Task 1;- Page 11

Posted by Lisa;-

I watched some films under the genre thriller, horror and mystery to get some of the ideas I had for our main task for the coursework. (Movie opening titles). By using lots of different movies in these genres to help me get ideas of how I could set out our groups' opening sequence, I have been given a lot more ideas on things like;
- The storyline
- Some possible camera shots I would like to try out
- Ways to show the credits
- Music and sound effects I would like to use

I got a lot of inspiration from the AS pieces from last year, the ones who did similar genres to the one my group has picked.

I like the way the movies used actual film companies at the beginning. For example, 20th Century Fox. This gives the sequence a little more 'reality' and is, I think, a good way to open the project.

I then looked at the idea of having someone (the actor/actress) holding the video camera while running. This adds a bit of tension as we could also use sound effects at this part to enhance breathing noises which is adding to the horror genre. I also think it looks really effective as you can see the background moving behind them. It's as if we are with them while they are running.

I then liked the idea for cross-cutting to another character from the running shot. This gives a sense of mystery, introduces a new character, and enhances the plot. An extreme close-up grabbed my attention from one of the films made last year. It was of one of the characters' eyes.

To show location, I liked the beginning of 'Mercy', a Year 12 product last year. It begins looking up at the trees. I liked this as it made it a little bit eerie since the location looked so empty and quiet. I thought this linked in with my groups chosen genres; horror, mystery and thriller.

Here are a couple of other screenshots I took of the 'running' scene that I liked. The camera shots are ones that I want to take into consideration for our project as I found them effective and I thought they looked quite good.

Dialogue

The dialogue of our script consist of only two characters including Vidur and Annabelle.
Vidur: As he sits down on the seat facing oppsite her he begins to talk. 'Hey...watcha you doing there', in a casual I'm so cool attitude.
Annabelle: As she continues to write on her paper, she says to him without any eye contact, 'nothing its not your business'.
Vidur: 'So...what do have next lesson'?
Annabelle: 'I've already told you once, it's none of your business and twice, leave me alone'!
Vidur: as he sighs he then says, 'oh come on your being boring'.
Annabelle: 'Look, Vidur, can't you see I'm trying to study here alone...by myself'. As she says this she will look straight up to Vidur having a close up shot of her facial expression. 'by mself' will be closup of her eyes then mouth.
Vidur Turns away and says, fine I was just being friendly.
Annabelle: As Vidur closes the door behind him, she then turns her ipod on and says, 'finally'.

Preliminary Task

Posted by Lisa;-

Our group began work on our preliminary task* today in our Media Studies class.

*[Preliminary Task - Continuity task involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom he/she then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match-on-action, shot-reaction-shot and the 180 degree rule.]

We basically began by throwing around ideas of what our storyline would be. Finally, we decided on starting our scene with a girl, Annabelle Pohl, sitting down to do some work at a desk. A boy, our chosen main character who will be played by Vidur Bharatram, is basically walking outside the class, and see's her through the window and is obviously interested in her, so he enters the room. Vidur straight away goes and sits right next to Annabelle and begins to talk to her and 'hit on her'. Annoyed at this, the girl will tell him to go away 3 times as he desperately tries to start a conversation. Feeling rejected, Vidur will eventually leave the room.

As we are still working on the dialogue for this scene, here are the ideas we came up with for out shot plan.
1. Fade in mid-shot of girl sitting down at the desk, taking out her books and things to work.
2. Close up shot of her pressing play on her iPod. (At this point we will use sound effects, and the song of our choice is the 'Pink Panther' theme tune).
3. We will do a tracking shot of Vidurs shoes, walking towards the building.
4. Using cross-cutting, we will then flick to a closer shot of the girl working.
5. Another tracking shot of the feet, showing that he is getting closer to the building/door.
6. Extreme close-up of girls eyes to show that she is working hard or is busy.
7. We will then take a shot of the guy outside the door, peeking in the window.
8. A shot from inside of the boy peeking in the room.
9. Shot of the door handle being opened from the inside of the room.
10. Reaction shot of girl looking up at boy.
11. iPod pause. Extreme close-up. (Possibly repeat previous iPod shot? Music stops)
12 We will then use a long shot to show the boy walking in the room and sitting down next to the girl.
13 Close shot of boy. 'Dialogue'.
14 Close shot of girl. 'Dialogue'.
15 Close shot of boy. 'Dialogue'. - shot-reaction-shot
16 Close shot of girl. 'Dialogue'.
17 Close shot of boy. 'Dialogue'.
18 Close shot of girl. 'Dialogue'.
19 Long shot of boy standing up looking sad and rejected. He walks towards door.
20. Mid shot of boy walking out of the room.
21. Mid shot of girl shaking her head, and looking at her iPod again.
22. Close up shot of iPod. (Different choice of music)
23. End credits.

With lots of room for change that is our first draft of the preliminary task.