position of the character and the screen appears blurred and dissorientated.
• The mise-en-scene of the set also has generic conventions as it is a tiled room with very basic features and it's facilities look very dirty and disgusting, it resembles a slaughter house which is quite ironic and perfect for its purpose.
• When the camera tilts down and raises up over the body in the middle to give a full shot of the dead body the camera quickly rasises up higher and spins at the same time which connotes the characters trying to comprehend what is happening in this situation.
• The camera shots then consecutively cut to quick still shots of the important features which the audience are supposed to note; the blooded head, the cassette recorder in his hand, the gun in his other hand.

AS: Film Opening Analysis 2

Camp Blood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z3D2V-K3Qk

Narrative:

1. The narrative in the opening sequence is organised so that each of the opening characters are able to be introduced to the audience. The structure means that suspense is built up around the subtext of the 'killer clown' story.
2. The audience is positioned with the two characters in the isolated location along with the narrative to help them to be able to feel emotions and especially the girls fear when the man tells her the story.
3. One main technique of identification would be the way that the two main characters are portrayed. The way that they are dressed suggests that they are normal people who are not wearing anything too exaggerated. Moreover, the lunches they have prepared themselves connote innocence, and more importantly naivety on the women's behalf. 
4. The theme created in the narrative is naivety and innocence.
5. Tension is created through the introduction of the clown story from the man to his girlfriend. This tension is maintained through the emotions of the woman upon hearing the story and her fear helps keep this tension going and makes the audience feel it as well. 

Representation and Ideology:

1. Young people are represented in this clip as being vulnerable and innocent. The young woman has no idea of the clown story and if she did it is likely that she would not have stopped for lunch like her boyfriend asked her to. 
2. The main value that is evident in the clip is the supportive relationship that the woman has for her partner. Shown by the acceptance to sit and eat with him and her knowledge of his favourite drink.
3. Semiotics constructs representation because the woman's fear is indicated and once she is aware of the story her communication that she has with her boyfriend that was friendly before the story was told seems to disappear and she becomes scared to be left on her own. The main aspect of semiotics is the symbol of the clown face, this helps to represent the boyfriend as being deceiving and hurtful as he is attempting to scare his innocent girlfriend. 

JR 6245:Film Opening Analysis 2

Friday 13th (Nispel, 2009)

Narrative:

• The generic conventions of the film are shown in the opening clip by the use of darkness, night time. And also the classic Horror film effect of using bad weather, heavy rain with thunder and lightening to create tension and to scare the audience.
• The introduction of the first character shows the audience streight away that there is something wrong, for starters the question looms: Why is there a half naked girl scrammbling around in the woods at this time and in this weather? And the panic in her half screaming voice reinforces the sense of tension to the audience.

Representation and Ideology:

• As the camera goes through the archway slowly, the camera tilts upwards from a worms eye view to show the sign above the arch.
• The introduction of a second character creates a small binary oposition as the two converse, one is a panicy young girl who appears traumatised whereas the other is an old lady who looks fairly odd, a stereotypical 'crazy murderer' in a Horror film.
• The fact that the girl is positioned in front of a what appears to be a lake, or some kind of fresh water source, complimented by the dialogue of the old woman "You let him drown" can create unease in the audience as they can interperet the water as being dangerous.
• The camera is positioned very low on the ground after the shot of the old woman being sliced across the neck area, and as the shot cuts to the low ground image it views her head hit and land in a puddle, this continuity editing.

AS: Lesson Review 23rd January

In today's lesson I learnt basic camera skills that are a good starting point in my groups film making progress. Using the cameras for the first time helped me to begin to understand what we were trying to do and also helped me to have some new ideas about what our final product may include.

JR 6245: Film Opening Analysis 1

I Am Legend (Lawrence, 2007) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFSp0GYuCxI

Media Audiences:

• The film is a Thriller Horror (Mainly thriller but has a sense of Horror from the scary creatures)
• The establishing shots immediatley reinforce the audiences generic expectations due to the still shots showing how the city, once great and alive, has now become a wasteland.
• The soft, sad piano music in the background of the begginign still shots conveys to the audience that although something monsterous has occurred, it is also tragically sad and devistating. Also this non-diagetic music is played with diagetic sounds of wind and birds which emphasises the fact that there is no, or appears to be no, human life.

Institutional Context:

• The sound plays a huge part in this sequence as it dramtically shows the implication of having no life on earth to the audience. The fact that the sound of the birds can be heard is unusual as in the city, normally it would be to loud and busy to even notice a bird. This is a good effect to notify the audience subcontiously.
• A shot from a birds-eye view see the single car of Will Smith, the protagonist, driving through the empty streets of the city, reinforcing the idea that he is alone. The first shot of him is positioned in his car, the camera is tilted down facing his gun and as he lifts it up to put on his lap and hold closer, the camera pans across to follow his movement then shows him in the shot. This is a very good effect as it connotes a sense of danger in him having to carry a weapon with him and a sense of unease is created as he holds it close to him.
• As he drives round the corner of a street the camera is positoned as to watch the car turn to the right and drive off, as it does so the camera pans to right to follow the car then moves up slightly, possibly on a crane, to the height and direction, and zooming or closing in on the half warn away posters. The posters read 'God Still Loves Us' which is a good effect as it shows without saying or explaing the fact that the inhabitants of this place had done something wrong, they needed to rely on God's love, possibly a last hope as they knew it was the end.

DS: Film opening analysis 1

V for Vendetta - Genre and Film Language

Click for clip link

Genre:

• It is a psychological thriller
• The audience's generic expectations are fulfilled with the use of tense music, identified antagonist equipped with weapons and mask and the use of a femme fatale.
• The text conforms to the characteristics of the genre, with use of the following techniques and conventions. However, the sarcastic looking mask used by the antagonist could be viewed as playful or ironic.

Film Language:

• Mise-en-scene is used in this sequence to convey and reinforce the film's genre. The costume of the antagonist is one designed for committing murder, his prop of knives also connotes this. Low key lighting is used to display the dark nature of the masked man. Lastly, the lipstick the woman uses connotes seduction and shows us she is a femme fatale.
• Camera also helps to convey the film's nature. a POV shot of the mask from the antagonist's perspective adds dramatic effect to the sequence. There's also a MS of the antagonist with provides a full view of his attire and weaponry to display his characteristics.
• Sound anchors the images in this sequence in several ways. The music played throughout is mysterious and tense, which follows the theme and the images of the antagonist equipping his weaponry and the TV presenters rant. SFX as the antagonist as he sheathes his blades help connote their danger and sharpness. Dialogue as the femme fatale turns off the TV display her discontent at the TV presenters attitude.
• We are able to learn a lot about characters through dialogue and non-verbal language. The antagonist doesn't speak in the opening, however his non-verbal language shows his brushing his hair shortly before equipping his knives which is an ironic technique and shows us he is perhaps a comical character. The femme fatale also says very little, and her non-verbal language is seductive as she attentively applies her lipstick showing she is a femme fatale.

AS: Analysing an opening sequence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDoMgQxJMpI

Amityville Horror (2005)

Genre:

1. The film belongs to the horror genre.
2. The opening sequence fulfills the audiences expectations because the protagonist is shown killing his family in brutal attacks. Their expectation would be something similiar to this because of the genre, so therefore what they see in the opening sequence fufills these expectations.
3. The text conforms to the characteristics of the genre because the killings of the family are horrifically portrayed and therefore this is likely to have a dramatic effect on the audience, and conforming to the genre.

Film Language:

1. The gun that the protagonist holds with him at the beginning of the text helps to reinforce the stereotypical horror genre and helps to convey meaning. The location in a large house in the countryside helps to suggest detachment and suggest that if something were to happen, it may well go unnoticed.
2. In the clip, camera work is used to convey meaning. The extract contains numerous close ups of the murdering protagonist in order to emphasise his power in the extract and to reinforce his dominance over his victims. The low camera angle that is regularly used in the clip helps to show the power and the authority of the killer. The pans that follow the killer also help to show his every move when he is killing his family, reinforcing the severity of what he doing.
3. Selective sound is used in order to reinforce the location of the clip. The emphasis that is placed upon the lightning in the on going storm outside helps to replicate the restlessness of the protagonists head. Moreover, the emphasis that is placed upon him reloading the gun helps to connote what he is about to do and how he is going to need more than a few bullets, and therefore going to kill several people as opposed to one primary target. Lastly, slow eary music is used in time with the gunshots to place emphasis on the killings and create an uneasy feeling in the audience.
4. There is one main line of dialogue that sticks in the audiences head "Kill them". It is not clear who says this so it is assumed that it is a voice inside his head. This line helps to convey the meaning of the whole clip because it helps to show the motive behind the protagonists behaviour. Furthermore, the non verbal language of the girl helps to connote fear as a result of what she has heard in the room next door. Then, the forceful and authoritative body language of the protagonist helps to emphasise how he is in control and that he has his mind set on killing the innocent victims with whom he shares the house.
5. Other visual techniques that are used include the final shot of the house and in particular the top window in the house when the final victim is killed and the gunshot can be heard. This paints a final picture in the audiences head and connotes that now the protagonists killing spree is finally over.

Another notable technique is the lightning effect that is used between shots. This helps to reinforce the stormy conditions outside and the director has used this because helps to create suspense and tension.

DS: What are the conventions that are commonly used in thrillers?

Common conventions include:

• Shadows/silhouettes often crated with partial obscurity for mystery
• Tense and upbeat music to accompany chases/fights etc.
• Urban areas to connote faster and more dangerous lifestyle
• Antagonist and protagonist
• Equilibrium and deliquilibrium
• Twist at the end to surprise audience
• Femme Fatale for 'hardboiled' hero to chase
• Car chases and gun fights

Example of thriller with these conventions - 

Inception (Nolan, 2010) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VXkUzf1et4 

JR 6245: What Generic Conventions are in the Clip?

Se7en (Fincher 1995)


Jump cuts are used in this in particular places such as when the person is highlighting out the eyes of the person in the picture it jumps to the picture then being completely highlighted out. This shows the possibility to the audience that this person in the picture is going to be or has been killed, possibly by this obscured person that is highlighting the picture.

The sound used over the top of this is a drum beat but with some high pitched scraping noises in particular places to coinside with actions taking place in the scene. Such as with this highlighting of the eyes a high pitched scraping noise is heard as if to represnt pain and unease, something more edgey about the situation.

DS: What are the conventions in this opening?

Seven (Fincher, 1995)

• Eary and creepy music soundtrack to unease audience
• Surgery tools to connote a psycoting surgeon
• Shredded skin shows animalistic characteristics
• Titles in 'freehand' style
• Plasters on fingers shows damage to body
• Photographs of people suggests a serial killer
• Blood, simple and a shows murder

AS: What are the techniques that are used commonly in a thriller opening?

In a thriller film, it is common for there to be a lot of action and drama. Therefore in the opening, the techniques are essential to help build suspense and drama for the audience, and to also set a fast pace that is replicative of the action.

Techniques used include:

• Sound bridge to carry suspense and tension from one shot to another
• Emphasis on voice-overs and sounds such a heartbeats in the sound mix
• Establishing shots to set up a scene for the main characters 
• Loud and dramatic music that creates a sense of anticipation for the audience about the film ahead
• Various pans, slow and fast, to set the scene 
• POV shots to position the audience with certain characters, most commonly the conventional male hero
• A fast cutting rate, particularly when the opening involves action
• Emphasis on weapons, usually for the protagonist, to connote power and authority.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epxYm3OouQA .

The above link contains several examples of POV shots to position us with the protagonist. Also places an emphasis on the weapons used by Daniel Craig that help to reinforce his power and establish him as the main character of the film. Moreover, the clip contains flashbacks which are used as an effective way of setting up the film in order to show motives behind behaviour that is taking place in the current clip.

AS: What techniques are used in the opening?

Seven (Fincher 1995)

• The fast cutting rate helps to build suspense and tension at the beginning of the clip
• The dramatic music that plays throughout the clip helps to also have an enigmatic effect
• The titles are in a hand writing style to connote rushed writing perhaps as a result of being forced into writing against somebody's will

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S32RP5SnEM

AS: What are the techniques in this opening?

Amityville (Douglas 2005)

• Shots of the protagnosit are used to set the scene and set up the main subject of the film
• Slow, tension building music is used in conjunction with the shots of the killings to add drama
• The fast cutting rate towards the end of the clip builds to the climax of the clips and has a dramatic effect on the audience. 
• The shots in these cuts vary when each killing takes place to add emphasis to each killing.
• The titles help to estbalish a location by telling the audience of the location in the film and creating tension

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDoMgQxJMpI

DS: What are the conventions of this opening?

Brick (Johnson, 2005)

• Femme Fatale
• Ordinary person turned hero

(NEED TO COMPLETE)

JR 6245: 3 Films Opening Examples

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFSp0GYuCxI I Am Legend (Francis Lawrence, 2007).
• The opening clip from I Am Legend shows immidiately what the basic storyline is. It begins with no picture but the sound of an interview in which a woman states it is about the cure of cancer. It then shows a quote from a person within the storyline, which is particularly effective as it is labelled "Survivor" which indicates there is a tragedy. Then still shots of the city are played with some slow piano music over the top while establishing shots of the static city are shown and how humanity is no more. With the introduction of the character 'Will Smith' the non diagetic sounds stop and the sound of birds and animals can be heard over a birdseye view image of the city which is effective because you would never normally be able to hear birds in the city.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kVlA6 ElRM The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Tobe Hooper, 1974).
• It opens with a black screen and slowly rising text in yellow font which introduces the film, the text is narrated by a man with a sinister voice. The sound then plays a diagetic sound of digging with a shoval but still with no picture. Then flashes of a camera (the distinction is clear) and in the light of the flashes body parts can be seen which look unhealthy to say the least. The picture then fades in to show a disfigured, disgusting corpse head on a stick. This is done simply to show the audience that a horrible murder has taken place, which is very clear and to the point

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxRGw0l-b18 1978 Hallowen.
• It begins with central writing of the location with no picture in the background and with the voices of children singing a nursery ryhme over it. As it cuts to picture there is nothing but diagetic silence other than the eary sound of crickets, it is shot with a handycam with a disorientated effect as the camera wobbles while getting closer to the single house that is targeted in the picture, this gives the affect of someone walking up to the house, maybe someone dangerous. The camera is postioned as a POV shot from the antagonist and as he walks into the house the camera tilts down to where he is looking and his arm reaches out as he takes a knife from the drawer, this is used to show the audience that he is indeed about to commit an act of rutheless violence.

AS: Opening Example

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHr_oSk57kQ. The Others (Amenaba 2001)

• This trailer incorporates several shots at the beginning in order to establish a location and set a scene.
• Moreover, the candlelight in the background makes the audience feel on edge and helps to create suspense
• The thing that i believe we could use from this example is the effective music that helps create an eary feel to the clip.

DS: 3 Film Opening Examples

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCiGyaSPRhI - V for Vendetta (McTeigue, 2005)

-This opening sequence includes the menacing mask with the sarcastic grin, which is the mask I feel would be good to include in our opening.
-There is also a few CUs and POVs of the mask which is also something which we could incorporate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtzeP3U-9Mg - Halloween II (Zombie, 2009)

-This scene uses a chase involving the psycotic murder and vulnerable victim.
-The antagonist chases the victim in a slow yet intimidating pace, which shows he is sure of the conclusion of the chase.
-The protagonist is frightened and desperate to get away as we see her scrambling frantically to escape. As I mentioned in my first idea, I feel this would be a good convention to put to use.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbJpJBKUf4k - The Village (Shyamalan, 2004)

-Albeit this is not the film opening, it uses an idea I thought could be effective in our project.
-The film is located in a rural area, surrounded by forestry, which creates mystery and seclusion.
-There is also a church central to the village which is effective when the drama begins as it connotes the satanic spirits rebelling the church.
-The use of partial obscurity also helps add mystery to the antagonists.
-I think this could be a good idea to use in our opening, to isolate our victim.

DS: 1st idea

Horror film opening

• Non-montage horror, including sinister masked murderer.
• Fast-paced (handicam and jump cuts), including panicking victim pursuided menacingly yet casually by perpertrator.
• Juxtaposition between protagonist hastily attempting escape and antagonist chasing the victim with reassurance of his success. 
• Sound mix providing emphasis on footsteps and breathing combined with up beat sinister music. 
• Located in southbourough woods and church to connote demonic and rural feeling.

AS: 1st Idea

The structure of the clip will be a horror montage. Based around an unknown individual going down a tick list with a red pen and marking off the tasks, but all that is visible is the last word of each line. This will be done to draw the audience in and create an enigmatic effect to leave them asking question about what the unknown individual has done. There will be regular cuts between the tick list and the portrayal of the tasks being carried out, along with sound relevant to each incident in order to also create an enigmatic effect.

JR 6245: 1st Idea

If we are filming in such an area like woodland for example, we could have a swish pan representing the movement of a character in a frantic, panicy manor. With this the camera quickly swishes around and a figure can just be seen in the distance but then goes out of picture because of the pace of the swish. The camera then swishes back, as if to represent the character noticed the figure, but the figure, at a second look, is gone.

JR 6245: What generic conventions are in this clip?

Amityville (Dougles, 2005)


In the opening clip of the Amityville Horror there are several traditional generic conventions used. These include character exposition whereby the main characters are almost immediately introduced which positions the audience with vital charactors or an antagonist or protagonist. Also the use of dark colours and rural landscapes, complimented by a large, old fashioned house set the scene for a traditional Horror setting. The use of weather also plays a big part in this aspect of the setting as the classic thunder and lightening storm create tension and unease, perfect for the genre.

DS: What are the conventions of this film opening?

Amityville (Douglas, 2005)

• Psycotic murderer
• Rural and isolated large house
• Bad weather; rain and lightning
• Powerful weapon; double-barrelled shotgun
• Literary feature - suspense
• Tense and anxious music
• Vulnerable and innocent victim
• Dark and dull colours

AS: What techniques are commonly used in an opening?

Brick (Johnson 2005)

•  In Bricks' opening, techniques are used for an enigmatic effect which creates puzzles and encourages the audience to ask questions.
•  Techniques such as: handy cam, extreme close ups and a shallow depth of field help position the audience in the scene and create a dramatic effect.
•  Point of view shots can also be used to portray a characters viewpoint in an opening, and this helps to introduce the characters to the audience.