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.