We analysed some film openings;
Blitz
This was my favourite film opening out of all the ones we analysed, as it created suspense and was full of enigma codes throughout. The producers did not over complicate the opening, leaving it simple but very effective which made it so memorable. The music in this film opening was well suited to the genre, which created an creepy feel for the film. The setting of the film opening was created by the students themselves, which was very impressive and creative. Mise en scene was used very well in this clip, especially the lighting of the setting and the setting itself. The lighting of this clip was almost dull but always focusing on a certain aspect of the setting, this created suspense and again an eery atmosphere. The props used to create the setting all matched the genre of the film, which almost made the opening flow smoothly. Another benefit of this opening was that if left myself as well as others wanting to watch more to know what happens. However, right at the end of the clip a character appeared with a gas mask on, which i believe is the young girl who got killed in that room. This gave part of the story away, also making the film opening look a bit rushed. Due to my reasoning, i would give this film opening a strong, high level 4.
Captive
This film opening was in actual fact very scary and constantly kept me on the edge of my feet. The costume of the young boy who played the character in the film was brilliant, the blood dripping from his face looked realistic. One thing that stood out for me was the high quality of the camera, sound and editing of the film opening. The genre was very obvious from the start due to the setting, costume and music all matching together, creating suspense. However, i felt as if the whole story of the film was giving away in the same of that two minute clip. Therefore, it lost its enigma aspect to the film, which is a big part for the audience, which could alter a persons opinion to wether they wanted to watch the film or not. It was almost more like a trailer, lacking the aspects of a film opening. Due to my reasoning, i would personally give this a high level 3, low level 4.
Roses Are Red
This film opening lost its originality right at the beginning, due to the common 'wake-up' start to a film. However, the way they produced the titles of the producers was very unique, instead of using a computer, they had drawn/painted the titles themselves and edited it from there. There was no enigma code involved in this film opening, which might have been because they may have focused too much on producing the titles. Due to the lack of enigma, this didn't draw me into wanting to watch the films compared to the other films i analysed. The music choice of the opening was well matched the the genre (Romance), however the editing could have been improved. Adding onto this, the camera didn't focus at some points which made it difficult to read the titles of the producers. Due to this, i would give this film opening a level 3.
Three film openings i found myself:
Revenge
This film opening is makes me as their audience want to know what happened to the people who were left dead in the park at the end, with their blood on their on friends hands. This immediately presents an enigma code which is useful in a film opening as it will capture the audience and reel them into the film. The sound at the start matched the images on the screen and they included a variety of shots within their film which made their film look more realistic. Overall, i would give this film about 53/60. so a medium level four.
Unlawful
I really enjoyed watching this film opening as it was full of enigma codes and i wanted to watch more to find out who the girl character is and what she does. I thought the props they used to display enigma codes, such as a number of passports in her draw, was very clever. The music they used matched in well with the genre, as it was quite creepy and strange. The editing of the whole film was also very effective, as you only saw the girls face until the very end. I would personally give this film a high level 4, about 58/60.
Carnage
I thought this film opening was different from the others, originality wise. The titles of the film, the design was in fact amazing, it was so effective and really fitted the genre of the film. The way the titles shook and had the same scary sound added every time they appeared was effective and eye-catching. The choice of the shot distances was also creative and fitted in well with the film, the framing of the shot was again effective everything seemed to run smoothly throughout the opening. However, the story line was quite confusing and i didn't necessarily understand what the girl was doing in the woods on her own. For this film opening i would give this a low level 4, about 52/60.
The Marking Criteria
Find three student productions of your choice and upload onto blog (post title student film openings) - one to present to the class that you found interesting and two others to mark using the criteria below. What went well, Even better if and give them a grade. It would be fab if you emailed any students' work with queries on their productions or their marks and got a reply. Upload the film you liked and why.
Youtube - Latymer film openings, Hurtwood House film openings, G321, AS Film openings Level 1 0–23 marks The work for the main task is possibly incomplete. There is minimal evidence in the work of the creative use of any relevant technical skills such as:
• Producing material appropriate for the target audience and task;
• using titles appropriately according to institutional conventions;
• using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set;
• shooting material appropriate to the task set; including controlled use of the camera, attention to framing, variety of shot distance and close attention to mise-en-scene;
• using editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer and making selective and appropriate use of shot transitions and other effects.
Level 2 24–35 marks There is evidence of a basic level of ability in the creative use of some of the following technical skills:
• Producing material appropriate for the target audience and task;
• using titles appropriately according to institutional conventions;
• using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set;
• shooting material appropriate to the task set;, including controlled use of the camera, attention to framing, variety of shot distance and close attention to mise-en-scene;
• using editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer and making selective and appropriate use of shot transitions and other effects.
Level 3 36–47 marks There is evidence of proficiency in the creative use of many of the following technical skills:
• Producing material appropriate for the target audience and task;
• using titles appropriately according to institutional conventions;
• using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set;
• shooting material appropriate to the task set; including controlled use of the camera, attention to framing, variety of shot distance and close attention to mise-en-scene;
• using editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer and making selective and appropriate use of shot transitions and other effects.
Level 4 48–60 marksThere is evidence of excellence in the creative use of most of the following technical skills:
• material appropriate for the target audience and task;
• using titles appropriately according to institutional conventions;
• using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set;
• shooting material appropriate to the task set;including controlled use of the camera, attention to framing, variety of shot distance and close attention to mise-en-scene;
• using editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer and making selective and appropriate use of shot transitions and other effects.