TABLETOP FILM OPENING

 PREP Write up an account of what you did in the lesson. Start your post by copying the information from the PREP post (about the research that you did). Then describe your filming. Add a photo if you wish.

In the lesson, we placed a black tablecloth over a 4-row of tables, and strategically laid out props over it, so that it would seem like detectives were working a case, but had to quickly run out, and left in a mess, presumably to catch the criminal. We also blew out the fire, to give it an eerie vibe. This could make the movie seem like a thriller, police-procedural, possibly set in the mid 1900s, around 1960, as there were bolars, and lots of old money lying around.

During our second lesson my group decided to add some music to our short opening credits. We also went outside and filmed a short, live action scene that we can add to our video. We had Jacob coming out of a bank, and being chased by detectives

FILM OPENING CONVENTIONS

 

PREP To prepare for tomorrow's practical work of filming an opening sequence, please watch the following two title sequences which are filmed in in a similar 'table top' style. 

• Delicatessen (dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 1991)
• To Kill A Mockingbird ( dir. Robert Mulligan,1962)
• Extension work: there are many other opening sequences on the website Art of the Title

For each title sequence, write three sentences about how the conventions of film openings are used. 

The title of your prep blog post is FILM OPENING CONVENTIONS

Copy /paste the lines above and add the two images below : 

• what titles and credits appear on screen?
• how is the film's genre conveyed? 
• what use is made of sound?
• what hooks the audience and makes us want to carry on watching?

 

 Delicastessen:

At the very beginning, it has a man, holding a clever, about to chop someone, or something, in a bucket. This conveys that the genre is most likely a thriller or horror movie. The credits are shown in a strange way, as instead of having the usual cut away, to very CGI credits, in this it is almost like the credits are part of the scene, as the camera moves up from a hand, onto a peice of paper, with the Production Company one it. All of the credits are part of the scene, as though a character could just walk up to them and touch them. All of the credits also have something to do with the object they are on. FOr example, the directing photographer is written on a camer, and the main composer is on an old record.

All of the music is quite quiet, and like old carnival music, which makes us quite uneasy, as lots of horror movies use old abandoned carnivals as their main sets. The music is also suprisingly upbeat, and the lighting is very warm, even though the camera is panning over ol, abandoned items, which makes the audience feel uneasy, as we dont know what the tone for the movie will be. This hooks the audience in as we want to find out what all the abandoned items are for

To Kill A Mockingbird

The music at the start is sang by a very young child, no older than 10 years old. It also has him opening a toy box, and getting out a crayon. The fact that it is silent, except from the child singing, makes the audience very uneasy, as music makes people relaxed, and therefore the lack of it does the opposite.

The child then uses the crayon to scribble over writing, leaving only the title remaining. The credits is just the camera going over lots of different objects, which we can assume are going to be important, because of Chekhov's gun. Slowly music starts fading in, however the boy is still singing over. This hooks the audience as they want to find out what the boy is doing

CUFFS

 

• Who do we start to empathise with?

During the episode we begin to empathise with many characters. Firstly, during the scene where Ryan has to shout at his son for not being in school, we feel bad for both him, and his son. We feel bad for Ryan as clearly he doesn't want to be shouting at his son and clearly he is quite embarrassed, however, that feeling is mutual between both of them, as Ryan's son is not only surrounded by strangers, but also by his friends.

We also feel bad for Jake when he is trying to make his first arrest, however he is being felt--up, and is trying to be framed for sexual assault. We feel bad as he is trying his best, but is being filmed and doesn't know what to do. It is also shot from Jakes perspective, only further emphasising our embarrassment for him. This makes the reader empathise, as he is clearly confused, and has to be saved by Ryan.

The Avengers: Sound

PREP Watch the first 10 minutes (after the title sequence is over) of The Avengers on Clickview. Analyse how sound is used in the extract to create meaning. You can use any part of the opening scenes - both the opening scene at the seaside at Little Bazeley or the scene in Emma Peel's flat

• first identify an example - use terminology such as diegetic sound, non-diegetic sound, dialogue.
• then give the example - " Little Bazeley is constructed as a seaside village through realistic sound codes such as..."
• "One example of how sound is used is when Steed makes conversation with Emma Peel..."
• then explain what meaning is created - "In the exchange of dialogue between the fisherman and the undercover agent who arrives from the sea they talk about...... which creates suspicion and comedy because....."
• "Steed's dialogue reveals his accent and shows that he is..." "What Steed says to Emma Peel suggests that he feels in charge because...." /  "Emma's comment about the coffee and cream show that..." / "Emma's throwaway comment about having just finished a scientific article shows that..."

The Scene where Mr Steed and Miss Peel are introduced:

The episode begins with very cheerful music, which is ambient sound, or non-diegetic sound, and the sound of an umbrella pressing a doorbell, which is known as diegetic sound, as it is happening in the world this TV show is trying to portray. It is also very quiet for a while, as in not having any dialogue for around 5-10 seconds, before panning up to one of our main characters, and then we get our first lines. This is most likely because it is the start of a new series for this show, and most programmes like to introduce the characters as late as possible, to build suspense.

The reason such cheery music is played at the beginning, is because it tells the reader that there is nothing to fear, and that these are trustworthy people and places. If the music was less cheery, and more dark, it would be like saying that these characters are dark.

The first 2 lines of dialogue in this episode is "Good morning Miss Peel," and "Good morning Mr Steed", therefore it introduces the characters right from the start. These two people clearly know each other well enough for Steed to show up at her door, but it makes the audience question how they know each other, and creates a hook for them to keep watching. These two lines also show that these two are very formal, and are in a place of importance, as they address each other as Miss and Mr. They also both have formal accents, telling the audience that they are quite proper, and are from London. All of this tells the audience so much about Miss Peel, before even showing the character on-screen.