To find out the opinions of the people involved in the film, we interviewed three of them...
The reason we did the interview like this is so that we could experiment more with different sounds, transitions and titles. Doing it this way gave us a better idea on how to edit a video which would make it easier for us when we create our film.
Well done Layla - a very nice start to your research and planning.
For your analysis of opening two minutes make sure you comment on the following things to show a broad understanding and appreciation:
Target Audience
Narrative
Characters
Use of titles
Pace of editing
Mise en Scene
Camera Composition
Use of sound
Genre conventions
A really good start - you now need to begin to evidence detailed planning for your production, which needs to be detailed and thorough.
The 180 rule is something that lets the audience know where the characters are when with each other without getting the whole set or place around them in shot. An example of using the 180 rule is in filmed interviews; we are able to tell that the two individuals are talking to each other without having to see them both in frame.
The shot reverse shot is usually used at the same time as using the 180 rule, but it is a lot simpler to understand. All it means is the camera will view one person (person 1) in shot then switch the other person (person 2) that is talking or looking at person 1, making it seem like they are having a conversation with each other. For both the 180 rule and the shot reverse shot; if there is only one camera involved in the filming such as some movies and TV shows then the scene would most likely be filmed twice and then edited together to create the final product.
The first movie me and my group made for this project is called "What are you doing here?" The aim of making this movie was to experiment different angles and shot types when using the camera, it was also a good opportunity to get an idea of how to edit videos on the computer. For this project we used Adobe Movie maker which let us use different editing techniques such as cropping a clip, adding transitions and adding titles/credits.
To make this movie better we would've tried to crop the clips better and also tried to create a sound bridge in the last clip instead of cropping it and adding in the sound after. This would help us get more of an understanding on how sound bridges and other sound techniques are used. We also could've made the title a lot more creative and relevant to the videos we included and added some credits so the audience would know who directed, starred and created the movie.
Something that we did effectively was the use of camera shots; we tried to use different types for each clip we filmed which you are able to see when watching the movie. In the first clip we used a high angle shot to show everything that was going on in the clip and with both the characters. For the second clip we decided to use an over the shoulder shot so it would seem like you are following one of the characters. And in the last clip the main shot we decided to use was a close up to show the facial expression of the character.
If we were to re make the whole movie, the only thing I would personally do different if include some non diagetic sound to create impact for the genre of the movie which would most likely be a comedy because of the way we spoke and reacted to each other.
In the beginning of this film they have used no music or sounds, this makes it seem like a serious movie but it also feels more realistic. The only thing we are able to wear are different news reports on subjects that would effect a large amount of people. Then one news report seems to stand out more than the others, which is the one this film is about. We know this news report is important because they use a bridge effect to link it to the first clip when we see some people in a shot looking at something. This creates an enigma as be don't know what they are looking at apart from the clue of the news report we can hear making the audience want to continue watching. A very bold font is used before the first clip begins, it is white overlaying a black background, it is also all in capitals which can add to the seriousness and hint on the genre as this film is action. Thinking back to the news report we can hear, the lady said "Diego was stabbed after refusing to sign an autograph", but before that she mentions he was the youngest man in the world creating more enigma's for the audience. The people have been filmed from a high angle making them seem weak and vulnerable, this indicates that they are in trouble or something bad will happen. A man then pushes through the crowd to buy something at the till. The way he pushes himself through makes him seem a lot more important than the people around him, indicating that he is the main character. The clip then changes so we are able to see what the crowd was looking at; a TV explaining that Diego (the man that got stabbed) was the youngest man in the world. This explains why the crowd of people were made to look vulnerable, because the youngest person on the planet was 18 years old lets you know that something bad is happening or is going to happen to these people. The camera then follows the man back out the shot at an eye level view, at this point we see him as the main character because of the way they have got the camera to focus mainly on this one person. When we begin to follow the man out the shop slow music is played over the top of the scene, making the audience feel guilt for the young man that died and in a way fearful to see what will happen next.
We then find ourselves out side of the shop without the man in view, the audience will now be able to see London in 2027, as we are told from the writing added to the bottom of the screen. London in this clip is seen as very uncared for and dull, which is the complete opposite to most parts of London now days as it is almost upper class looking, this makes you think of what could be going on in this movie that we weren't shown. The camera turns around to get the main character back in shot as we are following his story. As the man stops the camera catches up with him but then keeps walking while keeping the man in shot. We are given another chance to see what the location is like; old busses and broken buildings are shown. We suddenly hear and see a very loud explosion coming from the shop that the man was just in, this doesn't just make the man look extremely lucky and become a strong character but it also creates another enigma on what caused the explosion. The camera seems to run over to the explosion, almost like you are the one holding the camera and you want to see what happened. Car alarms and screams are the only thing you can hear as a woman walks out of the smoke and dust carrying just her arm. You can also hear a high ringing which they use as a bridge effect to continue onto the main title of the move, this ringing leaves you feeling shock from what you have just seen but doesn't stop you from watching the rest of the film. The same font and colours are used for the main title but the font size is a lot bigger because it is more important. This is good way to begin the movie as it creates many enigma's and intrigues the audience to find out who the man is and why London is falling apart. The use of no music is also good as it is a unique way of creating a realistic effect and making you feel fear to carry on watching although this hasn't been categorised as a horror movie.
The first two minutes of Monsters inc begins with only music, and then you are able to see the opening credits. The music used is very positive and almost sounds like a soft jazz sound, this already makes it feel like your about to watch a family film with a happy ending. It seems like they have used brightly coloured shapes to try and explain the story and what this film is about, making it a fun beginning of the movie which would appeal to a younger audience of around 6-13 years old because of the colours and use of music would intrigue them. The speed of the opening credits could also add to the fun of the movie because they have make it a fast pace which would make you excited and happy.
Just from the beginning titles it is clear to see that this film is an animation by the way they have used bright colours but it could be harder to see that it is a comedy just from the way they haven't used any signals e.g. jokes and no characters were introduced. Usually introducing certain characters in the film will help with finding out what genre you will be watching. The use of font can also indicate the genre as it's very random and makes the film look appropriate for any age group.
The actual movie begins by the camera zooming into one of the animated coloured doors, this could make the audience feel like they are going on an adventure which would make them feel like they are leaving their reality to live somebody else's world for this movie.
The clip then changes to some toys on a shelf in a different animation, the change of animation makes the film look more realistic but still keeping it animated enough to look cartoon and appeal to a younger audience. A light switches off after a mum and dad say goodnight to their son. The camera then changes into a high up shot to overlook the boy sleeping in his bed, this can create mystery as the no music and darkness builds some tension. The sound of crickets in the background takes some of the tension away, this is a good thing because this film doesn't need much build up as it is aimed at a young audience.
In the last 30 seconds we get a chance to see different things around the boys room, such as the time, his toys and a long shot of his whole room. Doing this can make the audience feel as though they can relate to this boy as they would also be at around the same age group as him, we know this from the colours and different objects we see in his room.
This is a good way to begin the movie as we don't find out much about the story line but we do get hints from the opening titles and animation, creating an enigma for the audience as they wont know what will happen, making them want to continue watching. A negative on the first two minutes is we don't get introduced to many of the character apart from a boy who we soon find out is just a practice dummy for some monsters to scare.
The opening of Dear John is good because it tells the audience about why the main character is the way he is as it explains a story of the main character ‘John’. The background story automatically makes him seem like a good character because they include a clip of him fighting in the US army and being shot; indicating that John is a brave man. When he is shot he tells us about a past memory he had that linked into what had just happened to him, the story that he tells us he says that he is in some way not good enough anymore (because he was shot) This will makes you feel sorry for him and like him even more. This makes it a good opening because it draws the audience in to see whether he will survive and because they like him it makes them want to see what will happen to him throughout the movie.
Because they included a clip of him being shot while in the army, it doesnt create any enigma's as we know all about who he is and why he feels like he isn't good enough anymore.
Before they show the clip of him fighting in the army, they use opening credits. The font used connotes seriousness which makes the film seem like it would be aimed at older age groups e.g people in their 20's. Another way we can see that this is a serious movie is because they use a white font over a black background; making it feel more meaningful and deap.
As the first clip begins they use an over the sholder shot of someone in the army leaning over to help the man that was shot (John), this makes the main focus of the first scene on him as he is the only character we can see properly, making it feel like he is the man thats talking over the clip; they use asynchonus sound effect.
The sound of the music it quite intense and slow at the beginning because it shows him injured and has him speaking and telling a story that happened to him. This is good because it makes the audience feel sorrow for John as he is explaining why he feels, in a way, broken.
The genre is shown nearer the end of the first two minutes because it shows him fighting at war which could make the audience not think about wiether he will fall in love. However when he starts to tell the audience about his story he finishes it by saying that just before he was shot “the last thing that entered my mind was you” This hints to the audience that this movie will have a lot of romance in it . This also creates an enigma because we don't have any idea of who he is talking about as the way he says it sounds like he is talking to you (the audience).
Within the first two minutes we don’t find out very much about what will happen throughout the film, but we do find out that whoever he was talking about will lead to a love story although he could've been talking about a family member or close friend, this adds to the mystery of what this film is about. This will make the audience feel intrigued and make them want to carry on watching because they will want to know the whole story and what's its about.
I think that the first two minutes is good because it shows us a lot about one of the main characters. This could appeal to a femail audience as they use a popular actor that is known to be liked by the femail audience. The first two minutes would also appeal more to the girls as they would feel like they have made an attatchment to the character John. The genre of the film (romance) stereotypically intrigues a female audience.
Although it is a good beginning, it doesn't lead on much on what will happen later in the movie other than the main character has very strong feelings for someone which we don't know who. This could be a good thing because the audience would want to find out more about the story, making them watch till the end.
