Overall Evaluation

Due to this opening sequence being my group and my own first attempt at creating a film sequence I am overly impressed with our abilities. For example the idea of us being able to use steady cams on a tripod is ironic as only months before we had started the course we were unaware of what a tripod was. Therefore I feel that it is evident through our work how much we have progressed with our skills and adapted them into our work. The range of shots which we have used have progressed from an establishing shot to and behind the shoulder angle which in itself gives the viewer a sense of involvement in the opening.
In addition to this our use of editing such as the transitions from sot to shot emphasised our skill in subtly going from scene to scene within the opening; ultimately giving the audience a sense of direction throughout the viewing. Also, the choice of text we used to show the different roles within the film, such as the director, was made in a professional manner with the names simply appearing in a subtle way whilst still showcasing the individual roles. More so the end title which ultimately closes the opening of “Twisted” was on a black background in a white text which gave the contrast of innocence against evil which is portrayed through Katie through her actions.
Musically, the soundtrack we made through researching various copyright free websites was ideal for our opening as it gave a real sense of tone to the overall outcome. This being the case also when reaching the climax as just after the fatal death of the male character Katie flees the scene of the crime which then brings on a drop in music to create the sense of a wrong turn in character. Seeing as this was our first time of using GarageBand to compose our music I feel that we done an amazing job as the feedback from the class was also encouraging.
Overall if I were able to change any aspect of the opening sequence it would have been to think more closely about lighting as I feel that this was an area in which my group and I hardly discussed and therefore it was evident that this was not a focus point. This is mostly evident on the section in which the male character leaves the car to bring Katie out as I felt that once watching it as a edited piece I found it difficult following certain movements as we only had the car lighting to highlight each movement.

7.) Who would be the audience for your media product?

6.) What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Copy of What Kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why? on Prezi

5.) Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

4.) How did you attract/address your audience?

Young Adults

Due to our specific choice of audience being mainly directed at the younger crowd, we thought that it would be a good idea to also use characters who are genuinely teenagers in order to relate to the choice of audience. Therefore both actor and actress were of seventeen years old which is perfect within the specific target audience. Also we showed our characters as acting in the usual manner which tennagers do, such as coming from a party and socialising, which will hopefully relate to the people more to the storyline.

Location

My group and I felt that as a way of attracting the younger target audience to our film we thought that a stylish location, within the heart of Mayfair, would encourage the viewers to watch further. Therefore within a number of scenes we have made it deliberate to use shots which over look the a number of streets in Mayfair; this also adds to the sense of adventure in which we hopefully capture within the opening.

Modern
In another attempt to attract the audience we decided to glamorise the opening with a modern car being at the forefront of the film. For example, the group and I even made sure of getting the car in a wide shot and keeping the camera in a still whilst the car was finally out of view. Therefore the use of modern technology gave us the idea that we could manipulate the audience in a way to watch further due to the mise en scene being "pleasing to the eye."

Relativism

Due to the media concentrating a lot recently in getting the message across, to women in particular, to be smart when getting choosing which cabs to use I feel that our storyline was extremely related. For example, the idea of our character, Katie, as getting in to an unlicensed cab, whom ultimately tried to abuse her, reinforces the idea to our audience that getting into a strangers car is dangerous. Although of course within our plot the roles are reversed as in the end the male character is left for dead we felt that this impact of change will be another dynamic to interest the target group.

Alcohol

Once again, the media has been a real infuence to our approach as attracting the audience as we took the idea of over the limit abuse of drinking to once gaain get across a message. The idea of Katie drinking far over the limit, although not neccessarily seen on camera, we have made this evident in the way in which she stumbled around and of course her insane agreement to get inside the unlicensed cab. Therefore, this use of alcohol can be seen as a way for our target group of young adults to feel comfortable whilst watching the film as due to themselves ideally drinking alcohol they can probably relate, at a certain extent, to the situation Katie is feeling under substance.

Music

The backing track chosen draws the audience in as we ultimatley get to a more tense atmosphere which goes appropriately with the storyline and also builds suspense. More than this the music is based o the genre of drum and bass which a lot of teens listen to when in clubs which therefore subtley relates us to our target audience. At the end of editing the composition of music I was eextremely hppy as I felt that the final outcome sounded proffessional and something in which young adults would genuinely listen to whilst in a club.

3.) What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Camera and tripod
These were something that were not new but we still encountered some problems and learnt new things which gave our filming a more effective finish. Whereas before we didn't see the importance for the tripod as much, this time we realised how much steadier the shots are and how this looks so much more professional. The tripod also allowed us to frame our shots much better and so the rule of thirds was always quite good. We didn't have many issues with the camera except for running out of battery but that was our own faults for leaving it on unnecessarily, we also learnt how to do an effect which merged the lights however we didn't use this clip in the end but its useful for the future.

Imovie
This was the programme we used for the majority of the time, although we had used it before we used it in a very basic way. Over time it became very familiar and we were able to learn about different transitions, we used fade in and out, editing clips by importing them, cutting them appropriately, and arranging them. Also how to mute sounds on the clips where need be and import our music from itunes or garageband. Our titles were made on here as well which we have never had to do before.



Photoshop
This helped us after we scanned in our drawing for our production title of "Warner Sisters" as it allowed us to make the writing bolder by going over in black and then make the background whiter by removing any smudges that the scanner might of picked up on.

Jamendo
This website allowed us to have access to thousands of tracks for all types of genres, we actually found our soundtrack on here and they are not copyright which was suitable for the exam board. We then saved it and from itunes imported it in to imovie which was straight away added to our project.

Garageband
We were able to use this programme to edit our soundtrack so that the beat was in time with parts of our clip, also we added a different track on to the one from jamendo and garageband enabled us to put them together and cut parts out which we didn't want and so the two flowed together.

Apple mac
All of our work was produced using Apple Mac computers.

2.) How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Florence: Our opening sequence represents teenage social groups in a negative way. The idea of the young girl drinking excessive amounts and therefore losing control relates to the medias negative view of drinking.

Florence: Young women are vulnerable and naive in these situations and alcohol is the main influence, it makes women a target to men like this. A lot of teenagers can relate back to this and make them realise the harsh reality.

Hollie: Within the media they portray unlicensed cabs where men are looking to take advantage of young women. We have enforced this idea through an extreme circumstance going against the norm of the man abusing the women in our opening sequence we have switched the roles. An actress we have chosen manages to escape after a forceful attempt.

Hollie: Therefore we have created these particular social groups, by using the typical stereotypes represented by the media of young vulnerable women coming into contact with older men. However, towards the end we challenge these stereotypes by twisting the roles and leaving the audience with an unexpected ending.

1.) In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Florence: The Descent was used as one of our main influences as we particularly liked the idea of the woman taking on the male role. She was strong and athletic which challenges the conventional stereotype. However the twist of our plot was to present her as a vulnerable and weak girl then turning it round showing how she is able to stand up for herself in these circumstances.

Florence: The TV drama Accused inspire our idea further as we followed an episode where a male cab driver tried to take advantage of a female passenger which ultimately resulted in a death. We like the concept of the death however with the idea of the descent, the woman having the higher status therefore committing the death.

Hollie: Although these were our main influences that we researched before filming our opening sequence we received multiple feedback telling us that it reminded them of the film Taken, starring Liam Neeson. This was due to our editing as well as the storyline being Taken and getting into the cab with a complete stranger.

Classroom Feedback

Now that we have completely finished our opening sequence we spent a lesson watching every ones productions and evaluating them as a class. This gave us an idea of how well we had done and if our intentions came across. Overall the feedback was very positive and we we're please with what we received. Here is a general overview of the answers given to each of the questions, in which the class had to answer about our opening sequence: 


In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? Identify films that you think are similar to this opening sequence. 
The most popular film the viewers thought it reminded them of was Taken staring Liam Neeson, this is because of the girl being taken in the car. This was surprising to us as it wasn't originally one of our influences but now that the it has been mentioned we can see why people would think that. Other films were Adulthood and Kidulthood, and this was because of the the soundtrack we had chosen to run throughout the opening sequence. 


How does your media product represent particular social groups? Identify social groups identified and whether you think their representation is positive/negative; stereo type/alternative. 
Here we got the feedback we were looking for as they said that it stereotyped the male cab driver and the venerable young girl. They also said it gave a negative representation towards teenage girls as she was acting drunk and getting into a strangers car. Nothing new was brought to our attention here and we had spoken about all of these representations as a group before the class had seen it. 


What kind of media institution might describe your media product and why? Big studio or independent production? 
Here the feedback varied as some said a Big studio because of the professional look it had where as other people said independent production as it may only appeal to a certain type of audience. Here we agree with both, however sway towards the independent production as like the feedback said not everyone enjoys horror films and could be quite disturbed by our film, and it is obvious that someone who loves romantic, comedy's and chick flicks, may not be interested as it contains none of these elements. 


Who would be the audience for your media product? Target audience - approximate age group and possible preferred gender. 
Again we received different feedback, some groups recommended 18+, where as others said 15+ late teenagers. Another group however said 18-30 and we think this is because of the horror genre and storyline, as well as some of the scenes that a young audience would not be able to view. Regarding gender, the majority of the feedback said it swayed towards females due to the main character however both would enjoy. 


How did you attract/address your audience? 
"tense and dark, suspense music" "mystery makes audience want to see more and find our what happens to Katie and the male driving the car" "Interesting, keeps the audience thinking" "tense horror soundtrack" 


Provide any other comments about the production-any particular shot or moment you thought was good? 
With this question we received feedback that the story line was interesting and the opening sequence was well constructed and thought about. Another group mentioned that the actors were very good, the violence was realistic, it was very interesting and made you want carry on watching, and that it included a variety of shots. In addition to this we had another comment about our use and good range of camera shots, as well as the camera movements relating to the story of the character, such as the car scene where we use a hand held camera effect to show that Katie is drunk and disorientated.

Film Credits

Now that we have decided our overall filming and editing is finished, the group and I thought it would be a good idea to get the film credits done also. Instead of fitting all of our seperate names to gain credit for every minor detail we instead just one name per role g.g Directed by Florence Dodd. We felt that this looked more professional that trying to fit all of our names under each role as an attempt to show that we have all put in the same effort as we know we have been doing so anyway. The titles are the same font as the main bold font at the very end as we wanted the film throughout to look simple and pleasing to the eye rather than having too much going on as this may draw attention away from the content of the filming.

In addition to this the music in which we chose fits perfectly with the filiming we produced. So much so that we hardly had to make any changes only here and there in order to perfect the timing of beats and so on. Seeing as the deadline is drawing ahead I feel that so far we are well on our way to producing a well thought out piece. Only minor tweaks here and there are left to look at and once done so I'm sure that the finished outcome will be a pleasure to watch.

Warner Sisters.

As over the weekend we were unable to film the extra shots of the party scenes at the very start of the opening we felt that we had enough filming which was good enough without the extra scenes. Therefore the group and I thought it best to start making our production company icon. Myself and the others all came up with seperate ideas of how the title "Warner Sisters" could look. After looking at eachothers creations we all agreed that Steph's was the most imaginative and professional looking. I then drew the final outcome of the icon and we scanned this drawing into the computer. Once uploaded we started to use photohop in order to bolden the letters in an attempt to make the icon look more professional. However we didn't have enough time in the lesson to carry on so within the next lesson we know what we have to do in order to make sure that the overall piece is ready by Friday's deadline.

Filming Process

During this lesson we asked our teacher how we were to go about filming a fast paced section of the nightlife in a car and have texts passing through it with the name of the company and so on. However, our teacher gave us advice that this may be a waste of time as the it will be an hours worth of filming in order to film one specific area for a long period of time. Therefore, as this aspect of the sequence isn't necessary we thought it best to leave this idea and focus on more important sections such as the main title.

Our ongoing idea for the title was t have the word "Twisted" to literally twist in a spiral as an influence by Saul Bass which will engage the viewer and refer to the entire film as a whole. However, our computers which we use are not well equipped with programs that can do such therefore we have instead made a steady impact of the Title appearing in bold slowly from a fade. The white text on a black background is also menacing as it in a way signifies the innocence within the exterior of a darkened person; Katie.

FIlming Session

After watching through all of the footage we have already made we realised that adding an extra scene of "Katie's" gradual process of drinking was unnecessary. This was due to the fact that her good acting skills made it obvious to the viewers of her being under substance and adding extra filming of her at the house party before hand would have been extra time added which we were already quite close to the limit. Therefore we made sure to focus all of our energy into making the shots we had to the best of their ability by starting to look at how we can apply shot transitions from location to location.

Final filming schedule

A filming schedule has already been posted onto my blog, however this was only a draft as some vital parts were missing. Here is our final filming schedule completely filled out which was given to each member working on our project and came into great use when filming, helping us to remember what to bring, where to go and what times to be there.

Editing of Film

Editing:
After a very succesful filming day on the 25th February we came into the classroom positive that we had some really good footage to work with. Just to be safe we filmed a lot more than we needed to, which was extremely helpful when deciding which shots looked best and worked well together. An hour later we had cut our filming down to four minutes that included the best angles, shots, and camera movement filmed that session. However we were worried as the maximum length of filming for our opening sequence is two minutes, 30 seconds, we had double that and still had more filming to do! Therfore the next lesson we carried on cutting down our filming and we managed to make it two minutes long. Although this was still too long, we came to the conclusion as a group that we would again cut down. however once we had filmed our last scene and could put it all together to decide what works best.

First day filming

We had planned to have our fist day of filming on Sunday 13th February, this was going to include the scenes outside the party where Katie gets into a random car. Therefore we collected all the equipment that was essential including the school's camera and tri-pod on the Friday, and we didn't need to carry much up to London, as our main props are used in the party scene such a strobe lights and the smoke machine, glasses and bottles of alcohol, and the party scene is going to be filmed at a later date. All weekend we were eager to get filming and after finally finishing all our planning we felt ready to begin creating the the two minute opening sequence. However we received very bad luck as when we woke up on Sunday morning it was pouring down with rain! We tried to stay positive and hopeful that the rain would die down and eventually stop completely. But to our dismay the rain persisted and got even heavier. An hour before leaving to go to our destination we contemplated even going at all as many new problems had arisen. One main one was that if we needed to re-film anything or get some different shots we would have to wait till it rained again, and obviously we couldn't do that as rain is unpredictable and then we wouldn't be sure if the cast were available, we could take the camera equipment out that day etc. It also meant that our shots may bit a bit blurry and we had a risk of damaging the equipment.

However in the end we decided to go up to London, Mayfair to see what we could do, and tried to stay positive, get all the shots possible, and if worse came to worse we would have to re-film it all again another day. But we agreed on seeing what we could get due to the circumstances, and in the end the effect of the rain worked for us and looked really good on camera/suited the scenes we were filming to a great extent. The dark dismal atmosphere the rain gave off suited our horror genre and plot well and we were very very pleased with the out come. We realised that because of the rain it gave more of a reason for Katie to escape the weather and get into a random persons car in the first place.

We left our houses at half five and met at Beckenham Junction to all get the train together up to where one of the cast live, (also the location we were filming with). It was important we got the timing right as we needed to make sure it looked dark enough to be late at night, so by the time we arrived at his flat, chose outfits for the cast and done their makeup, it was perfect lighting and we were ready to begin filming. Filming took a lot longer than expected as we wanted to make sure we had enough variety of shots to choose from and hopefully we wouldn't have to come back and re-film anything on another day as we all grew on the idea of it raining and it worked to a great advantage. We tried to film every shot three or more times using differ net angles, shots and movements each time and i think we accomplished a range of all three.

Some changes were made and we decided to not have to shots that look at the clock, and at some points we changed they way we filmed the shots. We had originally planned to film the whole thing on a tri-pod to ensure all the shots were steady and straight. However we realised that obviously it was impossible to fit the tri-pod into the car and therefore we changed some shots to handheld and if gave off a very good effect.

On our way to our location we got a train to Victoria, a bus, then walked under a subway for a short cut and walked about 5 minutes to our filming destination. However on the way when walking under the subway we were really drawn to the atmosphere and the quietness was in fact quite scary. There were also very bright lights so lighting conditions would be perfect. We all came to the agreement of ending the opening sequence with a birds eye shot of her running down the stairs into the subway, then collapsing in disbelief of what she has just experienced inside the subway, which looked much better than just running off down a street where it was busy and looked unrealistic.

Overall we had an extremely successful filming day and the problems we encountered actually gave us a great advantage and benefited our opening sequence. Our actors worked really well together and took directions extremely well, as well as adding in some suggestions and improvising parts themselves. I think we adapted well to the circumstances and acted maturely and professionally, giving us a great deal of footage to work with that we are all very pleased with.

Location Shots

Due to our change of location now being situated in Mayfair we thought that we should take images of the nearby location to give a sense of where we were filming. We particularly liked filming in Mayfair as in certain areas we were able to find very isolated places which were especially rewarding for the scene in which the male driver tries to physically abuse Katie as obviously we didn't want anyone else to be in the area to give more of a sense of danger for the viewer.

Twisted

Due to not all of our material yet being filmed we were finding other aspects of the project which needed attention. Therefore we went over the title for the film as we felt that regrets didn't quite portray the theme we were going for with the film as it brings to mind a sense of innocence rather than a threat. More so we have now come up with "Twisted" which gives an insight into Katie's psychotic nature and no sense of moral. From this we then looked into different fonts in which we wanted to use for the end title. Bank gothic in a medium size was a bold and assertive text which seemed to fit well in the opening. Until we have finished filming and start to really focus on editing we will then insert these other aspects of font into the screenplay.

Final Music Choice

After much research into finding the perfect soundtrack for the background of our opening screenplay we finally found the most ideal one. It was found on a no royalty site which allows us to use their music without the hassle of copyrights. We came across this track by typing in the genre as dub-step as this is the type of feel we were going for. Instantly a number of backing tracks came up which caught our attention and made it even harder to decide. However we then came across this song which goes perfectly with the theme of eeriness. For now we have kept this saved on our computer until we are ready to integrate it within our screenplay.

Screenplay

Trialing shots

As another guide for the group and I to know exactly how we wanted certain shots we thought it was a good idea to take photos in various angles of how we wanted the death scene at the very end. Although our group member Hollie is taking part we was mainly focusing on the angles and composition rather then actually her being within the shots. My favourite of the two will have to be the bottom one as I like the way in which the actors weak, outstreched hand is in view of the camera which highlights the implication of him being dead. Also the way in which the character is far away from the camera gives a sense of his isolation and ultimately being left for dead. I feel that when filming our opening sequence these trials will come in handy as we will have more of an idea into how we are going about filming each specific shot.

Storyboard

Within todays lesson we finished the final touches of the storyboard which will act as a detailed plan of each scene in which we can follow and also our actors can use in order for them to fully understand what's wanted from them. Not only have we made detailed drawings of each clip but underneath we have also outlined the chosen camera shots and what the actors will be trying to portray with the use of their acting skills.

Change of Location

Due to the idea of asking permission to film within the Zenon bar seems too complex, our group have come up with the idea of filming within our drama studio at school which will be a lot less hassle. Doing this we can easily ask permission from the Head of Drama if possible to use the strobe lights in order to give off the impression that Katie is in a club. Also, within class we asked the whole class if they would be willing to act as extras within our filming and bring in appropriate attire for  clubbing event; high heels and dresses. The more the merrier would apply to this idea as obviously the good thing about doing it in a real club would be the fact that the space would be so filled and compact whereas in the drama studio at school it might seem a bit bare. Therefore we need to go around by next week rounding up more of our friends who would be willing to take part.

Ideas for Text

Within the lesson today we had conversations o how some of our titles will appear across the screen. In order to portray the fast paced, dramatic situations which occur throughout the film we thought it would be a good idea to insert texts which will merge in a blurred effect with the movement of the car. For example as the camera will be filming as though in a pint of view angle and look out of the car window whilst moving. While doing so the text of names and so on will appear in a fast motion along with the many different colours which will pass with the road being videoed. In terms of colour scheme we will refer back to the opening sequence of Creep which we found to be our most influential clip. Also the fact that we have taken in to account the meaning behind text shows that Soul Bass's use of font influenced us into expanding our ideas on how to improve the overall editing of our film.

Casting

Within our opening sequence we wee looking for a male and female actor who would both fit the description needed. The girl above, Laura Brown, will be playing Katie who will be followed throughout all scenes. Therefore we needed some one who would fit the part as we were looking for some one who looked innocent at first glance and wouldn't necessarily be expected to kill. In addition to this she has one on one lessons which means that she has a lot of free time on her hands which means it will be easy to get hold of her. More so the fact that Steph, in my group, is very close friends with her proves that she has trust in Laura to arrive to filming's on time and whenever we feel possible. For her GCSE's Laura studied drama and therefore has a great feel for acting and hopefully will perform to the high expectations needed.

Also, the male actor we have chosen, Bryon McNally, is a great choice as he attends the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts School year 2012 and is doing a BA (Hons) in Acting, therefore we think this is a great advantage as he has a great experience in acting and will be able to work professionally and knows what will be expected of him. His also great for this role as he drives therefore we will have a car to use for the shoots of the cab scenes. Even more than this he lives in Mayfair which is a great clubbing spot to film the shots whilst driving. Both Laura and Bryon are in a relationship and this above all is a great advantage as this means that they will feel comfortable filming alongside each other and we wont have to deal with unwanted dramas.

Filming Schedule

 The filming schedule is a layed out plan in which the group and I can follow. For example we all now know that on dates which we arrange we need certain props and costume in order for the filming to go ahead. For now though this is a rough draft due to the fat their there is minimum detail, for example we have not filled in the criterias of setups and time as we were unsure of what this entailed. Also, we have not  yet decided who are responsible for which props and kit therefore this needs more consideration.

Location

Indoors of Zenon under 18s night club

Mahiki from outside club

Our ideal location is the Zenon bar which holds under eighteen events which would be suitable for us as we are under age and good for filming as we will actually be within a club. Also, the lighting within the club is great due to the various coloured strobe lights and the atmosphere of being in a club with a variety of people. However, the outside of the club is not brightly lit up and therefore we came up with the idea of shooting the outside location at Mahiki due to the blaring pink lights which over look the street where our scene of Katie getting into the club takes place. To film outside will be fine though we need to get in contact with the manager/ owner of Zenon bar first due to the fact that we will be filming in their premises so we firstly need permission. Until then this idea is not a solid one although one which the whole group and I are extremely excited about.

The importance of Opening Sequences

Title sequences can make or break movies, they are the first impressions of their own shows, not just a bland identification report. So if we are shown a black background with superimposed text over it for a horror, then we can expect a less-than-stellar horror film to follow. The truth of the matter is that a title sequence also speaks volumes about the movie itself before it begins. Therefore my group and I felt that it was imperative to focus on gaining an impact for the viewer by using all senses of editing, such as sound also, to convey the sense of tension building ultimately coming to the climax of the opening. In addition to this, where there is such a grabbing plot line in the very first two minutes this engrosses the audience into wanting to watch the rest of the film; ultimately the aim of the game.

This is an example of an opening sequence which above all of the rest really influenced my group and I due to the use of tension building though not entirely knowing what to expect.

Creep

Saul Bass

Saul Bass (1920-1996) was not only one of the great graphic designers of the mid-20th century but the undisputed master of film title designs. When film for Otto Preminger’s controversial new drugs movie, The Man with the Golden Arm, arrived at US cinematic screens in 1955, a note was stuck on the cans - "Projectionists – pull curtain before titles". Until Saul Bass, the lists of cast and crew members which passed for movie titles were so dull that projectionists only pulled back the curtains to reveal the screen once they’d finished. But Preminger wanted his audience to see The Man with the Golden Arm’s titles as an integral part of the film. The movie’s theme was the struggle of its hero, a jazz musician played by Frank Sinatra, to overcome his heroin addiction. Designed by the graphic designer Saul Bass the titles featured an animated black paper-cut-out of a heroin addict’s arm. Knowing that the arm was a powerful image of addiction, Bass had chosen it, rather than Frank Sinatra’s famous face, as the symbol of both the movie’s titles and its promotional poster. That cut-out arm caused a sensation and Saul Bass reinvented the movie title as an art form. By the end of his life, he had created over 50 title sequences for Preminger, Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, John Frankenheimer and Martin Scorsese. If it was not for Saul Bass I highly doubt that many of the film titles you see today would have been so cleverly put together if it was not for his great past work.

From looking at the work which Saul Bass came up with its given my group and I the inspiration to really go in depth with our design of the title opening and names. It has proven to me also that film making has a lot of processes to go through and does not only come down to the filing but initial preperation and excessive amounts of meaning.

Film Titles and Production Company

Within todays lesson we thought it would be a good idea to come up with our production name for example "21st Century Fox." After many thoughts we thought it would be quite ironic to call it Warner Sister which associates with Warners Brothers. In order to not seem like we are deliberately copying the production company we decided to make our own logo and a completely different sliding screen in order to seperate us from their company and ultimatley prevent claims of us going against copyright. In addition to this our group made lists of names in which we could use as our titles. Our favourite so far was Regrets as it goes well with the idea of the film as Katie will kill although not intentionally. However it is only early days and therefrore this isn't settled as we were told that titles are usually the last idea which will come to mind.

Opening Music

Within this lesson my group and I were trying to find a suitable song for the opening sequence. Using Youtube we searched in horror music although the music was too eery compared to what we are trying to convey in our opening. For example we are looking for a type of music which would be used in a thriller although when we typed in thriller in Youtube it came up with the famous Michael Jackson video. I then realised that I've heard a song which would be ideal for our theme. Blinded by the lights is a song by The Streets which is a garage based song which has a tempo that is quite slow and the lyrics also talk about taking drugs which in essence relates to Katie being in the club. However, due to The Streets being a well known group we are unable to use this song as that would be copyright and we would therefore lose marks. For this reason my group and I were extremely annoyed as after a long time of searching for a thee song we were adamant that this was the song we wanted to use. In addition to this we then came across the song In for the Kill by La Roux but once again we came across the same problem. Our aim now is to keep searching but not let it take over our planning on other important aspects of our filming.

Thursday 20th January 2011

Within this lesson we were shown three videos of opening sequences from the previous years. All of their short clips shown to us were of a level four which is the grade in which I want to achieve. The examples shown to us were a realisation to my group and I that simplicity can be most effective whereas our idea was quite complicated. After watching all of the sequences and how the concept of their ideas were so simple to view this made us question whether our idea was too complex. Therefore throughout the rest of the lesson we spent our time effectively cutting chunks out of the opening sequence of unneeded clips which will shorten the sequence and make the whole opening more worth watching.