HW 3b - Existing Film Continuity Sequence Analysis (BLK)

This sequence uses the rules of continuity editing to create flow throughout the sequence.

• At 0:26 there is an example of the thirty degree rule, as each shot of quicksilver is at least 3o degrees different to the last. This reduces the possibility of jump cuts. The use of the 30 degree rule continues throughout the rest of the sequence.
• We can see the use of match-on-action at around 1:07 with quick silver running across the exploding floor. His movement matches up in the two shots, helping to give the sequence flow. This also helps us to suspend our disbelief as he moves naturally, and there aren't huge jumps in his movement.
• This sequence also has many ellipses, allowing us to fill in the gaps in his movement, whilst still letting the action seem believable. In many of the shots quick silver runs off and back on from the same direction, which works as a kind of match-on-action for the ellipses, as it makes sense that the directions match.
• In each of the separate rooms, as he runs through them, we get establishing shoots, usually using a slow pan, to follow his progress through the school and also accentuate how slow real life is in comparison.
• At the end when real time returns we get sound-bridges of the children's screams to help create flow and show that everything is happening simultaneously, as well as creating a 'seamless' editing effect.
• We can see an example of shot-reverse-shot at around 1:44. Here it is used to show quicksilver's reaction to the boys face adding comedy to the sequence as well as maintaining a good narrative flow.
• Throughout the sequence we follow quicksilver's sound perspective, and the use of Sweat Dreams helps to work as a sound bridge throughout all the shots creating a good sense of narrative flow and story progression.
• However there is a continuity error in this sequence. When quicksilver carries the dog through the building we briefly see rooms, such as the entrance hall, which we have already seen get destroyed in the explosion.

HW 3a - Continuity Task Evaluation (BLK)

1. A girl (played by Kristina) is walking down the corridor on her phone, and accidentally walks into a door.
2. We tried to create narrative flow by following Kristina down the corridor, each shot would start from where the last one left off, so it didn't feel like we were jumping back and forth down the corridor. The fact that we were also constantly changing perspective helped to distract the audience from any errors in her position in the corridor.
3. I feel that we created a good feel of continuity however the transition between the third and fourth shot were a bit sketchy, and didn't feel like the natural flow. Other than that I think that we did well in creating a feeling of continuity throughout our shot.
4. I think that the third shot and the final shot could do with a bit of trimming at the end of each shot. Also i feel that we should have thought more about sound, as we get some weird mic noises at the beginning of most shots. 

HW 2c - Sound in Film Openings (DYM)

DIALOGUE:

• This opening sequence has no dialogue.
• In the beginning it adds to the suspense of the film, with the big build up to when he entered the temple.

SOUND EFFECTS:

• The beginning of the sequence starts with the futuristic whirring of the letters coming on to the screen. This helps to set up the fact that this is a sci-fi film.
• From when peter sets foot on the planet  we get the ambient sounds coming from the surroundings, and all the sound effects become diagetic from this point on.
• From the entry to the planet we follow peter's sound perspective. This helps to place us there on the planet with him, emphasising how dangerous it is, and assisting us to suspend our disbelief.
• Throughout the sequence we also get lots of futuristic, sciency sound effects, like the whir of the scanner, and the clink of his helmet coming off. Many of these sounds are quite familiar to us and help to place us in the filmic world.

MUSIC TRACK:

• The music starts off creating a tone of suspense and awe through the use of very Indiana Jones-esque strings and choirs, building up to the entry into the temple.
• The music at the beginning is non diagetic, but when Come and get your Love starts the music becomes diagetic, signifying that this is the real tone and mood of the film, and what came before wasn't real.
• The main title of the film comes in with the beginning of the lyrics in Come and get your Love.
• The use of the classic music throughout the opening sequence helps to indicate how important peter's music is to the film, being a mcguffin to set up several story points, and also being a comedic relief.
• Come and get your Love helps to connote the humour of this film, as it contrasts strongly with the music before hand and peter's surroundings.
• The music then cuts out, with a zoom into a shot of the orb. This insinuates that this will be the main mcguffin of the film, and holds some special power.

HW 2b - Analysis of Titles in Film Openings (DYM)

Skyfall Timeline

• The opening sequence features non-diagetic music, and exaggerated graphics. This helps to set it apart from the rest of the film. 
• The stylized  opening helps to set the tone of the rest of the film, as it uses lots of shadow, and graphics which connote James Bond, such as smoking guns, drinks, and beautiful women.
• The opening also shows the villain of the film, Silva, as we see him in one shot holding a smoking gun.
• The dark blue color scheme mixed with red helps to emphasise the dark tone of the film.
• The running order is important as from it we can see that the most important actors come first, with the important people behind the camera, like Sam Mendez coming last.

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Godzilla Timeline

• The sequence starts with images of mythical creatures and dinosaurs, this helps to set up the idea of 'the monster'
• The opening also uses lots of graphics reminiscent of the C.I.A, like the redacting of words. It also has images of the C.I.A's more controversial projects, like Project Monarch (a part of MKULTRA), it also shows images of atomic bombs. These help to suggest it may be the American Government's fault for whatever happens, and that it has to do with atomic tests.
• The fast paced music helps to set up the tone of the film, with it connoting sirens like those before an disaster, or atomic test.
• We also get to see a bit of Godzilla, with the government looking like they are trying to bomb him.

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• Both sequences have a very definite running order, with in both cases the actors being very close to the beginning of the sequence, and the more important behind the scenes people, such as the director being right at the end.
• However in Godzilla we do get the institutions before the actors, and the title of the film doesn't come until the end.
• The music is also used in both cases to set up the tone of the film, with the Godzilla music connoting danger, but Skyfall connoting mystery and espionage.
• The images in each sequence are also very important for the setting up of main story points, and help set  the tone and style of the films
• Both title sequences also set up the villains of each film, the government in Godzilla, and Silva in Skyfall.
• Skyfall however has a lot more credits than Godzilla, and is a longer title sequence, as if the focus in Godzilla is on the individual actors, but in Skyfall it is focusing on the whole movie as a production and showing how much work went into the film.

HW 2a - Existing Opening Sequence Analysis (DYM)

1. The film is Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) Its genre is comedy/spy movie. The comedy comes from all the silly unrealistic dancing, and the comedic music as a satire of the common perceptions of 'The Swinging Sixties'. We can connote spy film from Doctor Evil's line at the beginning.
2. The opening takes place in London in the 1960's and also in doctor evil's lair. The opening follows events in real time, there aren't time jumps. This helps to accentuate the comedy, as whilst doctor evil is planning Austin's assassination, he is dancing round London.
3. Dr Evil states that he is going to assassinate Austin Powers. It then skips to London, where Austin is dancing through the streets, soon he is being chased by a group of fans and has to hide in a phone box, and behind a magazine with his face on it. His attempts to hide are futile and ends up fleeing round a corner. He comes back leading a marching band and begins a big dance sequence in the middle of the street. He then flips into a union jack car being driven by Mrs Kensington. The sequence of events are important as they set up how well known and whimsical Austin Powers is, contrasting against Dr Evil's very slightly more serious tone.
4. All the events are connected, except for Dr Evil's scene at the beginning, which aims to set up the story and is very unconnected to the London streets.
5. Dr Evil, Austin Powers, and Mrs Kensington are introduced. Dr Evil is very easily characterized as the classic bond-esque villain, with his white cat and scar on his face. Mrs Kensington is connoted as the 'bond girl' character. Austin is shown to be the main protagonist, as the majority of the opening is focused on him and his whimsical exploits.
6. Not much story information is revealed, except for the setting up of the main character's and that Dr Evil is going to try and assassinate Austin. We also learn from the graphics that it is set in London. We can surmise from the clothing and constant pop-culture references that the film is set in the 'swinging sixties'. Overall this opening sequences is quite separate from the rest of the film.
7. I think that all the audience needs to know is the whimsical tone and comedy of the film, with the actual story not needing to come in till after the opening sequence. However i feel that the idea that Austin is going to be assassinated adds to the humor of the opening sequence, as you question why anyone would want to assassinate him.

HW 1b - Reflections on my Film Still (BLK)

My chosen film still

1. My chosen genre for this shot was thriller. I feel this is connoted well through the use of the hand, as the audience expect it to belong to a dead body. Also the more industrial location can be quite common of many thriller films.
2. We used a lot of trial and error to get the hand into the position best visible to the camera. We also used the mini lights to illuminate the hand, making it stand out more, but using the softer filter on the light so as not to make the lighting look unnatural. Also the slight tilt of the camera helps to give an idea of this all being wrong, as if there shouldn't have been a murder
3. We were trying to communicate the idea that someone has been murdered. We did this through the hand, as it insinuates the presence of a dead body through the audiences' expectations. The hand also contrasts well with the rough setting, creating the idea that the body shouldn't be there, and that this was no accident.
4. I really like the way we were able to have the hand just visible through the gap in the containers, as i feel it was more effective than just having the whole dead body. I also like the way the hand is lit to make it stand out more, but not to make it look to unnatural.
5. In hindsight I would have the shot more zoomed in, so that the hand is the main focal point of the shot, as the audience has to work to pick out where the focal point is in the shot.

HW 1a - Existing Film Still Analysis (DYM)

My chosen shot to analyse from Super 8 (2011)

NARRATIVE:

• The Characters seem to be in a state of shock, with many of their mouths open, at something that is happening off-screen. Perhaps some sort of disaster.
• The bright clothing of the characters and their youthfulness contrasts with the dark surroundings and the looks of shock suggesting they may be somewhere they aren't meant to be.
• The sound equipment and camera suggests that they were involved in some sort of film shoot before whatever the disaster is happened.
• The positioning of the characters in the shot helps to connote that this may be an ensemble cast, with the boy in the far left of the frame being the leader, as he is closest to the camera.
• The positioning of the girl and the boy in the blue jacket in the middle of the frame suggests they may also be important, whilst the boy on the far right of the shoot may be the least important as he is so far from the others.
• The fact that the characters are at a train station suggests this may be the location of a big change in the story, the characters may be at some sort of metaphorical crossroads.

GENRE:

• The use of moderately advanced technology for this time period, the sound equipment and camera, suggests it may be a Sci-fi.
• The use of bright blue lighting and a lens-flare also connote this as they are conventional of the sci-fi genre. Lens-flares are also a technique that the director, J.J.Abrams, is specifically known for using in some of his bigger sci-fi films such as Star Trek (2009)
• The use of these sci-fi techniques contrast with the retro 80's style of the film as well suggesting something may be out of place. Connoting maybe a 'lost alien' style film, feeling like a twisted take on E.T. (1982).

AUDIENCE:

• The retro style is very reminiscent of the 80's and suggests that this is a good film for people who enjoy the style of the time period.
• The sci-fi techniques connote that this would be a good film for fans of sci-fi films, specifically higher budget films.
• The lens-flares connote this as being a very J.J.Abrams-centric  sci-fi film, perhaps similar to some of his other popular films like Star Trek (2009).
• The fact that all the cast members in this shot are all teenagers suggests that this film is targeted to younger audience, whilst the darkness, and seriousness of the shoot suggests that it is targeted towards teenagers more than very young children.