storyboard

presentation of ideas and information

George Romero's zombie films

George Romero's films were the first to adopt the modern style of zombie, he began to use the idea of the films being survival movies and how only a few people survive from the disaster and the end of civilisation with carnivorous monster that eat humans.  With Dawn of the Dead and Day of the Dead, this is taken a stage further as we see Romero bases his next two movies entirely on Wyndham’s theme of differing ways of how people survive and organise society after organisation breaks down to give a range of views of the survivor, this also helps for the audience to connect to some characters differently and can also add suspense and a sense of diversity towards the survivors.

Props for filming

Props for my final production

All of my props I will use are safe and will be kept safe and out of view when we are not filming. I have numerous Airsoft replica firearms which my actors can use for my final production film, I want to incorporate weapons as they show that there will be conflict within the film and also having weapons has connotations with them such as; something/someone needs protecting, there will be some form of conflict and that something will need resolving through violence.

Knife- I have a prop rubber knife that one of my actors will have, to show that there may be some close conflict between the survivor and the zombie which adds tension and suspense within the film.

Guns- The guns that i will be using are all Airsoft imitation firearms so they do not cause any harm to any individual as they will not be loaded. I will ensure that when we are not filming the guns are out of view of any passer by so that they do not get alarmed by thinking that they are real firearms. By using these props it means that my final production will look realistic and will have a good impact on the audience. By using guns it conforms to the zombie thriller genre as in almost all zombie thriller films contain a gun or some form of weapon which shows there will be the need to resolve an issue with lethal actions. I will use larger guns as they are seen as more threatening, they also have an intimidating look towards them meaning that they will give a tense atmosphere to the film opening.

Pistol

2 Assault Rifles that may be used

I also have a pyrotechnic sound emitter which i could possibly use but would have to think of where to incorporate it into my film opening, i would also have to ask the farm manager if i would be allowed to detonate the pyrotechnic as there are offices on site and i wouldn't want to cause any alarm or startle the livestock which is also at the filming location.

casting

Within my media product I only had one main member to cast, which was Mark French, he played the lead antagonist within my media product.

I chose to cast Mark (my father) as I thought that it would make my media product more realistic by having an older actor instead of a teenager as it would look more authentic as a majority of zombie thriller/horror products have older actors compared to younger ones. also the character that he was playing was an individual who was experienced in combat, this would not have been practical for a teenager. I think that by having an older actor it also allowed my product to be more relatable to an older population as well because it is not just portraying a younger generation which would attract a younger audience.

My preliminary task

This is the task in which i tested out camera shots and angles and turned them into a continuous film short.

Information and permission about filming location(s)

I will be filming a majority of my film at a farm called Greatworth Hall which is just outside of the village of Greatworth, I have gained permission to film here verbally by asking the manager of the farm if it was possible to shoot my film at their farm. I chose to film at a farm as it is in a secluded area where i will not be disturbed, I will need to conduct a risk assessment of this area for my actors.

Website to the farm: http://www.greatworthhall.com/

The rest of my film will be shot either at my house or my grandfathers so I can operate the camera without any interaction from the public.

treatment

action- In my film there will be a lot of action as the story contains a lot of fighting and action with the zombies and survivors.

themes- The themes within my film are horror, thriller and the sub-genre which is zombie.

narrative structures- The narrative structure of my film is going to be linear as this is most popular within zombie/horror thrillers

characters- In my film opening the characters I will have will be survivors and a zombie.

settings- The setting of my film is in Post-apocalyptic England in which almost all of the population is a zombie or is dead.

mise en scene- I will use editing to create a darker effect and other various effects to add affect to my production, hopefully making it appeal more to the audience.

camera work- I will use a variety of shots and shot lengths so that the audience can get a sense of the surrounding, allowing them to understand the story and location.

editing- I will use a variety of edits such as fades, jump cuts and long cuts to show a difference in atmosphere and to add suspense and different effects

My idea for my opening title

I am going to use a collage of shots and images as titles for my film, i have seen this idea used in a few zombie/thriller films. I think this idea adds effect as it creates tension and suspense especially if it shows the transition between normality and the apocalypse.

Open with a POV shot out of a moving car window

chosen location(s) and why

I have chosen to film at a farm as there is a lot of space and is not very busy in some places which allows me to get uninterrupted film and i am able to relocate actors if needed, it also allows me to use special effects and film without getting into any trouble as the area is open and far away from any towns or villages. With shooting in open spaced areas it means I can move around better to find more suited camera shots, angles and lengths. By shooting in open areas it does also mean that I will be exposed to the elements which may prove difficult when filming as the weather may change causing a 'goof' if I decide to film parts in a non-chronological order as in one shot it may be sunny and the next shot it could be raining.
Some of my film will be shot at older parts of the farm, as this will work alongside the genre giving it a spooky edge which will grab the audience and make the genre even more clearer when viewing.

Also at the location behind one of the barns there is an abandoned rescue ambulance which looks really effective as one of the tires is flat and it has moss growing on it which gives a very spooky and eery feel about it.

Checklist for my production

Below is a list of props and equipment i will be using for my production.

Props:
4x Military vests
3x pistol holsters
2x Airsoft Assault rifles
1x Airsoft Shotgun
4x Airsoft Pistols
clothes

Special effects:
Fake blood
Liquid latex
Face/body paint
1x Pyrotechnic

Location(s):
Farm- fields
Old farm buildings

Inspirations for my film title

Here are some inspirations for the opening of my zombie/horror thriller i have found.

Dawn of the dead (2004)

The walking Dead (2010- present)

World War Z (2013)

Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)

Synopses of my film

its been months since the outbreak, an ordinary supply run takes a turn for the worse, what will happen?

It has been months since the beginning of the outbreak of a deadly virus that bring its host back from the dead as decomposing, flesh-eating corpses. A group of survivors set out on what seems to be an ordinary supply run to collect food and other supplies that are essential for their survival, as they reach the supposed scavenging location something is not quite right. As they will soon find out.

Research into genre/film opening

I am researching horror/zombie thriller and what shots, sound, editing and Mise en scene they use.

Camera- zombie thriller films often use close ups to show reactions and also use  longs shots with long shot lengths which add to the suspense within a scene. By using close up reaction shots it allows the audience to develop an understanding of the characters and what they are like and their personality. The cuts used are mostly fast cuts to carry on the narrative and possibly disorientate the audience, in some scenes slow cuts are used to add effect

For example if one of the group get bitten/infected then it could be a slow cut to add effect in the scene. There may be use of different angles to add tension to a scene for example canted angles are often used in a chase sequence or to imply that something is not right within the scene.

Sound- sound is an important part in any film but in zombie thrillers it is used in a variety of ways and can alter the feelings and emotions of the audience by using a variety of non diegetic soundtrack by changing the style of soundtrack. Diegetic sound is very important as it is what completes a film as it is what is important to fully understand the narrative.

Editing- editing is what makes the film flow and in zombie thrillers there is a lot of editing to make sure that the audience fully understand the narrative and the story behind it, usually the editing is cuts which are usually fast cuts but can also take a longer time, this adds effect and curiosity to the narrative story

Sound

Different sorts of sounds that is used in films

Sound Bridge:

Sound bridges can lead in or out of a scene. They can occur at the start of one scene when the sound from the previous scene carries over briefly before the sound from the new scene begins. Alternatively, they can occur at the end of a scene, when the sound from the next scene is heard before the image appears on the screen. Sound bridges are one of the most common transitions in the continuity editing style, one that stresses the connection between both scenes since their mood (suggested by the music) is still the same. These can also be used for flashbacks of sound without changing the image.

Sound Perspective:
Sound perspective is where sound is used to widen the effect. the sense of a sound's position in space yielded

Non-diegetic sound:
This sound is not heard by the characters within the scene for example; soundtracks and voiceovers.

Ambient sound:
Is background noise that is present within the scene (background radio, dogs barking etc.), matching ambient sound, almost like atmosphere sound to make. you should always have ambient sound in films as it adds affect.

Sonic flashback:
Use a sound relates to a earlier part in the story, used as a reminder to the audience (e.g. A fistful of dollars)

Voiceover:
This is non-diegetic dialogue spoken as the scene is rolling on, this could be commentary or just a character talking as they are on screen.

Representation of Ethnicity and some examples

Historically there have been many ideologies attached to all ethnicities within society, each one having different social values.

The ideologies attached to African Americans is they are less well educated and are more inclined to be a criminal compared to white people. a film that contradicts this is Dawn of The Dead as the main African American character within this film is a Police Officer which does not conform to the ideologies which we have about African American people. A film that supports this is Ride Along as one of the main characters (Kevin Hart) is shown to be less educated, this supports the ideology linked to African Americans.

Examples:
The green mile (but has a twist)
Django unchained
End of Watch

The ideologies attached to Caucasian people is that they are more dominant and are well educated compared to any other race and have a domesticated family, a film that does not support this is The Book of Eli as the main character (Denzel Washington) is more intelligent and is far more superior at combat than the other characters within the film, this opposes the thought of caucasian people are superior, better than African American individuals.

Examples:
Book of Eli
Dawn of The Dead
Lethal Weapon

what I need to include in my film

Continuity editing: Continuity editing is editing that smooths over inherent discontinuity giving clear and logical continuous editing

180 rule: The 180-degree rule in film making is where regarding the on-screen spatial relationship between a character and another character or object within a scene. An imaginary line called the axis connects the characters, and by keeping the camera on one side of this axis for every shot in the scene, the first character is always frame right of the second character, who is then always frame left of the first. The camera passing over the axis is called jumping the line or crossing the line; breaking the 180-degree rule by shooting on all sides is known as shooting in the round.

Match on action: Match on action is an editing technique for continuity editing in which one shot cuts to another shot portraying the action of the subject in the first shot. This creates the impression of a sense of continuity – the action carrying through creates a “visual bridge” which draws the viewer’s attention away from slight cutting or continuity issues.

Titles: Titles are an important factor in media as it displays what the film is called which is important for the audience to be able to recognise the film, it can also give recognition to the actors and people who either starred in the film or helped to make it.

Sound: Sound is a very important part in films as without sound of any sorts it is difficult for the audience to understand the film and its meanings, a huge part of sound within a film is diegetic, but also non-diegetic sounds can allow the audience to understand the film more for example if it is a voice over explaining the story further. Soundtrack adds to the effect of the film by adding suspense and it can also change the audiences feeling depending on the style of soundtrack.

Narrative for my film opening

Equilibrium: Two survivors are at a 'safe' location looking for supplies and things to aid their survival.

Disruption: The two survivors enter a barn and find something useful but there is a zombie lurking in the shadows that thy are unaware of at first.

Equilibrium: They leave the barn and find a way to get away from the zombie.

Target audience and BBFC classification of 15 rated film

My target audience is teenagers, as teenagers are the typical audience to visit Zombie/thriller films as these people would bring in the most profit if this was a large release film.
The age rating for my film would be 15 as i would not make it so gory and inappropriate for that age rating, also by reducing the age rating it means that i also increase the range of people who can come and see my product.

BBFC classification of 15 rated film:
If a film is rated 15 this means that it may include any if all of these things:
-strong violence
-frequent strong language
-portrayals of sexual activity
-strong verbal references to sex
-sexual nudity
-brief scenes of sexual violence or verbal references to sexual violence
-discriminatory language or behaviour
-drug taking

 

My film would include strong violence and possibly strong language, but also because it is a thriller/horror it would have to be a 15 as the BBFC states that 'at 15 there can be strong threat and horror as long as there is no sustained focus on  sadistic or sexualised threat.' As my product does not contain any focus on sadistic or sexualised threat this means it is suitable to be labelled at 15

final idea

my finalised idea for my film opening is to have a survivor walking towards a location to find supplies, but when they reach the location  they realise that it is not as safe as they first thought and that it had previously been a camp for another survivor who had been bitten and is now a zombie. so the survivor comes into contact with the zombie, thus ending in a form of equilibrium.

initial ideas

My initial idea for a film opening will be to have it as a horror/thriller by having zombies and also having some sort of conflict between them.
my idea is to open with a shot of a group of survivors getting ready to go on a mission to find supplies and follow them on the beginning of their journey to find supplies but they come into contact with a zombie and then that is where my opening will stop as I need to restore a form of equilibrium before the end.

Attack the Block and representation

 

 

Attack the Block is a low budget film by the director Joe Cornish and is about a gang of teenagers who mug a nurse on bonfire night and their South London estate is invaded by unwelcome aliens who fall from the sky, the gang launch themselves into a gritty yet humorous mission to save their estate. 

Attack the Block has quite dark lighting throughout, this adds to the effect and suspense within the film, also as it is shot at night time it makes it seem more suspicion as night time is supposedly when bad things happen, there is also a range of camera shots, editing and angles but not any over complicated ones for the narrative of the film to continue without disorientating the viewer which allows the viewer to engage with the film more.

In Attack the Block ethnicity plays a large role in this film as the main character(s) are mainly black teenagers which are shown as 'hoodies' which is a stereotype of black teenagers, the main protagonist in the film is called Moses (John Boyega) the name Moses is from the bible as Moses helps people to cross the sea whereas in Attack the  Block Moses is shown to mug people which juxtaposes what happens in the bible. Each of the characters are very different in personality and this is shown as the film progresses, this then challenges the ethnicity stereotypes and shows the gang to be more light-hearted than what was originally thought which allows the viewers to change their judgements about the characters. With the films starting by showing the gang as violent and the stereotypical muggers which then changes by the end of the film to show the gang as saving the Earth, well at least the South End of London, this completely changes the way the gang is portrayed, but throughout the film there are still a hint of the fact that the gang is still the stereotypical sort of gang by their use of violence and the way that they talk. The film shows he tension between different classes and races as the gang and the black characters are shown to be more aggressive and in charge, the white female in this film is shown to be reliant and dependent on the gang, this conforms to the stereotype of women as the stereotype is that they are not violent and are dependent on the stronger male figure. Director Joe Cornish used actors who hadn't been stage schooled, this could be because he wanted the film to appear as realistic and natural as it could be so that the audience engages more and feels as if it is more realistic or because he didn't have the budget to hire more highly trained actors.

Barthe's codes

The hermeneutic code is any element in a story that is not explained and exists as a 'cliff-hanger' for the audience, raising questions that demand answers. Most films hold back details in order to increase the effect of the final revelation of all truths within the film. We tend not to be satisfied by a narrative unless all "loose ends" are tied; however, narratives often frustrate the early revealing of truths, offering the reader what Barthes terms "snares" which are deliberate evasions of the truth.

Cultural code is anything within a text from an external body to reference films, almost as if it is written in stone for example snow white and the huntsman uses a reference to the thorn pricking her finger and being a princess.

Proairetic code is an action code where you do something which is followed by another action which leads to something else.

Symbolic code is visuals which make sense to the viewer which is relevant and is similar to semantic code and organises semantic meaning.

Semantic code refers to the connotation within the story

Match cut

Match Cut:
Match cuts are any cuts that emphasises continuity and it is the basis for continuity editing. When we refer to continuity editing, we are referring to editing techniques that are used to help establish a linear flow between disparate shots so as to present a smoother narrative transition that does not end up jarring or confusing the viewer. A match cut is one method that directors use in editing to suggest a relationship between two different objects and to create a visual metaphor within a scene. It is a cut in a scene that makes sense spatially.  This can be between two different objects, two different spaces, or two different compositions in which an object in two shots graphically match.
An example of this is 2001, a space odyssey.

Class work

Vladimir Propp and Tvetzan Todorov

Vladimir Propp:
Propp was born on April 17, 1895 in St. Petersburg to a German family. He attended St. Petersburg University (1913–1918) majoring in Russian and German philology. Vladimir Propp believed in something called the 8 character archetypes of a film, this shows what each of the characters role within a film.

Propp's theory:
Propp suggested that every narrative has eight different character archetypes, these character archetypes are:
1.The villain — fights the hero in some way.
2.The dispatcher — character who makes the villain’s evil known and sends the hero off.
3.The helper — helps the hero in the quest.
4.The princess — the hero deserves her throughout the story but is unable to marry her because of an unfair evil, usually because of the villain. The hero's journey is often ended when he marries the princess, thereby beating the villain and resulting in a “happily ever after” moment.
5.Her father — gives the task to the hero, identifies the false hero, and marries the hero, often sought for during the narrative. Propp noted that functionally, the princess and the father cannot be clearly distinguished.
6.The donor — prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object.
7.The hero or victim/seeker hero — reacts to the donor, weds the princess.
8.False hero — takes credit for the hero’s actions or tries to marry the princess.

These archetypes are seen in many films to-date for example; Star Wars, this is a great example of the 8 archetypes, these are;
1. Villain- The Emperor
2. Dispatcher- Obi Wan Kenobi
3. Helper- Han Solo
4. Princess- Princess Leia
5. Her father- Darth Vader (Anakin Skywalker)
6. Donor- Yoda
7. Hero- Luke Skywalker
8. False hero- Darth vader (Anakin Skywalker)



Tvetzan Todorov:
Todorov was born in March 1, 1939 in Sofia) he is a Franco-Bulgarian philosopher and has lived in France since 1963, he has written several books and essays about ‘literary theory’, ‘thought history’ and ‘culture theory’.Todorov has also published a total of 21 books, Todorov's historical interests have focused on issues such issues as the conquest of The Americas and the Nazi and Stalinist concentration camps. He was a visiting professor at numerous universities, including Harvard.

Todorov's theory:
Todorov suggested that conventional narratives are structured in five stages:
1. A state of equilibrium (stability) at the start.
2. A disruption of the equilibrium by some action.
3. A recognition that there has been a disruption.
4. An attempt to repair the disruption.
5. A reinstatement of the equilibrium.

This type of narrative structure is very familiar to us and can be applied to many ‘mainstream’ film narratives. This theory can be seen in most films to-date, also this is the basic plot to a film which allows the audience to get satisfaction knowing that equilibrium is restored at the end of the film.

An example of this theory in a film is Taken as Taken begins with a state of equilibrium but then when his daughter is kidnapped it sends the film into a state of disequilibrium which is then solved again as he saves his daughter from the antagonist.

Thriller genre film opening analysis #3

The third film opening of the Thriller genre i chose was Dirty Harry

Director: Don Siegel

Release date (UK): 7 April 1972

Dirty Harry opens with the Warner Bros. symbol, followed by a fade out to a fade in of a San Francisco police memorial with a drone playing with church bells, the camera zooms in to the badge at the top. The badge fades out slightly as the names upon the memorial rolls up the screen, the names then stop rolling up the screen and the camera then focuses upon the badge again which zooms in and fades out to reveal the barrel of a sniper rifle as this happens the music changes to a drum kit. There is a jump cut to a Point-of-View shot down the scope of the rifle which tracks the target it is aimed at, there is a transition to a extreme long shot of the target, that moves away to reveal the shooter on screen, the camera is placed above the shooter's right shoulder. This shot allows you to see the distance between the shooter and the target which adds tension and suspicion, this is followed by a rapid transition to a shot of the barrel of the rifle again, there is a cut to a POV tracking shot down the scope of the rifle. There is a rapid close up shot of the shooter pulling the trigger which then goes to a medium shot of the target in the pool as the target gets shot as this happens the soundtrack stops, which then cuts to a longer shot to reveal he body in the pool and the water turning red from the blood. This shot is then followed by a jump cut to advance time to a long shot of the door opening and Harry (Clint Eastwood) stepping through the door which is being guarded by a police officer, as this happens the titles begin. Harry comes up the steps towards the camera, the camera is locked down so that it seems as if Harry is walking towards the audience.

Synopsis:

In the year 1971, San Francisco faces the terror of a maniac known as Scorpio- who snipes at innocent victims and demands ransom through notes left at the scene of the crime. Inspector Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) is assigned to the case along with his newest partner Inspector Chico Gonzalez to track down Scorpio and stop him. Using humiliation and cat and mouse type of games against Callahan, Scorpio is put to the test with the cop with a dirty attitude.

Mise-En-Scene:
The lighting in this scene is natural and the setting is in Downtown San Francisco. the costumes are a bikini for the woman that got murdered, dark suspicious clothes for the shooter and a suit for Harry, this is typically what you would expect for each of the characters shown.

Target audience:
The target audience is 17+ as there are some adult elements contained in the film, the film is for anyone who is a fan of crime thrillers and police action films.

Institutional information:
Budget- $4,000,000 (estimated)
Sales- $28,153,434 (USA) ( 1972)

Genre Conventions:Genre conventions:

This film is typical of the thriller genre conventions as it follows the basic plot of a thriller and adds suspicion as the opening goes on, it is shot in a standard thriller way, this film I believe does not break any genre conventions and stays true to the thriller genre.

Reflection:

I chose this film as i am a fan of Clint Eastwood and police thrillers, i found the plot of this film grabbing and threatening which makes a good and attractive thriller to the audience.

Thriller genre film opening analysis #2

The second film opening of the Thriller genre I chose to analyse was S.W.A.T.

 

(00:00 - 02:00 of this clip)

Director: Clark Johnson

Release date (UK): 5 December 2003

S.W.A.T. opens with titles saying the title of the film, with diegetic police radio playing as well, this then fades in to an establishing helicopter shot of the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles which the helicopter moves towards. this then cuts to a documentary style shot of a news helicopter flying above the city, this is followed by many short length shots from what seems to be a handheld camera, shot in documentary style. There is then a close up shot of the criminals face wearing a balaclava brandishing an AK-47, there is continuous diegetic police radio, this adds to the tension within the scene and adds realism as well. The camera then transitions to a shot within the bank where the hostages are with a close up of the criminals face as he shouts commands to the hostages, this is followed by a jump cut to a long shot of a police truck coming round the corner of a street, as this is happening non-diegetic soundtrack starts, followed by a cut to the truck driving past which then cuts back to show a convoy of unmarked police vehicles following the truck, followed by an overhead shot to reveal SWAT on top of the truck. There is then a jump cut to a close up of Colin Farrell and Jeremy Renner inside a helicopter, this is followed by a few more shots of inside the helicopter before an overhead locked down shot of the top of the bank where the helicopter comes into shot, this is then followed by a slow motion, low angle shot as two SWAT officers rappel down. There is then a cut to an even lower angle shot where the two SWAT officers reach the top of the bank, followed by an overhead shot from the helicopter of them rappelling down, which then cuts to a shot looking up to the helicopter in slow motion to show the final two officers rappelling out of the helicopter, followed by an overhead shot, then by a medium shot of the front of the helicopter. As this happens the music becomes quieter, this implies that the characters within the scene need to be stealthy, this then cuts to an overhead shot of the helicopter flying away, followed by a POV shot of one of the SWAT team making a hand gesture to the rest of the team. this id then followed by an extreme overhead long shot, then by a close up tracking shot of Colin Farrell walking towards the entrance the camera then goes into an arc shot to show the rest of the SWAT team converging on his location, there is a transition to an overhead shot as the team shoot the lock on the roof entrance to gain entry. There is a quick transition to a close up of the lock and then by an overhead shot as they enter, this is then followed by a low angled shot of inside the dark room in which they enter, this adds effect as the room is dark adding tension to the scene.

Synopsis:

Hondo Harrelson (Samuel L. Jackson) recruits Jim Street (Colin Farrell) to join an elite unit of the Los Angeles Police Department. Together they seek out more members, including tough Deke Kay (LL Cool J) and single mom Chris Sanchez (Michelle Rodriguez). The team's first big assignment is to escort crime boss Alex Montel (Olivier Martinez) to prison. It seems routine, but when Montel offers a huge reward to anyone who can break him free, criminals of various stripes step up for the prize.

Mise-En-Scene:

The lighting in this scene seems to be natural, the setting is Los Angeles and the iconography in this scene is the SWAT uniforms and police vehicles as this instantly makes it clear that it is a police-based film, the main characters are Colin Farrell and the rest of his SWAT team. The costumes are the LAPD SWAT uniforms, the setting is in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas.

Target audience:

The target audience is 12+ people who are interested in police style film and good thrillers.

Institutional Information:

Budget- $80,000,000 (estimated)

Sales- $207,725,639 (worldwide)

Genre conventions:

This film is typical of the thriller genre conventions as it follows the basic plot of a thriller and is shot in a standard thriller way, this film I believe does not brake any genre conventions and stays true to the thriller genre.

Reflection:

I chose this film opening as this film is one of my favourites as i always enjoy watching it and the plot of the story is great, also there is a lot of action, as i am a fan of films with a lot of action in so this film appealed to me. 

Thriller genre film opening analysis #1

The first film opening of the Thriller genre that i chose to analyse was End of watch 

(00:00:00 - 00:02:10)

Director: David Ayer

Release date (UK): 23 November 2012

End of Watch opens with a voiceover from Officer Brian Taylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) with a non-diegetic soundtrack, the soundtrack adds effect as it runs alongside the action that is happening within the scene, which is a car chase that is shot from a dash-cam camera inside the patrol car, this adds a sense of realism to the film as if the film is based upon real events. There is a transition forward in time, further into the opening there s another jump cut in which the time has noticeably advanced, there is a series of jump cuts which show that the pursuit has lasted a long time. Jake Gyllenhaal starts to talk bout something that is quite sensitive, this is also noticeable by the change in the soundtrack which is that the tempo of it significantly slows down which draws the attention of the viewer towards what is being said by him. As he finishes what he is saying the tempo of the soundtrack speeds back up and the voiceover stops, there is then diegetic sounds that begin (Sirens, police radio and the two officers (Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña) talking. The Officers rear-end the criminals car which causes them to crash, when the car is rear-ended it seems to be in slow motion slightly adding to the effect of the action. There is a brief firefight in which the window in front of the camera is shot, this might make the audience realise how close to being shot the officers are, making the audience aware of the situation. the way this scene is shot is very effective as it is shot like a documentary adding to the realism of this scene making the audience feel as if it is almost real.

Synopsis:

Long-time LAPD partners and friends, Brian Taylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Mike Zavala (Michael Peña) patrol one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Though they may bend the rules, their honor and dedication to the job are unquestioned. Taylor and Zavala always have each other's back, even if Taylor's surreptitious filming of their daily activities for a college course is a bit ill-advised. All hell breaks loose for the officers when they run afoul of a vicious Mexican cartel.

Mise-En-Scene:

the lighting in this scene seems to be natural, the setting is Los Angeles and the iconography in this scene is the way it is shot as it is like the typical sort f shot we see in police documentary programmes. The main characters are LAPD Officers as this is a thriller which is based around two LAPD Officers and their jobs, the costumes are the typical LAPD uniform.

Target Audience:

The target audience are 15+ who like police thrillers, this particular thriller is shot like a documentary.

Institutional Information:

Budget- $7,000,000 (estimated)

Sales- $53,041,274 (Worldwide)

Genre Conventions:

This film follows the genre conventions however it is different in the way that it is shot as if it is a documentary, this is the only thing that does not really conform to the genre conventions

Reflection:

I chose this film as i am a fan of crime thrillers and also police-based films as they appeal to me. I think that the choice of actors and the plot work well as they created a unique film because of the plot and the way the film is shot (documentary-style).

Film opening analysis of DREDD

The fifth film opening I analysed was the 2012 DREDD film (00:00:10 - 00:02:41)

DREDD opens with an establishing shot of Mega City One which the soundtrack playing in the background, there is then a voiceover of Dredd (Karl Urban) speaking and explaining the plot of the film and setting the scene. There is an aerial shot moving forward to the Mega City followed by a tilt the a zoom in where a drone appears on screen which then transitions to a close up of Dredd wrapping up his hand. This is followed by a low angle shot of rioters when there is a cut to dredd slipping his jacket over his shoulder. There is use of a news report to add realism to the film, followed by another shot of Dredd putting his bullet proof vest on where there is a transition to a point of view shot from the drone there is another aerial shot revealing the hall of justice building which pans up to show all of it. After this shot there is a cut to a close up of the I.D. check on Dredd's gun which then jump cuts to a close up of Dredd putting his iconic helmet on followed by a jump cut to a medium shot to show Dredd in his uniform. This is followed by a fade in 3D effect of the DREDD title appearing on screen, as this happens the soundtrack gets louder and more intense. The titles are then followed by a fast fade in to a quick moving steadicam moving right which transfers to a locked down shot of Dredd speeding away on his Motorcycle. there is then a fast transition to an aerial shot of the City with a follow on long shot of the control room with the operators talking. the camera then cuts to an operator on the computer which zooms in slightly, which is then disrupted by a extreme close up of the screen transitioning between three to reveal the perpetrators. A tracking shot is then used to show Dredd in pursuit of them followed by a jump transition to a high angle tracking shot of the criminals in the van which then cuts to the same shot but with Dredd in focus. There is a following shot of the van which then switches to Dredd instead. This is followed by a locked down shot of between two busses where Dredd drives up to the camera to add effect. 

Mise en scene:

The lighting seems to be natural, however when it shows Dredd preparing himself the lighting is very low adding a threatening effect to Dredd, the costumes are based on the comic of Judge Dredd so they look like the comic book series. The colour design is plain and industrial showing that it is a rough area that Dredd is in. 

Target audience:

The target audience is anyone (18+) who may like the Judge Dredd franchise or who likes action films, this film may also appeal to sci-fi fans as well.

Synopsis:

Mega City One is a vast, violent metropolis where felons rule the streets. The only law lies with cops called "judges," who act as judge, jury and executioner, and Dredd (Karl Urban) is one of the city's most feared. One day, Dredd is partnered with Cassandra (Olivia Thirlby), a rookie with powerful psychic abilities. A report of a terrible crime sends Dredd and Cassandra to a dangerous area controlled by Ma-Ma (Lena Headey), a drug lord who will stop at nothing to protect her empire.

Timeline:
00:00:10- Fade in, establishing shot with soundtrack
00:00:15- Voiceover starts
00:00:23- Aerial shot moving forward over to city
00:00:39- Pan right to establish setting
00:00:51- High shot, drone appears
00:01:01- Point of view shot from drone
00:01:06- Close up of Dredd's hand
00:01:09- Low angle shot of rioters
00:01:12- Close up shot of Dredd putting on jacket
00:01;14- News report
00:01:20- Medium shot of Dredd putting on vest
00;01:22- Point of view shot from drone
00:01:28- Aerial shot of hall of justice
00:01:33- Pan up to reveal whole building
00:01:44- Medium shot of Dredd
00:01:46- Close up of Dredd's gun I.D. check
00:01:49- Close up of Dredd putting on helmet
00:01:53- Medium shot of Dredd
00:01:55-  'DREDD' titles and soundtrack gets louder
00:01:57- Fade out to reveal fast moving steadicam
00:02:00- Locked down shot of Dredd riding into distance
00:02:02- Aerial moving shot
00:02:07- Diegetic police radio stars quietly and gradually gets louder
00:02:14- Long shot, pan right inside control room
00:02:17- Close up, zooming in to woman's screen
00:02:19- Extreme close up of computer screen
00:02:21- Cut to another computer screen
00:02:22- Cut to another computer screen
00:02:24- Long tracking shot
00:02:31- High angle tracking of criminals van
00:02:33- High angle in same position track of Dredd
00:02:34- Medium shot of van rear, tracking shot
00:02:36- Medium shot of Dredd rear, tracking shot
00:02:37- Locked down shot between two busses where Dredd gets close to the camera

Reflection:
I chose to analyse this film as i am a fan of the Dredd comics and i enjoyed the 1990's film starring Sylvester Stallone. I am also a fan of sci-fi action films as i have always been, I think that the opening to DREDD is effective and eye catching as it describes the setting as well as showing the scene which allows you to take in the scenery and understand the genre.

Film opening analysis of FURY

The fourth film opening i analysed was the opening scene to FURY (00:00:50 - 00:04:05)

(This clip only contains some of what i have analysed)

The film opens with some text describing when an where the film is set which also gives the genre (war), while the text is on screen there is a radio transmission playing in the background adding suspense and raising question from the audience. There is then a cut to the titles which then zoom in and then cut to a low angle wide shot of a German officer appearing on a horse with back lighting creating a silhouette of the officer. There is non diegetic soundtrack playing in the background but is very quiet, the camera then moves to the left tracking the officer which then cuts to a tracking close up of the horses hooves followed by a transition to a long shot following the officer still, this shot shows the scenery and devastation that war can create. As the German gets to 'FURY' the character 'wardaddy' (Brad Pitt) jumps on the officer and begins to stab him followed by transitioning to a close up of 'wardaddy' stabbing the officer which pans up to a reaction shot of Brad Pitt,. There is a cut to a medium shot of brad Pitt taking the reins off of the horse and letting it go, the camera continues to track Brad Pitt as he climbs upon the 'FURY' tank and pans up as he climbs upon the turret.

Miss-en-scene:

In the scene there is low key lighting creating an errie/threatening effect, on set there are a lot of destroyed vehicles and tanks making the genre even more clear. The costumes are ww2 uniforms and the tanks are the typical Second World War tanks. Brad Pitt brings a strong presence on screen and a strong masculine figure in the movie. 

Target audience: 

The target audience is anyone (15+) who is a fan of war films or tanks as the movie is a great combination of both, the fact that there is a popular actor in the film may draw more attention from the actors fans.

Synopsis:

It is April 1945, the Allies are making their final push in the European theater. A battle-hardened Army sergeant named Don "Wardaddy" Collier (Brad Pitt), leading a Sherman tank and a five-man crew, undertakes a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Hopelessly outnumbered, outgunned and saddled with an inexperienced soldier (Logan Lerman) in their midst, Wardaddy and his men face overwhelming odds as they move to strike at the heart of Nazi Germany.

Timeline: 

00:00:50- cut to text

00:01:06- quick fade to FURY

00:01:17- cut to text

00:01:38- cut to low angle establishing shot

00:01:43- German officer appears on screen, long tracking shot, soundtrack begins (quietly) 

00:02:45-transition to long tracking shot

00:03:05- Brad Pitt jumps on officer 

00:03:11- close up 

00:03:12- pan up to reveal reaction shot

00:03:24- cut to medium shot of Brad Pitt releasing horse

00:03:38- music gets louder

00:03:53- tracking shot 

00:04:00- pan up, tracking shot

Reflection:
I chose to analyse FURY as i am a huge fan of military history and action films, a massive push for me to watch this film is that i have seen the tanks from the film which made me want to watch the film to see how they were portrayed. I am very interested in WW2 films as they have always appealed to me, i believe that the opening to Fury is very effective as it shows the true side of war even though the film has not gotten into the thick of the plot.

Film opening analysis of Saving Private Ryan

The third film opening I analysed was Saving Private Ryan (00:00:40 - 00:03:50)

Saving Private Ryan opens with a close up shot of a mans feet as he is walking down a path, there is non diegetic soundtrack playing which gives an upsetting feeling as the music is quite slow tempo and sad. The camera is following the man and tilts up to a medium, eye-line shot. There is a jump cut to view the mans family behind him which then jumps to a close up of the sons face as he takes a picture, which transfers to a close up of his wife's face. There is a jump cut to a long tracking shot as the man is walking towards the camera, a jump cut to the U.S. and French flag help to show where they are and where the main character is from, there is then a transition to a tracking close up of the man as he walks forward which shows the mans emotions which can add effect to the scene and cause the viewers to get emotional aswell, the shot then jumps to a long tracking shot of the man and his family behind him creating ease for the viewers as it shows that he is with someone. There is a high angle shot to show the mass of graves creating an upsetting feeling for the viewers, there is a jump cut to the man walking towards a specific grave the camera tracks him as he does so. There is an establishing shot of some graves followed by two more, this along with the soundtrack creates an emotional atmosphere, a jump cut to a close up zoom to the mans face shows his emotions, creating another emotional affect, the camera zooms to an extreme close up to the mans eyes showing the effect that war had on him. There is a jump cut to an establishing shot to set the scene and the genre of the film which is war, there is a diegetic sound of the waves in the beach and the camera tilts down, followed by some text on screen.

Mise-en-scene

The setting in the beginning is the Omaha beach memorial/graves. The lighting is natural as it is to seem true and realistic to the audience, the scene that followed this was more lowly lit giving a threatening affect and the scene was a lot more negative and war-like.

Target audience:

The target audience of Saving Private Ryan is anyone (15+) who is interested in war films or the history of the second world war, the film is mainly aimed at adults as the subject it is about is a serious matter meaning it is not maybe suitable for the younger viewer.

Synopsis:

Captain John Miller (Tom hanks) takes his men behind enemy lines after D-Day to find one Private James Ryan (Matt Damon), whose three brothers have been killed in combat. Surrounded by the brutal realities of war, while searching for Ryan, each man embarks upon a personal journey and discovers their own strength to triumph over an uncertain future with honour, decency and courage.

Reflection:
The reason i chose to analyse Saving Private Ryan is because it is a film i have enjoyed the film ever since i first saw it, I found the film very moving and emotional as it shows the true cost of war. I believe that the opening to Saving Private Ryan is very effective and moving as it shows a small part of what some war veterans have been through.

Film opening analysis of Kelly's Heroes

The second film opening i analysed was Kelly's Heroes (00:00:10- 00:03:35)

Kelly's Heroes opens with a fade in shot of German soldiers on a tank with a burning building behind them, this shows what genre the film is, which is an action/war film. Across the screen there are some credits although the image is still visible behind them, the camera then pans left to set the scene with multiple German troops and tanks with more credits on screen. The camera then tracks a particular German soldier at a medium shot, the tracking then stops to reveal the protagonists in a jeep. The camera starts to zoom in on the jeep which then cuts to a close up of a German officer in the jeep, the camera then moves right to reveal the main protagonist (Clint Eastwood). Main credits appear on screen, there is a jump cut to a locked down shot of soldiers walking, then back to a tracking shot of the German soldier again, there is a shot-reverse-shot of the German and the protagonist to show each others reaction. This is followed by a medium tracking shot as the jeep drives off down an alley, non diegetic music starts as the jeep drives off, followed by a point of view shot inside the jeep, after the point of view shot there are a series of tracking shots. There is a close up shot of Clint Eastwood as he is driving which then cuts back to tracking shots of the vehicle. Credits roll over the screen as the action continues, a point of view shot follows the tracking shot, then there is a medium shot of the protagonist followed by another jump cut to a  POV shot which jump cuts to a locked down shot of some German soldiers while the jeep drives past. The final part of the scene is a long lasting tracking shot. The opening of Kelly's heroes sets the scene and allows you to understand the situation and get an understanding of what the story is about.

Mise-en scene:

The location is a partly destroyed village, the lighting is low key lighting emphasising the darkness of war even though the film is partially comedic. The props used such as tanks add to the dramatic affect of the film as they are seen as deadly and dangerous.

Target audience:

The target audience is anyone who is a fan of any war film or comedy as Kelly's Heroes has a few comedic scenes in the film.

Synopsis:

Set in the midst of World War 2, a selection of colourful American GI's get inside information from a German officer about millions of dollars worth of gold behind enemy lines. Kelly (Clint Eastwood) devises a plan sneak behind enemy lines to retrieve the gold, they enlist the help of a hippie Tank Commander, Oddball (Donald Sutherland) to help them. despite several casualties the men are determined to press forward, even if it means making a deal with the enemy.

Reflection:

The reason i chose to analyse Kelly's Heroes is because i'm a fan of WW2 films and also the actor Clint Eastwood and Donald Sutherland, also i am interested in the history behind the plots of films. I think that the opening o Kelly's Heroes is effective as it sets the scene of the film and adds a comedic effect within it.

Film opening analysis of Mad Max: Fury Road

The first film opening i analysed was the opening to Mad Max: Fury Road (00:00:00 - 00:03:04)

Mad Max: Fury Road  opens with titles and a voiceover from Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) talking about how the world got destroyed, setting the scene and explains what genre the film which is post-apocalyptic fiction or action. There is a transition in the credits to show footage from a documentary of a nuclear bomb effect on  some trees, it then cuts back to the credits continuing with the voiceover followed by a jump cut to an establishing shot of Max and his V8 interceptor (which is an icon of all of the previous Mad Max films, creating something recognisable for the older viewers) on a high point looking over the wasteland, this sets the scene and gives information about where the film is set. A crane shot moving down is used to bring the viewers attention to a lizard on a rock, while this is happening there is a diegetic dialogue of a girl followed by the voiceover of Max the camera then settles to focus on the lizard, the camera zooms in, to focus on max and the Interceptor. There is a jump cut to a close up of Max eating the lizard, there is not diegetic soundtrack as max packs up his things in a series of jump cuts, this tells the viewer that something bad is going to happen. There is then a close up shot of the turbocharger from the bonnet of Max's V8 Interceptor followed by another close up of the rear tyre as Max drives off. There is a tracking shot of the interceptor driving down the hill, The camera then cuts to a locked-down shot of the Interceptor driving out of view. This implies that there is something to follow to pursue Max, as the enemy cars drive over and around the camera there is a crane shot followed by a cut to a long shot of the pursuit then there is a jump cut to a closer shot of the pursuit in which the interceptor crashes, there is a tracking shot of the car as it flips. When the interceptor comes to a halt there is a voiceover from max again, a jump cut to a close up to the car door shows Max climbing out adding to the suspense of the scene as it makes the viewer concerned if he will make it out or not. A medium shot shows max crawling out of the wreckage, there is a flashback where a young girl is getting chased, it then cuts back to the scene where max is climbing out of the wreckage in which a gun is pointed at him, there is then a jump cut to a locked down shot of the landscape in which the cars and enemies drive past but the camera tracks max as he is pulled behind. A Non-diegetic soundtrack starts followed by a fade out for dramatic effect.

Mise-en-scene:

The location is post-apocalyptic Australia, there is high key lighting making everything look brighter than usual, the costumes were dark and dusty to suit the location, there is Max's iconic V8 interceptor and turbocharger in the engine making it instantly noticeable that it is a Mad Max film.

Target audience:
The target audience is anyone who is interested n the Mad Max franchise, although Mad Max:Fury Road is the beginning of a new series of the franchise. The main audience is either younger viewers or older viewers who are familiar with the old Mad Max trilogy.

Synopsis:
Years after the collapse of civilisation, Immortan Joe enslaves apocalypse survivors in a desert fortress called the Citadel. When the female warrior (Charlize Theron) leads Immortan Joe's five wives on a daring escape across the wasteland, she forms an alliance with Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) a lone wasteland wanderer who was captured by the Citadel. They attempt their escape in a massive armoured truck called the War Rig, trying to escape the pursuing warlord and his henchmen in a deadly high-speed chase through the wasteland.

Reflection:

I chose to analyse Mad Max: Fury Road as i am a fan of the original Mad Max trilogy, also i found the movie very good and i found all of the effects (visual, special and practical) remarkable and the amount of effort put in to making the film was stunning.

Introductory post

 The reason i chose to do A-Level Media Studies is because i enjoy films and television, also a few of my hobbies link in with media studies such as;model making and i would like to create videos to publish on youtube, the subject has always seemed interesting to me. I believe that i will enjoy Media Studies as the aspects that make up Media Studies look very intersting and I think that i will enjoy making and producing a film opening later on in the year. Some of the other subjects i have chosen can link in with Media Studies which might hopefully help me and allow me to achieve a good grade to my benefit, also i hope that studying Media will open up new pathways for me and allow me to see what job i could get in the future.