Genre

The genre of our film is a Romantic Drama. 
This defines as: serious, plot-driven presentations, portraying realistic characters, settings, life situations, and stories involving intense character development and interaction. Usually, they are not focused on special-effects, comedy, or action.

Research found

Absence

• The film represents the story of a teenage couple, this leads to the female being depressed. The costumes and setting is realistic and shows a portrayal of reality.
• As a group we decided this genre as it fits with our original idea for a target audience. 
• The opening sequence is an epilogue, it illuminates the after effect of the break down in the relationship.  

Our target audience research concludes of women aged 14-20 years old, therefore using the convention of a woman and man in this age range it will attract our target audience. As you can see from my research, our film follows the codes and conventions of a Romantic Drama genre. It follows the conventions of locations, costumes and camera angles.

 

Primary & Secondary Audience

 

I researched into what the typical age range was for a dramatic film. I then evaluated whether with the actors age and the plot who this would be similar and differ. The secondary audience is what is the conventional audience for a drama. 

credit TITLE sequence research:The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

In this opening sequence the credits are randomly placed on the framing. The colour is white this evidently creates a juxtaposition between black liquidation throughout the credits. The font is written in capital letters to make it readable to the audience and accessible to read while watching the different shots. The only other colour presented is the orange for the fire, this foreshadows the next film in the series. It also makes the audience question the significance of the fire. Fire represents danger and caution, in the pictures one is someone being choked. These parallel the idea of lack of oxygen. The frames are fast and sharp the credits parallel this, it shows the genre idea of action. It keeps the audience's attention and sets the pace for the rest of the movie. That black liquidation seeps into everything, it penetrates through each frame giving continuity and gives the illusion of suffocating, sensuality and silence. The title becomes part of the suffocation of the black liquid. It is bold and in capital letters to give audience title knowledge and continuity with the other credits. It starts of a silver colour and this becomes black. This connotes in the plot that something or someone is shiny and treasured and becomes black, their soul or something becomes dangerous and dark.

Order of credits:

1. Production company
2. Director
3. Actors
4. Further people who help with production
5. Castings
6. Costume Designer
7. Co producers
8. Sound design
9. Music
10. Editors
11. Production Designer
12. Director of photography
13. Executive producers
14. Producers
15. Book it is based on (book credits)
16. Screenplay
17. Director

credit TITLE sequence research:Blue Valentine

The most significant element of this opening sequence is the overlay of the fireworks. The distorted pictures foreshadow the plot. The fireworks are highlighted to the audience as something that links the story line together. The fireworks allow a dissolve of effects for the pictures of the cast and the credits. It illuminates the idea of the couple having memories together and a time span. This pin points the idea of the romantic genre. The sound also parallels the stimulus  of the fireworks with onomatopoeia sounds used while the song is being played. The filmmakers’ chose for the opening title sequences creates an abstract story, this could parallel with the idea of distorted memories. The abstractions create something less logical and almost disorientating. This makes it appear far more emotional and more poetic. However, at the same time as the titles are still centre of the frame it highlights them. The choice of images create a sense of story line, the audience are aware of exactly what the film will develop into. The font of the opening is bold and impact, this makes it extremely clear and readable to any audience member. This is done so the credits are still clear and visible while the pictures dissolve and there is the overlay of the fireworks. The font colour is cream as this further makes the credits visible. The colour cream is not offencive and this can connote that the relationship between the couple links with this.

Order of Film Credits:

1. Director
2. Actors
3. Title of Film
4. Writers
5. Producers
6. Executive Producers
7. Co-Producer
8. Cinematographer
9. Editors
10. Production Designers
11. Costume Designer
12. Music
13. Music Supervisor
14. Casting

Order of credits in film industry

1. Distribution Company
2. Name of production company
3. Director
4. Producer
5. List of actors
6. Movie title
7. Editor
8. Costume designer

Opening Sequence Research:The Devil Wears Prada

The music for the piece automatically sets the tone of the theme of New York lifestyle. The music highlights the ideas of fashion to parallel with the characters and plot. The Opening Credits for The Devil Wears Prada uses close ups on items such as lipstick or magazines while the names are presented. We will use this idea, however, link the two together. As we close up on an object will we place the credits over this.

The colours in the scene are applicable to the female target audience and the themes of fashion and apprance. The colours show the more traditional colours of a female magazine. This parallels with the shots of magazines such as Cosmo and Glamour. However, at this point there is a spilt scene of the shot. The female fashion magazines are on the left and on the right it displays dark coloured novels, this creates a juxtaposition. This tells the audience there will a contrast in the character's tastes and therefore their personalities. The audience become aware of a clash. The second contrast are the two close ups on a pairs of heels and flat trainers. This further implies and conveys differences.

Opening Sequence Research:Breaking Dawn

It is evident in this opening sequence that colour and music is used to promote the theme of love and war. Red and white are used to stimulate juxtaposition between power and natural elements. Red is a colour used to promote love and war, white being purity. All themes present in the movie and therefore, this applies this in the opening credits. The nature used in the piece sets the scene giving an audience a sense of location. The credits used blend and dissolve between the actors names. This finishes with the ECU of the eyes being red with pale white skin, this shows continuity between the credits and the film.

The music intensity sets the mood and tone of the piece, it builds and changes in emotion. Therefore, the audience are aware of the emotions to come. When the credits of the antagonists are shown the musics pitch decreases and the speed increases. However, the music is mostly joyful and uplifting, this would suit the target age group for the movie. The music evidently shows the clear theme of passion. We will use the concept of the piano background music to show the emotion behind the story. It makes the audience aware of the genre and tone of the piece. However, in our piece with use minors instead of majors to set a more depressing tone to reflect our lead character.

Opening Sequence Reseach:Black Swan

The music is the most important factor in this opening sequence to Black Swan. Straight away it highlights the significance of ballet in the piece. Each of the credits dissolves into the next. As the intensity and pace of the music increases the dissolving quickens and the pace of the hand movement increases. The opening sequence is extremely simplistic however extremely effective. The movement in the piece is the movement of the hand the camera doesn't pan or zoom, the audience are tracking the movement of the hand. It foreshadows the idea that at first the film will be gentle and ends intensely and manically. The lines aren't straight and curve, this also foreshadows the lead character's identity and psychological state throughout the movie. Her thinking is not straight forward and far from sane. The intensity of the lines parallels the intensity and crescendo of the music.
 
The colour is important in the opening credits. Monochrome respresents simplicy and good vs evil. The monochrome again highlights the theme or straight forward thinking. It anticipates the difference between the white and black swan. It creates juxtaposition in tone and emotion. We will experiment with the use of monochrome when editing.

We will use the theme of the music to follow emotion through out the opening. It will foreshadow what the film after unravels. We will also use the format of order for our credits. The last credit is the film title, this is different to many other films making it more interesting for the audience. It reminds the audience of the significance of the title and the role it has on the film.

Aerial example

This is often used at the beginning of a film this establishes the setting. The shot is taken from high up, most commonly taken in a helicopter.

Dolly example

Dolly is used to show progression moving forwards. It is usually on a track so the transition is smooth.

Handheld example

The handheld movement is used so the audience and viewer feel as if they are really there. It also makes the filming more realistic. As the equipment is light, it means there can be more movement made.

Steadicam example

The steadicam is used to show slow smooth progression during filming. It is very much gliding along with the action. Steadicams absorb shakes, jerks and bumps in the camera movement.

Crane example

A crane shot is used to show what's happening from a higher angle. Crane shots are usually long or extreme long shots. The audience have a sense that they are looking down on the action. 

Zoom in and out example

 This example is zoom out but zoom in would be the opposite. This is used normally at the beginning of a scene, or even a film, to introduce an object or character by focusing on it. 

Tilt Example

The camera points up or down from a stationary position. 

Track example

The tracking shot is used to follow subjects and objects that are significant in the frame. 

Pan Example

This is used in filming to show a location but also show the speed of an object.

SecretsandliesONE

SecretsandliesTWO

Filmmaking Techniques

All the techniques used in the video illuminate the objective of each shot.

Camera Movement

This video shows all of the camera techniques used when shooting.

'Over the Shoulder shot'

The 'Over the Shoulder shot' is used so the audience gets the feeling that they're 'looking in on the action'. It shows the facial expression of someone when they are talking to another in the frame. It can highlight their facial expression and emotion.

Low Angle Shot

The Low Angle Shot highlights the height of someone or something. It can suggest authority and is used to show a childs perception of adults.

Two Shot

A Two Shot shows two people in a frame. This is important as it can highlight a relationship between two people. It suggests their body language. In this image it shows that superman and the women are comfortable together. It infers that they are involved, that they're in a relationship. The women is showing the superman t-shirt underneath the white shirt. This shows he is hiding his identity.

Medium Close-up MCU

A MCU shows a portrait image from the shoulder up. It also shows the costume and facial expression in the shot. In this shot, you see the joker. His eyes suggest that he is watching someone and studying them. The clown makeup, shows that he is hiding his identity.

High Angle Shot

A High Angle Shot allows the audience to see a point of view shot, that is looking down onto the situation or location. So in this shot, you are looking down on the man to show that his face expression is scared and worried. This suggests he is running away from something or someone.

Long Shot LS

 The Long Shot is used to show a full image of a person or place. For example this is shown in this picture, as it highlights a woman in her wedding dress. You therefore get to view the intirity of the dress worn.

Big Close-up BCU

The BCU shows the expression on her face. In this image the woman has tears in her eyes, this shows the audience that she is upset and stunned by something. It further allows detailing to be shown. It also pin points the bright, vivid colours in the frame. The orange and red are the primary colours in this shot. This could suggest that the character is bold. The colour red in western society is significant to love or war. This has connotations that the character is in love and crying due to heart break. Her heart is at war.

Medium Long Shot MLS

A MLS Shot shows a the full length image of a view or person. In this shot it allows the audience to see the costume worn by Captain Jack Sparrow. It also allows the audience to see a contrast with the background. The juxtaposition between the his dark clothes and the blue of the sea, could suggest that his character is dark. Therefore there is a dark past or history behind the character. The shot also outlines the detailing on Jack's coat.

Extreme Close-up ESU

Extreme Close-up is used to highlight significant detail in the frame.

Extreme Long Shot ELS

Lady Gaga adopts the principle focus of this shot due to the different levelling of the others in the frame in this ELS, this could infer the others being beneath her. The setting of the stage could conclude her being the focus of the attention in the media and other people’s entertainment. It also parallels to the lyrics of the song. The lack of clothing worn could symbolise the vulnerability and nakedness of her private life in the media and that people use this as their entertainment.

Close-up CU

The Close up is used at eye level in this frame of Lady Gaga’s face. The black background is used to emphasize with the primary colours used on Lady Gaga’s face. The white base makeup shows a clear contrast between the black head covering and surroundings. This makes her face the key focus of the shot. The shape of the blue eye make up has could symbolise tears and sadness by the pulled motion made by her hands. This could be also seen as desperation. Some could view this as again being trapped and oppressed inside a comical ‘clown’ stereotype when in actual fact breaking out of that mould is messy. The makeup is a cover up of her nature face, she hides behind the name of Lady Gaga. There is a element that clowns can be entertainment and some find as a fear. It shows that some will love and some will hate her work.

Crane Frame

The crane shot is used to look down onto the action.