Overall personal opinion on our Opening Sequence

In my personal opinion i feel that our opening is at a high standard but could be improved. The narrative of the opening is well presented as well as having many enigmas during the murder, why was he murder? Who is he? The lighting and sound used fit the genre of film we were aiming towards, gangster. However i feel that we could have had a better quality light source thus producing a cleaner cut opening. The sound used is stereotypical to gangster films and I feel that it fits into our opening well, it create drama and suspense throughout the whole opening. If we had more time and could make improvements I would make sure that we had more different shot types from more interesting and complex angles. This would make our opening more exciting to watch and make our opening run more smoothly.

Our Group Opening Sequence

Here is our final opening sequence. After over a month of hard work I feel that we have created a good opening sequence which I can say I am very proud of. I loved working with my group and felt we all worked well together, working as a team at times can be challenging but I feel that we worked as well as we could and created this wonderful opening.

I hope you enjoy it.

Evaluation

This is our finished evaluation, we have added links during the video to make it more interactive these links go to each question that we have answered.

Self Evaluation

Here is my Self Evaluation where I have made comments and answered questions on how well I think I have worked as a member of a group and the skills I have learnt.

Evaluation

Yesterday Me and Holly made notes on each evaluation question whilst Max and Sam finished off editing our opening and adding music. When these notes were finished we turned them into a script for and printed them out for each of us to have.
Today we filmed our evaluation we used Holly's mac as the technician was unavailable to give us a camera to use, however this was not a problem as we all fitted in the shot and it picked up our sound well. We choice to split our questions up and answer them in an order so it was organised and planned out. This way we all knew what we were doing and when we were going to talk. It made sure that we were not talking over each other and our points we wanted to made were clear. We filmed the questions in 3 clips, Question 1-4, 5-6 and 7 on its own. The reason for this was that it gave us a break to get ourselves together and for us to know what person is talking next and gave us a chance to go over our lines. By doing this it made sure we were relaxed during the filming to make a more relaxed and comfortable evaluation. 
We are now transferring our video to our editing suit via a memory stick. The reason for editing it is to make the evaluation smooth and clear as well as getting rid of moments of silence and flaws.

Soundtrack Completed

Our soundtrack is final complete and has been added to our opening sequence. I think that the music used is really interesting and adds depth to our opening. It is jazzy and represents a typical gangster film opening, the theme which we are going for.

Group Opening Sequence in Progress

This is our group Opening Sequence, after receiving feedback we hope to make changing to out opening to improve it and make it more interesting for the audience to watch.  As that the moment they feedback has told us that the very start of our opening drags out and becomes boring, so we will fastener the pace thus making it more dramatic and fast paced.

Responding to Feedback

After the showcase we received feedback and from this we have taken it upon ourselves to edit our opening to reach the criteria needed to make this opening as good as possible. We have made the start where he lights his cigarette faster paced and upbeat. This hopefully will be more interesting for the audience as well as making the whole opening flow better and keep a good pace.

Feed Back

Today in lesson we showed our progress of our film opening to the class. They then all filled out a sheet which had comment on about it, from these comments we are able to know what the audience liked and didn't helping us to create a better piece of work.
Some comments made were things such as the beginning of the opening dragged, they felt it was quite slow and hard to really get into. However the shot after the cigarette hits the floor was much more entertaining as it was quicker and more to look at. They understood the flashback which was very important, this was because it sets the whole film and if the audience did not understand it then the rest of the film would be very complicated and difficult to enjoy.
Overall there were positive points with a few negatives which we are now working on to create an entertaining and dramatic opening sequence.

Finished Filming

We have now completed all of our filming so can start on the editing of it using Final Cut Express. There has been difficulties during this process such as key props such as the lamppost getting removed. However we got through these by working around it by finding a lamppost future up the road, luckly it still looked like the first located. So this was very useful, because then we would not have to film it all again.
We have changed parts of the story board, the last flashback has changed from the original idea of the man purposing to the lady, it is now both of them saying ' I Love You'. We have decided to put all of the flashback scenes in black and white so they stand out and the audience know it is a flashback, making it clearer to understand. For the last flashback I thought it would be a good idea to make the ladies red lips be the only colour shown. This shows the audience that it is a female talking as well as the red colour links into the title and sums up the themes of the opening these being love and death.
There were problems on the editing of these flashbacks, the computer we were using did not have the software that was needed for this special effect, so we then had to do it on one computer and transfer it to ours. Also the editing on the black and white was a difficult process as we had to make sure the colour composition for each clips was the same, but this was also time consuming. As well as at first we had to research on how to do this effect.

Film Title

After many options such as 'I Love You Too’, ‘Betrayal’ and ‘Deception’ we final came to a group decision to use ‘Possession’ as our film title. The reason for picking this is that it is short and sweet. The title is quick and easy to remember making it affective and a film name which is memorable. Possession is a good name to use as it links in well into the film, it explains the way the main character feels towards the lady, as if he owns her; Giving the audience an insight into the mental health of the man just by the title.
After many options we finally picked a rough and ragged text for the title. This was because it links into the themes of the opening and gives off the correct vibe. It shows the mental health of the main character as it looks insane like. The writing looks as if it could have been written by the killer.
Red font was used as it shows the themes of love and death, but also links into the red lips of the lady talking. The colour fades starting from a faint red to a full dark red, this effect was used as if it’s the man who was stabbed blood running.

Final Editing.

We have filmed all of our shots needed for our opening, so now we are editing it all. To make one part of our opening dramatic we chose to take the ‘I love you’ scene said by the girl into black and white, but only having her red lips in colour. The reason for this is to make sure the audience know that it is a female who is saying it. Also it is to symbolise the themes running throughout the opening; love and death.  The red lips also link into the red writing at the end of the opening. We found some problems when making this edit because the computer we were using did not have the correct software to do this effect, so we used misses computer, made the effect and transferred it over to our computer, where we then added that scene into our opening.
We have added all the cuts and now have made each one flow nicely into the next by using some black fades and blurs. For the flashbacks we have decided to use white fades so the audience knows that this is a flashback. These flashbacks occur when the cigarette falls to the ground, to add drama and empathise this we have slowed down the falling of the cigarette.

Final Filming.

We filmed our finally scenes for our opening sequences on Wednesday 8^th of March.
The last shots that we had to film were the stabbings, cigarette falling on the floor and max being stabbed and then falling on the floor as well as the touch on the shoulder. The filming was quite complicated this time due to the fact that we had to find another setting that was similar to the last because the lamppost was removed. This caused several problems. Firstly the fact that we could no longer use the same filming spot as before, so we then had to find another place which was very similar but also had a lamppost. By the lamppost being removed the lighting was effected, it is a huge part of our opening and getting the correct lighting is key. However we found an area to film just up the road which had a lamppost which we could use and the setting looked very similar to the first place.
After our filming we will then edit it all to make the opening flow and makes the right effect on it to give off the correct vibe we are hoping for, for our opening.

Changes made to sequence

We have chosen to change the sequence to our opening. When shooting we came across difficulties such as hard weather to work in and difficulties on finding the correct place to get a good shadow that can be seen clearly. So somebody suggested being able to see the stabbing physically instead of on the wall from the shadow first planned. This is a better idea as the audience are now able to see clearly what is happening, but also because it works well with our flashbacks. We chose to  make the cigarette drop, this then going to a flashback, the man falls to the ground creating another flashback. This part of the opening is very fast but effective and gets the audience excited and interested in what is happening. So I think a positive has come from this, and made our opening much more dramatic.

Editing

Today as a group we edited our work that we have done so far. We have already got 1 mintue and 30 seconds completed, however this will all need to be cut to make sure the opening is not to long. To make sure the shots ran smoothly from one another I made sure that i spotted when there were pauses and cut them, I also added fades and dissolves to make each cut run smoothly.
As we shot the film in the dark we have had to adjust the lighting and colour contrast to make sure that each shot is bright enough to make sure the audience can see what is happening clearly. I had to also make sure that each shot had similar brightness to the last.

Story Board

Here is our group opening sequence story board, this will be used throughout our development of our film. It will guide us into knowing what shots come next as well as reminding us what shit type it is, angles used and who is on the set at the time. 

First Day of Filming

Holly, Max and Sam shot the flash back scene to our opening. I was absent during this due to being in a lesson, at the time. However I saw the filming that took place afterwards and was happy with the work which was done. The filming was shot in a spare office as it was a suitable location for this shot and looked realistic. They took some very interesting shots that has made this flashback much more interesting.
As a group we now need to discuss ways in which we can use these flashback but make them even more interesting and for clear for the audience to know that these are flashbacks. We shall do this by using different editing types; such as slow motion, faster, fades or black and white.

Production Name

After many suggetions such as 'Two Ducks Full' and 'Fire' the group had come to the choice of using 'Hollow' as our Production name. I am very happy with this as I feel that it fits the theme of the film well. If we used the name such a 'Two Ducks Full' it would have give off the wrong vibe of the film. Making audineces think it would be a funnny film rather than a dark and thrilling one. Hollow, is catchy and memoeable and straight away makes the audience think of a film that is dark.

Group Decisions for Genre and Storyboard

Over the holidays we all came up with the start of a storyboard, when we all saw each other at school again we showed each other our ideas. All of the ideas were very different, mine was the thriller theme, a group of young girls go camping in a forest and each one disappears. At the end of the film you find out that it is one of the group of girls who is killing each friend one by one.
  Other came up with Flick chick theme and horrors, as a group we had to come to a disicion. We came to the conclusion of doing a Thriller Theme as it is a theme that all the group will enjoy filming and have a good input into.
After having a few long conversations we finally came up with the idea of our opening sequence. A man who is in love with a women and has made himself think that she is in love with him too, however she is clueless about this and has her own boyfriend and is hoping to get married. So the man takes revenge on the ladies boyfriend by killing him; so he can have her all to himself.
Sam had come up with a few very good shots that we chose to put into our own storyboard, we all added ideas to create the storyboard.
I feel that the storyboard and the theme of  the opening is very good, I will be able to contribute alot to the group and come up with ideas.

What I've learnt from the Preliminary Sequence

From this activity I have learnt a lot of skills that i can then use when coming to make my final opening sequence. From testing out different shot types i am now aware of which ones are the most difficult to do and which ones are the  easier options. We use Final Express to edit this sequence, from this we now know our way around the system better, making us quicker next time we come to use it for our real opening. I've learnt from this which editing styles and ideas are best to use and then apply them to our opening. We tried out different shot types and from this now know that using the panning shot is very effective. We will use this shot type in our opening as it sets the scene well, on the Preliminary Sequence we also used the over the shoulder shot. This builds up suspense and create a dramatic feel to the opening; for this reason we have chosen to add it to our opening.     

Preliminary sequence

This is my Groups Preliminary Sequence, the reason that we have done this is to test out the equipment so when we come to make our real opening we know what to do straight away; therefore not wasting time. We also tested out several shots from different angles and perspectives. This will give us ideas of shot types to use in out opening, to create a interesting opening film.

Juno Opening.

Juno 
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Released: 2007
Directed By:Jason Reitman
Staring: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner

This is a very unusual opening, as it goes from reality to a cartoon version of what is happening. The camera follows a girl, which the audience then link to being the main character in the film. The scenes show a girl drinking a large bottle of sunny D. We later find out that this is relevant because she is about to take a pregnancy test. By the opening being in a cartoon like form, it adds interest for the audience and captures their attention straight away. The music is being played throughout the whole opening; using this theme tune makes the opening more interesting and lively. The music used is upbeat and 'happy go lucky’. The lyrics to the song are relevant to the relationship that Juno and her 'lover' have. The credits come up throughout the whole opening and linked into what is on the screen. This way it makes the opening flow much better and goes in it with the music being played. We hear the character speaking over the top talking about how she and a boy decided to have sex, and the complex relationship they now have due to her becoming pregnant. You now and then see a group of boys running wearing bright yellow shorts; this is contrasting to the dull background. However these boys are also relevant as Juno’s ‘lover’ goes running in this group every Moring, you learn this later on in the film.  

                                                                                                                                                          

Dead Again 
Genre:Drama, Mystery, Romance
Released:1991
Directed By:Kenneth Branagh
Staring:Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Andy Garcia

This opening starts off with the title in white against a black background, this draws attentions and interests the audience. Then the scene is filled with shots of which look like newspaper titles, words that appear are; murder, and also articles which give information about the person who was murder. This makes the audience ask question about whom this person is and why they are relevant to the film. It then goes to a room which happens be in black and white, inside this room all you see is a newspaper on the wall highlighted by a white light and a man’s mouth who seems to be humming. The newspaper on the wall relates to the other information we were given earlier on, the audience then link the man in the room to the newspapers; this makes us think that this man is a key character in the film. The camera and light highlight a pair of scissors; this draws the audience’s attentions and makes them wonder what is going to happen next. When the man walks down the alley holding the scissors, the camera gets a close up shot of this making the audience know that these are an important prop being used. Then with a fast changing shot, it goes to a woman in bed waking up from which looks like a nightmare. It is in colour, this connects with the back and white shots and nightmare. As if the black and white shots are the nightmare she was having and that is what has made wake up.

The Cleaner 
Genre: Crime/Thriller
Realesed: 2007
Directed by: Renny Harlin
Staring: Samuel L Jackson, Eva Mendes, Ed Harris

The opening sequence starts off with a shot of a town and plays spooky music. The weather is dull and grey this then matches with the music and sets the tone of the film from the start. When we see the dead body the music changes and becomes more upbeat. This is ironic and does not match the setting. This then makes the audience realise that this film will be more relaxed and humorous than scary and depressing as we first thought at the start. 
40 seconds into the opening we hear a voice. This voice is heard throughout the whole of the opening. It is a mans voice, he is talking about what it is we are seeing. He explains to the audience the proceedings he has to go through for his job; cleaning up dead bodies and its remains. We find out at the end of the opening that the voice over is a man who is talking to people about his work. This was a very clever way to use the voice over.
We first meet the main character by hearing his voice but then we are matched to his face at the end. We know he is the main character due to the fact that he was the one talking and the focus is on him and his job. We don't know any other information about the man, other than what he does for a job.
The narrative function for this opening was for the audiences to know about this man and his job, and this is all we know so far.
The camera shots are all used to imphasie what we are looking at and to make the scene more dramatic. There are low angle shots as well as close ups. There is a close up of the glasses that are covered in blood. This is used to mak ethe audince understand the reality of this mans job. He has to clear up every little thing that is left behind in the death area.

Mise-en-scene : A group of elderly men is business suits they are all centered in the middle of the frame. The eldest of the lot is sitting on a chair in front with the other behind, this suggests he is the center of the attention and getting the picture taken could be specially for him. They are all wearing formal clothing this shows that they are business collogues or that they are all  brothers and the man in the center is the father. The men at the back are all wearing red ties this links them together. The bald man on the left of the frame glances at his watch, this shows that he is uncomfortable with the situation and hopes that it ends soon.

Sound and light: The light is coming from the center and makes the men the center of attention in the shot. The only talking comes from the photographer who is being energetic and trying to build up the energy from the men who are standing there rather lifeless.

Britishness: Classic British working men.

Colour: The mens suits are dull so they don't really stand out from the background. However all men at the back are wearing red ties, this links them together by being work friends or brothers.

Stereotypes: Boring British wealthy working men.

Mise-en-scene : The lady is wearing seductive lingerie, with greek esque props in the background to set the scene of the picture. The picture could be for a lover or just for herself. She has an old fashion haircut which suggests what year this was taken in. She is lying on a white table to improver her in this picture. The Greek props contrast against the way the lady is sitting and the clothing she is wearing.

Sound and light: Talking between the photographer and the lady, the flash and click of the camera. The woman dialogue is light hearted and she is laughing showing that she is not taking herself seriously.

Britishness: The British accent.

Colour: The props in the background are white and the table she is lying on is also white this contrasts wit the black lingerie she is wearing. The background is suggesting an angelic and peaceful picture but by her wearing lingerie this suggests something else.

Stereotypes: Lady who still wants to act like she is younger than she really is.

Mise-en-scene : A little boy sitting on a lavish chair, he is wearing formal clothing to match the red chair.
There is a lady in the background who is more than likely going to be his mother, she is positioning his body to make him look his best for the photo. The chair is set in the center of the shot however the boy is sitting to the left of the chair.

Sound and light: People are talking to the child to make him stay still, whilst the child throughout the shot does not have any dialogue.  The light is coming from the center and is all on the child, he has the full attention.

Britishness: Posh, wealthy looking child.

Colour: The background is dull and this makes the chair stand out. The child's jacket matches the red chair, whilst his shoes match his shorts. His 'mother' is wearing dull grey clothing so this suggests that she is not in this picture and has very little importance during this shot.

Stereotypes: A wealthy little boy.

Mise-en-scene : The two ladies at the back are more immature compared to the lady who is sitting on the table and seems more mature. The woman at the back are making seductive gestures towards the photographer, leading over the table and sticking their tongues out. All the women are grouped in the center meaning all are the center of attention and not one is more important than the other.

Sound and light: The ladies are laughing and speaking from the photographer. Click and flash from the camera.

Britishness: A group of good friends having a good time together.

Colour: The background is dark which blends into the two ladies clothing, contrasting with the lady in blue. This questions the audience in why she is the only on wearing blue, this may be because it could be her birthday celebration.

Stereotypes: A group of older ladies having fun but still with a young mind.

Mise-en-scene: The man is wearing a black and white suit with a red Fez. He is in the center of the shot and this is focused more due to his hat. He is wearing a fake moustauche this shows a side of his character which is humorous but is used ironicly during this shot due to his attitude towards the photographer. His hand movement shows slight frustration towards the photographer.

Sound and light: The click of the camera and flash. Characters is speaking to photographer in a serious manner.

Britishness: Formal gentlemanly clothing for a formal event, however the Fez is not part of this.

Colour: The man is wearing a red Fez which makes the man the center of attention in the shot. The background is dull brown color, which makes the man stand out due to the fact he is wearing a black and white suit. This also shows that he has made an effort for the occasion.

Stereotypes: Man in formal clothing but with a twist on sense of humor from his fake moustache and Fez.

Mise-en-scene: Man is placed in the chair, sitting up right looking formal. His posture and facial expressions show he is uncomfortable with the situation that is taking place. The dialogue explains to the audience why he is getting his picture taken.

Sound and light: Dialogue between man in the chair and photographer. Click from the camera and flash.

Britishness: Classic cockney accent.

Colour: The suit blends into the brown background. Shows how his character is boring and does not want to be there.

Stereotypes: Asian middle- class, old man looking for a wife via arranged marriage.

Mise-en-scene : The cat sitting on a chair with a bow on the front, showing it is quite special to its owner, the woman behind it, holding it still. The cat is the center if the shot, in front of the owner, the owner loves her pet, bringing it forward into the spotlight instead of herself

Sound and light: Flash from the camera and click.

Britishness: Sterotypical of an older white woman who adores her cat.

Colour: Chair and rug and grey and white to match the colours of the cat. Take the attention away from the owner, who is wearing a plain black and not much of the focus.

Stereotypes: Of a british old woman who adores her pet.

Mise-en-scene :identical blue dresses on each of the children. Stands out against the dark background. Lady that works there is wearing dull clothing and blends into the background. The mothers dress is slightly dull but still has the blue color to show she’s associated with the girls in the centre. Work ladys hair is scruffy and tied back to show shes busy and at work compared to the mothers hair which has had more time and care put into it the girls hair is all identical and neat and tidy, and is being cared for thorughout the extract. The triplets hands are all linked showing their bond and they all link towards the girl in the centre suggesting she’s the oldest of the three. The two women on the edge are symmetrical in the way they are positioned and sat , creating the focus of the scene, the girls in the centre. Mum looks proud and the worker looks tired and not very interested in the mothers story. Two of the triplets look jealous of the sister in the centre getting all the attention. Makes you wonder where the father is in all of this?

Sound and light: Two lights behind focus in on the triplets to add to the main focus of the scene which is them. Light coming in from above and filler lights on the side to soften the faces. The light casts a shadow over the worker to show she’s less important to the scene and the light is more focused on the mother who is telling a story. Sounds of the mother talking about how she conceived the children showing she is comfortable with the other lady in the scene. And there is sounds of fussing over the triplets, to show they are still setting up for the actual photo. Cannot hear the male voice of the photographer like you can in other scenes. adds to the fact they’re not ready for the picture yet.

Britishness: ballerinas. British girls take ballet classes when they were younger. Mothers british accent. Proud british mother.

Colour: dark background. Triplets stand out in the blue. Lady that works there is wearing dull clothing and blends into the background. The mothers dress is slightly dull but still has the blue color to show she’s associated with the girls in the centre. Triplets white shoes stand out against the dark flooring also.

Stereotypes: classic blonde ballerinas. Typical mother in background trying to push her children to greatness as well to the front of the picture. Possibly single mum trying to do good by her daughters to make up for no father, possibly spoiling them?

Mise-en-scene: dog, table, red cloth, matches the red clothing, stands out from the rest of the scene. Central to the scene. Dog looks relaxed. Excitable lady combing the dog, fussing over him.
Light and Sound: lady talking, fidgeting noise. Camera click. Camera flash.
Britishness: a lady proud of her dog. Britsh people, dog is a mans best friend.
Color: red blanket stands out. Blanket matches the woman's clothing, she has a dog on her jumper. Not much other color.
Stereotypical: woman fussing over her pet. Proud of her dog.

Mise-en-scene: white clothing. Angelic. Baby does not look very comfortable.
Light and Sound: white light. Happy and angelic. New baby. ‘happy glow’. Click of the camera. Flash of the camera. Bright, filer lights from the side to soften the faces.
Britishness: English accent.
Color: white, pure.
Stereotypical: stereotypical happy glow from the mother.

Mise-en-scene: chair, lady wearing a nurses outfit, hat. body language is stiff and serious. Facial expressions are serious and showing no emotion. Only smiles quickly when the photographer says a joke.
Light and Sound: flashes of light when the picture takes. Not really any other lighting used.
Britishness : typical nurse
Color: the lady's blue dress stands out
Stereotypical: typical nurse

Mise en scene: Clothing for boxer. Boxing gloves and shorts. Facial expressions show aggression and enthusiasm about what he is doing. Loves boxing. No hair. No make up. Simple. Concentrates on the boxing. Smiles in between photos to show he’s proud of himself.

Sound and light: flashes of light when the picture takes. Not really any other lighting used.

Britishness: it doesn’t


Color : the gloves are bright red, so they stand out and are the main attention.

Stereotypes: black man boxing

Mise en scene: Dated clothing and hairstyles, show date of film. Formally dressed except the child. Dressed scruffily and casually. Stereotypically stood, the mother is more enthusiastic than the rest of the family and the grandmother doesn’t really look like she knows what’s going on. Women look like they’ve made an effort to wear make up. Grandmother is wearing glasses shows her age. Mother is in the centre of the shot to show she’s central to the family and she’s the only one that is enthusiastic about it as she keeps talking to the photographer. Father and son are hiding behind the mother showing thy don’t really want to be there and feel awkward and ‘protected’ by the mother and grandmother. Facial expressions on the son make him look fed up and bored. The father keeps pulling faces and deep breathing to show he’s preparing himself to pretend he wants to be there and that he is fed up of being fussed over about his tie and papers in his pocket. The mother is smiling and over the top with her emotions to show her enthusiasm about the picture and the grandmother looks confused about where she's meant to be and laughs randomly.

Sound and Light: Classic photographic lighting studio, sets the scene. Standard lighting with filler light on the side to soften the faces. People talking and its as if we’re overhearing the conversation. Flash of the camera and the sound of a camera clicking shows the audience a picture has been taken.

Britishness: Classic family. Mum, dad, child and grandmother. The way they’re dressed. Their accent. Mother is head of family and in control. Son is fed up.

Color: two characters that are fed up with it are wearing dull colours and the other two characters are wearing more vibrant colours to show their more enthusiastic approach to the picture.

Children of Men Essay.

Children of Men was released in 2006 and was directed by Alfonso Cuaron; starting Julianne Moore and Clive Owen. The film is set in London 2027, we find out in the first opening scene about London and the World at the time, the human race has come to a standstill, no new life can be formed.
Right at the start of the opening scene we are fed information about the world crisis. This is done by a voice over of several news reports. It is played on a black screen which then makes the audience focus in on what the people are saying more. The audience then know this information that they are receiving is vital to the rest of the film. It explains to the audience in just the first few seconds what is happening in the world of 2027. On the news report we hear about the death of the youngest person in the world, him only being 18. This automatically grabs the audiences attentions and makes them then start to ask questions about why is the youngest person 18 and why did he die?; Creating drama and interest in just several seconds.
The shot then shows a large group of people crammed into a small coffee shop, watching the TV where this information is coming from. This straight away makes the audience think about why they are all cramped into the small cafe.
We then see Theo Faron; actor Clive Owen, enter the cafe. He pushes through the crown which grabs the audience’s attention and makes us think that this person is the main character. When in the shop he buys a coffee and then leaves, by the camera following him out to the outside it is confirmed that he is the main character.
The outside is a typical city, tall buildings, cabs and red buses; however this city is very different to the cities of now days. The roads are breaking, buildings falling, and people everywhere there are cars and bikes on the roads as well as more futuristic buses. The colours are all dull and grey creating a depressing environment which also then sets the tone for the film. There is a bit of colour from the red buses, but there is no natural light. The area looks polluted by the grey sky.
The camera follows the main character down the road, it then pan round showing his face and the direction he has just come from. The reason for this is so that the audience can see the explosion from the cafe. This then brings more questions to the audience, why has it exploded? Why in the cafe? Etc.. The camera goes towards the explosion to see what has happened to the people in side, many run out in terror, cut and bloody, but also many have died. This is the last cut shown in the opening, it bring questions to the audiences mind and makes them want to carry on watching it to find the answers.
Throughout the whole opening there are only ever two cuts, the director had done this so the audience’s attention is there for the whole opening. If there were more shots the audience may get confused and be put off by the film. Non-diegetic sound is mostly used throughout the opening, to build suspense and keep the audience watching. This stops when the explosion happens creating a more dramatic scene and building impact on the audience.

Media Essay
Pillow Talk and Fringe.

In both Pillow Talk and Fringe they both have styles of editing and pace. Pillow talk was directed by Michael Gordon in 1959 and was an oscor winning film. It also stared famous actors Rock Hudson and Doris Day. Fringe is a modern day American sci fi series.
Both differ Pillow Talk and Fringe from each other, one of the main factors for this is the time it was made in. Pillow Talk was made in the late 50’s however Fringe is made in the modern day, meaning different equipment was being used to make each extract. Making Fringe a much more high-tech and faster moving piece whereas Pillow Talk is rather basic and slow.
The styles of editing used in both extracts are very different. Pillow talk is much slower and simple where as Fringe is quicker paced. Pillow Talk is very basic compared to Fringe this is because Pillow Talk only has simple straight cuts when moving onto the next scene. They also use split screen which creates are more interesting view for the audience, this also allows the audience to see who the lady on the phone is talking too. Zooms are used throughout the extract to draw attention to key areas as well as focus on character responses to what they have been told. You are able to see that this was filmed in the earlier years because the shots stay in the same frame for several seconds whereas modern day film shot move very quickly are have more cuts and edits.
However Fringe is much faster paced and modern. Fringe cuts to the next scene very quickly, but using straight cuts and zooms to add interest. By it being a quick pass it makes the audience more intense and makes the whole scene more dramatic. By having close up shots of the characters face it shows their reaction to what the opposite character has said. The reason that that fringe has much faster pace is due to the fact that over time technology has advanced making these cuts more accessible.
The audience’s reaction to each extract is different from one another, in Pillow Talk the editing makes the audience feel as if they are get fully involved in the story. By the cuts being slow and very similar it makes the audience have fully attention and not get distracted. However compared to modern day films this would be seen as very boring and dull and would have a very different effect on modern audiences. But Pillow Talk at the time was a huge hit and was something very modern in its own right.
The Audiences reaction to Fringe is completely different from Pillow Talk. The way fringe is shot gives off a very dramatic effect, the close up shots, quick cuts and pace of the extract make the audience feel on edge. It creates a much more hostile atmosphere which then is given off to the audiences, so they know what type of vibe the extract is.
Colour is a big part in any tv program or film as it can indicate emotions. In Pillow Talk the lady wears a bright red dress when she is on her date, this shows love or danger, creating more depth into the story, the differs from Fringe as both men wear dull suits, showing this is a formal affair and they are talking about something serious.
Both extracts will attract different groups of people; Fringe would be more attractive towards young people. This is due to the fast pace and quick cuts fringe offers. It gets to the point fast and is very modern. Young people are used to seeing TV programs and films like this so are attracted to it. Slow films seem to be off putting as they don’t offer the same excitement and energy fast pace films give off.
Pillow Talk on the other hand would be more suitable for the older generation this is because it is slower and the cuts are not as dramatic as Fringe. The audience are able to relate and understand the characters more and get a feel for their lives. Whilst in Fringe it is more about the story line than getting to know the characters. It also has got allot to do with the genera of the extract. Fringe is a Sci Fi which is much more attractive to younger people than it is to older, Pillow Talk is a romantic comendy which the older generation will find more interesting, also they time the film is set in has a huge impact onto the people that would want to watch it.

Overall Fringe and Pillow Talk are very different extracts but both have cuts and zooms to make the piece more interesting and attract the audience.






By Aisha Essoulami