Preliminary

Preliminary Behind the Scenes

Preliminary Planning and Storyboards

Planning Ideas

Initial Storyboard Ideas

Preliminary Final Storyboard

Cape Fear Case Study

Practice Film

Practice Film
        In this practice film we had to use different camera techniques such as tracking, match on action and we were invited to create a sequence with a creative plot line. The name of our piece was "Criss-Cross" and our plot line was based on a group of villainous assassins communing to kill each other. In our film we demonstrate a variety of different camera techniques such as match on action (x3), a shot reverse shot and an eye -line match.

Here is an example of an eyeliner match.

Here is an example of a match on action.

My contributions were acting, filming and editing, we made sure that everyone had a chance to all in our group so that we could all experience all of the techniques. During filming I enjoyed the use of the camera on the tripod and managed to film a couple of clips such as the section that we have in slow motion where Ollie is hit by the stick from Will, I also managed to film the section where Will throws the stick at Ollie. In the editing I was responsible for putting the shots in chronological order and cropping them as necessary. I also implemented the title at the start and installed the freeze frames (although the idea of the last freeze frames were Will's idea).

Preliminary Analysis

Continuity Editing

180 Degree Rule
This keeps the camera on one side of the action and is usually used to view 2 characters during conversation as it keeps the focus on the characters and allows the expansion of the frame into the unseen space off-screen. It is commonly described as a rule because the camera is not allowed to cross the axis of action otherwise it may give the impression that the actors positions have been reversed.

Match On Action
Here we see a piece of action and then we see where that action came from. It's a cut from one shot to another where the second shot matches the first's action. This is used to keep the flow of scene going as it links the shots together and gives the impression of continuous time.

Shot Reverse Shot
This is used most commonly during conversations as it shows a shot of one character looking towards another character but then cuts to a shot of the other character looking back at the first. This can be used to show the audience what a character is looking at or (as I said) to show a conversation. 
In the images below it also shows the 180 degree rule which isn't broken until Guy Pearce (Aldrich Killian, the red lava-man) is hit by a pole.

The Birds Commentry

                    As Melanie form the window we see the teacher talk calmly to the children and then a cut to a medium shot of the birds gathering on the climbing apparatus builds the tension and makes the audience get a sense of eeriness and unsettles them and wait in anticipation to see the outcome of the encounter. As we see that there are many birds there, we wonder if the school children will be able escape. The camera remains on the birds for some time until heavy footsteps are heard, causing the birds to fly away quickly towards the school children.

                    It cuts to the children and then cuts to their legs showing us how quickly they are running and how afraid they are. These close ups also show the birds and their ferocity. It shifts between close ups on some of the children's faces showing fear, terror and pain as they are relentlessly attacked by the birds. It cuts to the Melanie as well showing her panic and then it switches to some point of view shots (1:09-1:14) which makes the audience feel included in the shot as if they were running with the children, this allows them to empathise with the children and Melanie as they flee in panic away from the birds which are attacking them. Then one of the children falls to the found and screams for her friend, she is then helped up by her friend as well as Melanie.

                  Finally they get into the near by car to take refuge, during this scene there are multiple close and medium shots. it starts with a medium shot as they all get into the car, this allows us to see all of the people getting in and what state they are in, you see cuts and blood trickleing down their faces which expresses the severity of the situation and allows us to empathise with the characters. It then changes to a close up of the handle as Melanie quickly winds it up, this allows the audience to see the fear of the character and the panic that they express through the desire to quickly shut the window and hide from the birds. Then the next shot is a close up of the ignition key hole with no keys and then it changes to a close up of Melanie's face filled with fear. She then smacks the horn a few times, a few seconds later the birds fly away and the it cuts to a  close up on the woman's face showing hoe relieved she is that they've gone as she rests her head on the steering wheel. There is no music at any pint in the clip, we only hear the screaming of the children as they run away and the noises the birds make. plus when the shot of climbing apparatus with the birds is shown, there is only silence which also builds up the tension to when the footsteps are heard. (diegetic sound)

                Links to Thriller Genre:
                  - Long Tension build up, especially when they are escaping from the birds just as other thrillers do such as Spellbound and Psycho.
                  - Non-diegetic soundtrack keeps the realism it, just as some thrillers do such as Spellbound
                  - Chase scene, they are chased by birds this is typical to thriller films such as Vertigo.

Max Payne Title Sequence Timeline

Couldn't get video but here is the link

Here are some images of the special effects used to give aa idea of what the video is like if it's inaccessible.

        From this video I can tell that the first name that is shown is the Director, in this case John Moore and it then follows with Screenplay, Producers, Director Of Photography, Costume Designer ect. The name of the film "Max Payne" doesn't appear until quite late into the title sequence which is surprising to me as i would have thought it would be at the start, or right at the end, not somewhere between. It then goes on to give names of more important cast members until it gets to the company that made the film "Twentieth Century Fox" which is quite close to the end of the sequence which again surprised me. Finally we reach the cast that are the inferior roles and they are placed at the end and don't have any special effects following them on-screen. Plus the special effects and the design for the credits link in very well with the brutality of the film and keep the theme running even to the end.

Thriller Genre Conventions

Godzilla Opening Sequence

Chosen Film: Godzilla (2014)



Titles
The titles are all set to look quite old and they erase sections to show only the names. this gives the affect of something like an old newspaper in how someone might erase the irrelevant information, this links in perfectly with the background clips being shown during the clip.

Soundtrack
The soundtrack is very deep and contains some heavy bass with a general beat of blasts of deep beats which are then emphasised with the overlaying
g trumpets. Plus the violins add a fast pace to the music in with all of the other instruments to make it sound quite daunting and evil.

Mis-En-Scene
The clips being shown as the titles pop up are all very old-fashion based even though this is a new film. They keep the same effect that the old film had by using clips of the same quality as if to make the opening scene feel more realistic, as if it had been a real event that took place decades ago.

Camera
The camera doesn't appear to play a significant role in this sequence as you pay more attention to the clips being shown. However, the camera does do a lot of zooming in and out on objects and panning when it displays the newspapers. Plus the clip has clearly been edited to shown all of the different short clips in one scene, it has also been used to change the look of the sequence to make it appear old-fashioned. Additionally the nuclear explosion was edited into the scene to have a greater effect.

                                                      Genre

Godzilla is a sci-fi/action film (although I haven't seen the new film) but the fact that it contains an alien type of monster I think would place it in the sci-fi or maybe fantasy category with the obvious addition of action as the humans attack the poor creature.

Introduction

What Is Media Studies For?

              In my opinion, media studies almost explains itself in what it's for; the studying of different types of media around us, how they work and how they can be used (for a variety of things). Media studies, as a topic, is growing more and more relevant to us due to the increase in forms of media through technological advancements. I believe that from this, it is growing ever more important to know just exactly what is going on around you. Media is everywhere and media studies is here to help us understand purpose of it, how to interpret it and how to use it.

My Favourite Film

           I have seen far too many films to be able to specifically pick my "favourite" film. However the one film that I think i've enjoyed the most and also returned to fairly frequently, is the one and only, "You Don't Mess With The Zohan" additionally, this contains my 4th favourite actor, Adam Sandler, my first being Robert Downey Jr, second is Brad Pitt and third is Chris Pratt. But Adam Sandler is still brilliant in this film. However, my favourite genre of film would be mainly sci-fi/fantasy but comedies are still very enjoyable. The reason I enjoy sci-fi/fantasy films is because I simply like fantasy type stuff. Plus science has always been a huge interest of mine which is exactly what sci-fi orients around which is also probably a contributing factor as to why I enjoy them so much.