Analysis of Stills from Preliminary Task

1. This shot was successful as it is an establishing shot as it reveals that the girl is in a car park and walking towards a building. The long shot shows the car park in shot and the girl walking away from it, it is also an eye level shot.

 2. This shot was successful because of how it is edited. It was created to look like a CCTV shot which is clear by it being filtered grainy and black & white. It also has a time stamp in the left top corner while the camera angle in high angle which supports the CCTV idea. However getting the shot to be a high angle shot proved difficult as it was difficult to hold steady. If we were to do the shot again I would make sure it was a steady shot.

 3. This shot was successful because it showed match on action as she walked towards the door, opened it and walked through it. The shot is a close up and the sound of the door opening flows through out all the shots. It was a successful continuity shot.

 4. This shot is not very successful because the angle is not correct. This is because the male actors face is hidden behind the computer screen and the female actor has her hands unnaturally on her hips as she walks towards him. If this shot was filmed again, I would film it as a long shot so that the whole of the female actor is seen walking towards the man and the male actor will be seen very clearly.

 5. This shot is not very successful as it was filmed to be an over the shoulder shot but is not clearly one. This is because the shot needs to be filmed closer to the female actor so that the bottom of the frame only just reveals her shoulder, not her whole back. The shot would also be more successful filmed closer because the male actors face will be much clearer as the point of an over the shoulder shot is so that you can see the speaker clearly and you can only just see who they are speaking to.

5 Analysed Still shots of 'The Sixth Sense'

1. This is a medium close up shot and a two shot. It is also filmed at eye level which gives an impression that you are in the room or opposite the two people. The body language between the two characters is important because it shows their relationship. The scene looks as though the two people are being threatened because the man has his body slightly in front of the woman behind him which shows protection. Their position in the room is also against a wall which is a common position for someone who is threatened by something. The shot follows the rule of thirds with the man and woman being the key points of interest and the background is very plain which confirms that the two characters are what should be focused on in the shot. The lighting is very dim which suggests an eerie atmosphere and the medium close shot allows you to see the concerned look and terror on their faces.

 2. This still shot is a two shot and a mid shot. The lighting is pink with a hint of orange colouring which suggests a fire and this could symbolize love or intimacy. This is confirmed by their body language; they are very close together and are looking at each other fondly. This shows that they have a very close and romantic relationship. The wine glass on the table suggests that they are celebrating an occasion and the fact that the man is seated higher than the woman suggests that the occasion is about him. The mid shot allows a close look at the characters expressions and they are shown to be content and due to this, the impression is given that the occasion is something important to them. The background of the shot is in focus and allows us to see some of their furnishings. They are dark wood and have an antique feel which suggests the couples wealth and comfortable family home setting.

3. This scene shows a birds-eye view of the two characters. The lighting is much darker and sinister than before which suits what is happening. The man is laying of the bed because he has just been shot and this is shown by the way he is clutching his stomach. The woman is leaning over him in shock, also with her hands to the wound. Her body language shows that she cares for the man and is trying to help him. The birds eye view aids in showing there is nothing she can do to help the man; if she was helping the man, the still shot might be an extreme close up of her hands to show what she is doing. The view also reveals the whole room which has shattered glass, debris of furniture and scattered clothes which shows sign of a struggle between people or that someone has broken into their home. The new spatial context allows the viewer to soak in the scene and what‘s occurred. The birds eye view is also an unnatural perspective for a person and suggests the mans death is unnatural and adds dramatic effect as the camera rises up revealing the whole distressing scene.

4. This is a close up shot, showing the boys face only in clarity and the foreground and background are blurred which shows the boy as the only key point of interest. The close up shot allows you to see the boys sullen expression and shows that he is wearing glasses without lenses. This could suggest that the glasses aren't his and he is wearing them as child’s ‘dress-up’. On the pew in front are two play figures and these (as well as the glasses) could be shown to suggest the child’s youth and innocence. The pews in the image suggest he is in a church which also links to the idea of innocence or purity and the clear lighting also reflects this. The close up allows you to see into the mind or the boy as he is shown to be the only important thing in the shot. His expression shows him looking down which could be in prayer but his face does not look at peace, it looks upset. 

5. This shot is a mid shot. The shot allows you to see the man’s surrounding as well as his own body language and expression. He is stood in an area of light but the edges of the screen are tinged with darkness and this darker lighting suggests that the man also has a dark side too. We see him looking vulnerable in only his underwear and at first glance his body language may suggest nervousness because he is touching his right arm but at closer glance the tip of a gun is visible below his armpit; he is clutching his right arm so that the hidden gun does not fall. This makes us assume he will use it on someone else if he’s hiding it. The rule of thirds is used as he is to the right of the image and we can see that he is in a bathroom which is very bright and clean with pink lighting. This warm lighting contradicts the room outside and is also oxymoronic to the man’s emotions which are tormented and show despair. 

Opening Credits of a Film

• Name of the Studio 
• Name of the Production Company
• A (producer name) Production
• A film by (Directors name)
• Casting/Casting by
• Film Title
• Featuring
• Starring

Example of a 'Starring' title:

E.g. 'Skyfall': Starring Ralph Fiennes

• Music/Music Composed by/Original Score by
• Production design/designer
• Editor/Edited by
• Director of photography 
• Producer/Produced by/Executive Producer
• Story/Story by
• Based on the book/play/graphic novel by
• Based on the characters created by
• Writers/Written by
• Director/Directed by

Example of a 'Directed by' title:

 

E.g. 'Skyfall': Directed by Sam Mendes

Preliminary Task

This preliminary task was created to show what stage I am currently at. It shows how I filmed and edited a short video and is a practice for our final task. The preliminary task video was filmed so that my final 'Thriller Opening task' (which will be filmed at a later date) can be compared to this preliminary task. This will show how I have improved my filming and editing skills.

What went well?

• The shots were steadily filmed and this was due to the use of a tripod
• A range of shots and shot distances were used and this was due to the amount of planning such as a table and a storyboard
• Appropriate material was shot (e.g. Walking down a hallway, opening a door, brief conversation between two people) and this was due to the thorough planning around the brief we were given
• There was continuity of shots and this was due to careful planning of shots and the successful editing so that the video flowed. The continuity was also created due to the 180 degree rule which was followed and the match on action skill

What skills/knowledge have you acquired?

• Careful planning is important so that tasks can be done quickly and successfully
• I have learned how to successfully film using the 180 degree rule
• I have learned that transitions are very important when editing
• Mise-en-Scene needs to be used so the audience understands what is happening 
• Music needs to be chosen carefully to match what is happening on screen

What could be improved? 

(Points came from feedback sheets from peers)

• Much more careful planning as we planned our Preliminary using three actors and only one of the Actors were available to be filmed on the day. This led to a small change in the story line although the small change made the story line less clear
• A greater range of transitions as this will make the video flow better and look more professional
• Choose the type of music more carefully
• Choose at which point music should be played more carefully as music which doesn't match what is happening on screen will confuse the audience 
• The use of mise-en-scene (more props/costume/music) as this will make the story line much clearer
• Make the story line clearer which can be done by planning more thoroughly
• Increase length of dialogue exchanged between the two characters which will create a better story and understanding 

Vox Pop Task

The word Vox Pop comes from the Latin words 'Vox Populi' which literally means 'The voice of the people'. A Vox Pop is a form of interview in which a member of the public is filmed giving their opinion on a subject or question. They are usually filmed in a public place, therefore giving the impression that the person is just a normal member of the public. The person is filmed so that they are on the right side of the shot, while looking towards the left at the interviewer behind the left side of the camera. The interviewer is not seen in the shot. Usually, a lower third is added with the name of the person speaking, their age and sometimes their occupation.

How to improve the Vox Pop:

• Film on a camera rather than on a phone as the sound quality is much better on a camera
• Film the member of public in a busier location
• Use members of the public of different age groups to get a more varied response
• Edit the vox pop more carefully so the whole sentence is heard

Results of the Vox Pop:

Q1. What makes a Thriller thrilling?

From the interviews I have learned that suspense is a key factor in Thriller films. Every interviewee mentioned suspense and a common factor they mentioned which creates suspense is the use of music. The type of music can create tension and this is useful during Action scenes. I have also been told that Action is a key part in Thriller films as a Thriller cannot be thrilling without it. This is because it builds tension and then bursts into excitement.

Q2. What is you favorite type of Thriller? 

From the interviews I have learned that Psychological, Action and Science Fiction thrillers are popular and although they are all different genres, "excitement" is the main reason for these choices.

 Overall, from the Vox Pop I know that when I come to make my Thriller opening there must be a carefully chosen piece of music playing through out which builds tension while Action must occur in some form to break the tension and create excitement. 

'Skyfall' Title Sequence Timeline

I created this timeline for the James Bond film 'Skyfall' and it shows when and where each Title appears in the opening sequence. Each red circle contains the letter 'T' for 'Title', followed by it's number (e.g. T1). The opening of 'Skyfall' has 33 titles altogether and the first of these titles is the Production Company. This is followed by the introduction of the actor Daniel Craig and the title 3 reveals his role as James Bond. The fourth title tells us the name of the film ('Skyfall') and from title 6 to 13 the main cast is revealed. Finally, from title 15 to 33 the important people who worked on the film are shown. This includes the director, supervisors, designers, producers, coordinators, editors, decorators, managers and photographers. The second timeline along the bottom shows when the opening title song begins, how it ends and when it ends.

 T1

 T2

 T3

 T4

 T5

T6-T13 = names of the cast

 T13

 T14

 T15

T16

 T17

 T18

 T19

 T20

 T21

 T22

 T23

 T24

 T25

 T26

 T27

 T28

 T29

 T30

 T31

 T32

T33

Table for Preliminary Task

Story Board of Preliminary Task

Mise-en-scene Analysis of 'SE7EN'

(Click ctrl + space bar to zoom out to view the whole presentation/click on each slide to view fully)

Link to the Opening titles of 'SE7EN':
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k2gsEI34CE