Shot Reverse Shot

This shot is most often used for conversations by showing one characters shoulder or the back of their head as you see the talker in the midground and taking up most of the frame. When the next person talks the shot will show them as you see the first person's shoulder to the side. This is to show the talker's emotion in a conversation. However sometimes shots cut back to the listener to show their reaction to what is said or being done. To do this technique the scene would most likely be shot twice through from each angle.

I doubt that I will use this technique since I do not plan on having face to face interaction between characters.

Match on Action Shot

A match on action shot is when the editor cuts from one view of a character to another view without changing the scene. The action will most likely have to been filmed twice but edited to look like one seamless action, creating a flow.

Example:
In this shot from Bringing Up Baby, Susan is seeing lighting a cigarette. In filming after the first take the director would have moved the camera and she would have had to re-light the match as the others had to react their lines from another angle or the scene would have been shot from two cameras at once to save time.

For my opening there will be little interaction between two or more characters by I can use this when my main character is performing a task. This means with one camera, I will have to reshoot scenes from different angles.

The 180° Rule

The 180° Rule is used to show two characters looking at each other. The director must imagine a line in front of the actors. The camera stays on one side of the line of an axis in relation to the characters to create continuity. If the line is crossed then this will confuse the audience. To break this the director must use an establishing shot to show the characters changing sides.

I may use this rule when shooting my flashbacks as in those scenes, more than one person is shown. I will have to keep to this rule as I will not be using an establishing shot. Other than that, the main character is by themselves for the most of the opening but it will still need to be used when she's moving around set.

G321 Blog and how I can reflect

Many of the G321 blogs I have seen has lacked an eye catching layout or interesting work. However I enjoy Huda Haid's blog as she's included everything she's done to reach her final magazine. I also like how well organised her blog is, making it easy to access and navigate. This is made easier by the fact that her blog isn't just text but uses photos and slideshows to portray her work.
If we look at her preliminary task and her final magazine we can see vast improvement which is good because we get to see her progress in editing.
I can learn from Huda's blog that presentation is key to making a successful final piece since it draws in readers . I have also learnt that showing improvement is good so I will also try this.

Film Treatment- What happens in the whole film?

Despite only filming the opening to my film I need to think about what will happen in the whole movie, just not in as much detail.
Genre: Drama/thriller

• Young adult/teenage girl wakes up with a bruise on her face- the audience doesn't know how it appeared until later.
• The girl gets dressed and ready whilst the audience sees shots of what happened the night before- as if she's remembering. The girl recieves a phone call from a man saying that she needs to talk to him, hinting that something has happened(this is the end of the two minute opening)
• It turns out the girl is involved with drugs as well as helping to deal them with the man who turns out to be her abusive boyfriend
• The girl dreams of being someone important and worthy but her addictions and poor relationship borders her from ever being able to achieve this
• There is chance for the girl to get out and restart but her boyfriend stops her and the audience realises she has a failed dream and that her life has taken over.

This is only the very first idea for my film, as I continue to do research my idea should develop and progress further, cutting out bad ideas and thinking up of better scenes.

Trainspotting(1996) Opening Analysis

Genre: Drama- shown through the realistic urban setting and voice over of main character complaining about life in general

Character representation: Renton and his friend are shown running away from two men. This suggests they are ruthless and jokers with little care for consequence. Their nicknames that they are introduced with implies their youth and lack of seriousness.

Mood/Style: The mood is upbeat and happy allowing the audience to escape to a world of easily getting away with crime. This is suggested by the use of cheerful music. The mood then mellows as the audience is introduced to Renton's home and the music quietens. 

Mise en Scene: Set in Scotland in a rundown town. Not much of their city is shown as much as the football court and apartment. The mis en scene of the flat suggests most, with the dirty rug. spray painted and broken rule, that the boys don't have jobs and don't care for themselves.
Narrative: The beginning of the film follows Renton and the audience hears him talking about choosing life "Choose life...But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life. I chose somethin' else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you've got heroin?"

 Intertitles: Only shows 'Chanel four films presents' and the title of the film, presuming he directors and actors will only have their titles in the credits.

Sound: Song-Lust for Life-Iggy Pop. Creates an upbeat mood and feeling of the decade. Music is slightly quieter when voiceover starts,

Camera shots: Low angle to show city people as character's run away to stand out, without showing their faces yet. Shots cut in-between too similar actions(collapsing due to a football and heroin) which could imply how close they are to doing something bad from something innocent. Long shots to make character look smaller.

Camera movement: Quick pans to provoke excitement and the adrenaline that the characters feel.Slow pan out of Renton on floor later implies he feels stranded and lower than others. Camera pauses on characters so audience becomes familiar with them.

From this opening I can think more about the different quick and slow shots to use as well the kind of music to use and where to quieten it down.  I can also experiment with cinematography by using long shots. The intertitles are bold so I can take this as inspiration for my own as well.

Requiem for a Dream(2000) Opening Analysis

The opening of the film begins with the icons of producers and helpers such as Artisan. This is then followed by a shot of a tv screen of a man talking to his audience about how he's fixed his life as words like 'WE'VE GOT A WINNER!' flashes up which immediently draws the audience in. Between this there's some opening credits such as the director. The man's audience appears to be blindly repeating him to suggest how the media has changed and how people want success, suggesting a though provoking film. The quality is poor as it's on an old TV to imply that the film is set a while ago and that the viewer of the Television doesn't earn enough to afford a better TV (which is ironic considering what they are watching). Suddenly the TV flashes off as a women(perhaps in her 50's) is upset and arguing with her son who is trying to take the set. Some quiet cellos and violins play eerie but soft sounds in the background. She locks herself in the cupboard to suggest a poor relationship between mother and child as the shots are edited to show both her and her son on either side of the door. This also implies a difference of age, gender, lifestyle and their opinions as the film wants to understand more than one audience and so that one audience can understand another.

Then as the left side switches to a keyhole shot to make the audience feel the emotions of the mother, the right side uses a freehand camera to follow the son. He then shouts more as we discover she has locked the TV to the radiator, suggesting her worries, the fact she can't control him and that this has happened before, creating tension between the characters. He argues that she's trying to make him feel bad whilst also convincing her that she'll get the TV back soon. This prehaps suggests two sides to the character, that one is angry at how he can't get his way yet another is trying to get what's best in a caring way.The mother slides the key that we discover has been around her neck under the door, further suggesting her concern for her own safety, She also tries to convince him that the chain wasn't for him as she doesn't want to create further distress. Soon after he unlocks the TV he calms down and apologizes, wishing for her to come out so the audience can sympathise and relate with both characters, As he leaves the shot goes back to her alone in the poor lighting of the cupboard as she talks to someone named Seymour, who we assume is her late husband, trying to convince him (but mostly herself) that if this should happen then it'll work out in the end. A split second after, the title of the film, Requiem for a Dream in bold yet neat font (similar to Times New Roman) slides down the screen from top to the middle as the sound of prison gates close, suggesting a drama film and that it won't work out. The writing then follows with a dissolving effect with a sizzling sound to connote the way LSD or other drugs melt into the tongue or bloodstream when taken(the film is related to drugs and addiction), which also connotes controversy. Also, the now well known song Summer of Overture by Clint Mansell plays, a classical song that slowly starts with a sweet piano tune to imply an easy beginning for the characters.

The song progresses to a louder, sharper and more industrial tune as the two main male characters carry the TV set across the isolated town, suggesting the film is set in a small area as a microcosm for the rest of the film as more opening credits are shown in between and too, sizzle away. The son's friend is black to further draw in and show the real lives of people of different race,age and gender yet all share an addiction, which is found out later. Finally the word SUMMER slides down the same way as the title with the same prison gate sound effect, suggesting that the film only follows across maybe a year or two since it's seasonal based time slots. The shots are quite dark and contrasted and are shot from awkward angles to make the audience feel as if they're following the characters but shouldn't be, as if looking into dangerous lives.

For my own film opening I would like to experiment using the keyhole shot, or something similar, as well using a split shot which helps to show more in less time. I also like the various angles of shots which show the simplistic but interesting locations. I will attempt to replicate the setting by making my location look 'emptier'. The music is very dramatic and is similar to the music I want for my final opening.

127 Hours(2010) Film Opening Analysis

Genre: Adventure, Biography, Drama. Shown through shots of people and of Aron(Franco) being shown getting ready. 

Character Representation: Adventurous, independent-shown going out by himself with hiking gear. Contrasts with footage of large crowds. 

Mood/Style: Begins with large crowds during the day cheering and celebrating. Switches to Aron in his dark house getting ready. Lots of shots of him using his left hand to grab items- adds meaning later in the film.

Mise en Scene: Large Crowds- colourful, fast motion. Switches to dark room with little lighting in kitchen. House shown to be fairly large. Fridge with hydrating foods shown. Tap drips as Aron leaves. Roads shown again in fast motion. Aron shown as man in his early 30's with baseball cap.

Narrative: Half way through Aron speaks to his own camera.

Intertitles: Typewriter font- documentary. Moves on screen and is placed specifically around it's area. Stops as Aron comes in and restarts when he leaves the room so audience can focus on scene.

Camera Shots and movements: Fast motion used in beginning shots. Split screen used to show various but similar people. Panning shots with close ups and long shots used with Aron. Shakey camera used towards the end.

This is similar to my film as it shows a person getting ready with use of split screen. I've decided I want to use split screen now. I also want to use more shots of other locations to add complexity to my film other than keeping the audience in one location. Therefore they may be more flashbacks as well. 

Up(2009)Film Clip Analysis- Waking Up Scene

For my own film opening I would like to use similar shots to these- especially the alarm clock being pressed and the tilt down of the everyday items. My main character will be similar to Carl in the sense that they are unhappy with their life but must carry on with the day.

I can take inspiration from the mise en scene and cinematography. However the editing and sound will most likely be different so I will have to look at another scene or opening.

Music- Calming and graceful, has some upbeat elements which contrast with the slow motions.     Adds humour
Costume- Striped pajamas and suit- smart and serious. Glasses- intelligence. Hat- hides face. Grape pin- symbolises memories and creates sadness
Setting-Regular medium sized house. Old ornaments and everyday items. Pills- suggests health condition
Style-Simple but overall sad. Upsetting for young audiences to see what life as an elderly could be like. Saturated colours create coldness and dullness compared to rest of the film. 
Shots- Close ups- creates understanding of character by items they use. Long shots/ loose frame-establishes setting and creates isolation for character. Tilt down- Point of view from character

Sleepy Hollow(1999) Opening Analysis

As a Tim Burton film we can expect dark and gothic themes right from the start of Sleepy Hollow. Followed from Mandalay's icon are the production team and director's name, in white on a black background with mist surrounding the text to give the audience the general theme of the movie. After the opening credits there is a close up of red wax, zoomed in on to look like blood so to fool the audience and add an eeriness to the beginning. Further on we see a male character, shot from below the holding a female's hand, as she caresses it to suggest a couple. The shot then fades to another of forms and the male's hand filling it out followed by the female's which is then put into a satchel. The scene suggests that a plan is being carried out, telling the audience that they are most likely the villains of the story. This is shot mainly in close ups as not to reveal their identity, connoting a horror mystery. However their names are shown whilst they sign the papers; the letter is signed Peter Van Garret and the wax seal reads Van Garret with a picture of a windmill which could foreshadow something to the audience. The scenes runs whilst non-diegetic music plays. This draws in the audience and aims to get the viewers hooked on the story from the start. The music switches in between atmospheric and creepy to a heavier tone, suggesting only some parts may be gory whilst other scenes are inciting.
The scene then cuts to another character in a carriage as the music gets darker and now a diegetic noise of fast horse's steps overlaps the music. A quick shot of the same Coat of Arms with Van Garret is painted to the side of the carriage, inferring that the first unknown character is inside. The camera now shoots inside the carriage where we see who we assume is Van Garret. The shot makes it seem as if the viewer is spying on the man or is seeing what he sees. The performance by the actor tells us that he's impatient or worried by the way he looks around and outside the window. By this point the horse's steps are quieter and now we hear loud rain followed by thunder. We then see a shot of a scarecrow, used to unnerve the audience and add tension to the scene. By this point the audience can assume that something bad is going to happen.
The music fastens in speed and becomes deeper as one of the horse's cries and a sharp sword sound is heard by Van Garret. At this point the camera is still focused on Van Garret so the neither he or the audience can see what's happening.
Lastly we see the horse rider's head has been cleanly cut off as Van Garret runs towards the scarecrow. A few moments of waiting is shown to add tension until we see his head too being cut off as blood splatter onto the pumpkin head of the scarecrow until the scene fades to a city.
Overall from the opening of Sleepy Hollow we can infer that the film is for older viewers due to the slight gore and dark themes. The film is also set in the past (1799) as the viewer can see by the character's older fashioned cuffed clothes and the use of props. It is clear from the start that the film is a horror mystery due to the use of dark lighting and saturated colours, apart from the eye catching red of the wax and blood to make it appear more gruesome and slightly grotesque. The audience is easily drawn in by the unexplained events from the first three minutes of film.

I have not yet started to plan my opening by I am intrigued by a thriller or psychological film, and a horror opening shows some of the mise en scene I could use in my scene. Sleepy Hollow also shows me what horror music is and when I look at the opening of a thriller I can compare the music so that choosing it later on is easier.

The Proposal-Romantic Comedy Analysis & Clichés

• Genre shown as light hearted with upbeat music over a setting of the woods which turns out to be a screen- fools audience but adds amusement. Implies that Bullock is rich. The woods is also a foreshadow of Reynold's home later in the film
• Titles are shown on screen
• Bullock is shown exercising whilst working- connotes importance and an organised character- zooms out to show character in full
• Tall buildings are shown outside her window- implies large apartment set in New York
• Shot then shows Reynold's in bed at a messier apartment-is less organised- also shows difference between the two character's. Audience can tell they're the two that'll be together
• Sounds of taxis and fire truck as Reynolds is running to work- connotes business and the characters stress. His running shows his eagerness to get to work on time- suggests an important job
• Shots of busy street as camera focuses on Bullock in a smart black suit- suggests high importance
• Cliché love interest from afar- coffee shop girl shows interest in Reynolds, implies he's likable or fools audience to believe she's the main character until shot jumps away from them
• Reynolds displays importance when he knocks into another worker. He blames him for his mistake as if showing his authority despite being below his female boss. This is also shown when he quickly demands a co-worker to switch shirts-wants to appear worthy to boss for promotion. Further suggests he is actually similar to Bullock
• Character's are different and show clear dis-likeness for each other- shown with sarcasm and the fact Renyolds sends out emails to warn co-workers eg. "The witch is on her broomstick"~(The emails have a cutesy pop sound to show lighthearted hate and not deep anger)
• Quick blurred pan shot when workers hurry to look as if busy- suggest panic as well as fear and hatred of boss
• Pauses of tension and awkward expressions between the character's- The characters know each other but not on a personal level 

Whilst my film will not be a rom-com, I can use inspiration from The Proposal to show to things happening at once by using parallel editing. However I may change this to flashbacks when I start to plan my film opening.