FILM OPENING CODES & CONVENTIONS

Film opening codes & Conventions - Media A Level from PreeshaPatel

TABLE TOP SEQUENCE

 Table Top Sequence –

Production Practice: Montage/Table Top Sequence

Find Table Top Sequence Above

“A WHOLE WORLD IN A TABLE TOP”

Brief : To create a tittle sequence using on a table top and props with small part of live action at the end of it, using a given soundtrack.

Session 1:

At the beginning of the session we looked researched To Kill A Mockingbird and The President. We analysed  their montage sequences and art of the titles.

In our group of three (Preesha, Jess & Charlotte) we were given a specific set of props with a background to choose from. Firstly we arranged the props along a simple black background. We looked through another box of props to add in anything else, e.g. a brief case, passport (fake), writing and extra cash/money. We also fake blood to Jess’ hands to create a more realistic feeling of crime and murder (end of the of the montage).

Once we arranged the props in the place we wanted. We then did a practice shoot, where Charlotte started to move the iPad/camera along the props/set we helped with camera placement. Once we knew where the camera was going, we started to film and Charlotte pressed record (with a steady hand gliding across the set). Towards the end of the sequence Jess placed the (blood) money on the side and the (blood) screw driver the woman’s face and Charlotte zoomed in on the face.

 

In the editing process we also recorded the sound in another classroom and added the piano music to the montage. We faced some challenges with this due to other background noise when recording. However, we managed to record the music and add it to our montage sequence. We thought that the dark, piano music would fit in with the mise-en-scene. We then started to edited the the montage and move some of the clips to the right place. When filming we decided to cross cut clips – the first section and the second section, we edited this part into iMovie and put everything together.         

CONTINUITY EXERCISE

CONTINUITY EXERCISE

Wednesday 16^th September 

Our task for this lesson was to make a short clip in order to put it into practise.In our group of five, we firstly brained stormed ideas on what storyline we wanted for our continuity exercise. We decided that the main plot was going to be based on “Who wants to be a millionaire?” On the final questions with Tom as the host and Charlotte acting as the guest on the show. Preesha was the director. 

Some of the problems/challenges we faced whilst on set, were that the green screen was not wide enough to fit the frame (e.g. the over the shoulder shots). To solve the problem we had our actors swap seats and when editing we would reverse the shot, so we would not break the 180 degree rule and this gave the audience the illusion that they had never moved. 

We also had to deal with the background noise on set of the other groups interfering whilst we were filming.

                                               

 

SEE BELOW FOR LINK TO CONTINUITY EXERCISE:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu3yl_YPCulSuM2tQuZCYag?view_as=subscriber

 

PRELIMINARY EXERCISE

Table Top Sequence –

Production Practice: Montage/Table Top Sequence

Find Table Top Sequence Above

“A WHOLE WORLD IN A TABLE TOP”

Brief : To create a tittle sequence using on a table top and props with small part of live action at the end of it, using a given soundtrack.

Session 1:At the beginning of the session we looked researched To Kill A Mockingbird and The President. We analysed  their montage sequences and art of the titles.

In our group of three (Preesha, Jess & Charlotte) we were given a specific set of props with a background to choose from. Firstly we arranged the props along a simple black background. We looked through another box of props to add in anything else, e.g. a brief case, passport (fake), writing and extra cash/money. We also fake blood to Jess’ hands to create a more realistic feeling of crime and murder (end of the of the montage).

Once we arranged the props in the place we wanted. We then did a practice shoot, where Charlotte started to move the iPad/camera along the props/set we helped with camera placement. Once we knew where the camera was going, we started to film and Charlotte pressed record (with a steady hand gliding across the set). Towards the end of the sequence Jess placed the (blood) money on the side and the (blood) screw driver the woman’s face and Charlotte zoomed in on the face.

 

In the editing process we also recorded the sound in another classroom and added the piano music to the montage. We faced some challenges with this due to other background noise when recording. However, we managed to record the music and add it to our montage sequence. We thought that the dark, piano music would fit in with the mise-en-scene. We then started to edited the the montage and move some of the clips to the right place. When filming we decided to cross cut clips – the first section and the second section, we edited this part into iMovie and put everything together.

CONTINUITY EXERCISE

Wednesday 16^th September

Our task for this lesson was to make a short clip in order to put it into practise.In our group of five, we firstly brained stormed ideas on what storyline we wanted for our continuity exercise. We decided that the main plot was going to be based on “Who wants to be a millionaire?” On the final questions with Tom as the host and Charlotte acting as the guest on the show. Preesha was the director. 

Some of the problems/challenges we faced whilst on set, were that the green screen was not wide enough to fit the frame (e.g. the over the shoulder shots). To solve the problem we had our actors swap seats and when editing we would reverse the shot, so we would not break the 180 degree rule and this gave the audience the illusion that they had never moved. 

We also had to deal with the background noise on set of the other groups interfering whilst we were filming.

 

Wednesday 16^th September

On the set

Brief account of learning the use of camera and tripods, what filming terminology to use on the set and good practice in editing.

This account is about what equipment we share shown when we were shown how to use the Canon cameras and Manfrotto tripods

 

Cameras and Tripods:

In my group we passes the camera around and individually practised how to candle the camera, insert the batter and memory card. When passing the camera around my group we proceeded to say ‘yours; and ‘mine’; to avoid the risk of dropping the equipment. We learned how to set up a tripod and to 'bubble' it using the spirit level to help make the camera balanced and in focus. We explored the camera such as how to focus.  The exposure on the camera is adjusted by moving the dial up and down.

 

White balance is the process of removing unrealistic colour cast, so that objects which appear white in person and rendered white in the photo. Proper camera white balance has to take into account the “colour temperature of the light” of a light source, which refers to the relative warmth and coolness of the existing white light. I learnt that by selecting the ‘WB” on the camera, it will then come up with little images representing different colour tones that are used in different lights which will give a more realistic effect.

 

We also learned about the 180 degree rule. This rule is a cinematography guideline that states that two characters in a scene should maintain the same left/right relationship (within the shot) to one another. When the camera passes over the invisible axis connecting the two subjects, this is called crossing the line and the shot becomes what is called a reverse angle.

 

On the set in my group we learnt the professional terminology used in the film industry on set. The director shout to the set “Standby” before filming to ensure everyone is ready and when they are they will reply “Standing by.”

 

When the director shouts “rolling,” everyone must be “quiet on set,”  then he/she will shout “action” where the actors will start the scene. After the shooting the scene, the director has said the last “cut,” he/she will say “strike the kit” which is the films crew’s cue t pack away, put the potteries on charge and ensure that footage is uploaded correctly.

 

Good practice in editing. We use Final Cut Pro and iMovie on the iMacs in the media studio. When we upload our footage, we create a folder to keep the specific shots. These folders are called bins and the unedited footage from cameras are called rushes.

 PRELIMINARY EXERCISE

See collage of the variety of shots I took below, using a Nikon Camera.

In our pre-a level sessions we started with preliminary exercises at home. This was the start of  me learning basic camera angles and experimenting with the camera with one main object/subject in the frame. I started with with still images and moved onto moving images. We learnt this technique in  our online class by media theorist Daniel Chandler, and looking at his theory in The Grammar of TV and Film.

ON THE SET

Wednesday 16^th September

On the set  

Brief account of learning the use of camera and tripods, what filming terminology to use on the set and good practice in editing.

This account is about what equipment we share shown when we were shown how to use the Canon cameras and Manfrotto tripods

 

Cameras and Tripods:

In my group we passes the camera around and individually practised how to candle the camera, insert the batter and memory card. When passing the camera around my group we proceeded to say ‘yours; and ‘mine’; to avoid the risk of dropping the equipment. We learned how to set up a tripod and to 'bubble' it using the spirit level to help make the camera balanced and in focus. We explored the camera such as how to focus.  The exposure on the camera is adjusted by moving the dial up and down.

 

White balance is the process of removing unrealistic colour cast, so that objects which appear white in person and rendered white in the photo. Proper camera white balance has to take into account the “colour temperature of the light” of a light source, which refers to the relative warmth and coolness of the existing white light. I learnt that by selecting the ‘WB” on the camera, it will then come up with little images representing different colour tones that are used in different lights which will give a more realistic effect.

 

We also learned about the 180 degree rule. This rule is a cinematography guideline that states that two characters in a scene should maintain the same left/right relationship (within the shot) to one another. When the camera passes over the invisible axis connecting the two subjects, this is called crossing the line and the shot becomes what is called a reverse angle.

 

On the set in my group we learnt the professional terminology used in the film industry on set. The director shout to the set “Standby” before filming to ensure everyone is ready and when they are they will reply “Standing by.”

 

When the director shouts “rolling,” everyone must be “quiet on set,”  then he/she will shout “action” where the actors will start the scene. After the shooting the scene, the director has said the last “cut,” he/she will say “strike the kit” which is the films crew’s cue t pack away, put the potteries on charge and ensure that footage is uploaded correctly.

 

Good practice in editing. We use Final Cut Pro and iMovie on the iMacs in the media studio. When we upload our footage, we create a folder to keep the specific shots. These folders are called bins and the unedited footage from cameras are called rushes.

SOUND DESIGN & THEORY

 Sound Design & Theory 

Diegetic Sound – A noise which has a source on-screen. They are noises which have not been edited in, for example dialogue between characters or footsteps.

https://youtu.be/Xis71dIt5Nc

https://youtu.be/Xis71dIt5Nc - Unstoppables (video taken down)

This scene in the film Untouchables portrays the use of diegetic sound effectively. The character Driss is shown to be playing music from his iPod. This sound can be heard by the audience and by the characters in the film, as we see them all dancing along to it (reacting).

 

 

Non-Diegetic Sound – A noise which does not have a source on-screen, they have been added in. For example, music, voiceover and sound effects.

https://youtu.be/1YGfrGKK9Mo

https://youtu.be/1YGfrGKK9Mo - Titanic

The music in this scene from the film Titanic is non diegetic, because it is added for the main purpose of making the scene more dramatic and atmospheric for the audience. The characters do not react to it, so we can clearly see it's non diegetic, as they cannot hear it.

 

 

Volume – How loud and quiet the sound is.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYnPGS9Ev8w Psycho – The Shower Scene

The sound starts calm and soft, then suddenly when the person/murderer comes in with a knife she screams and the volume is much louder.

 

Rhythm – Refers to how elements are repeated or how they change and develop

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCfWHqrYUqo – Jaws Theme Song 1960

The Jaws Theme song create an intense upbeat rhythm which is clearly heard in the song.

 

 

Fidelity – When the sound matches the source.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv9JOVkR5PQ – Dead Poets Society

The sound of the teacher whistling matches the source (the teacher) and the same with the footsteps.

 

Synchronous Sound – Sound that is matched to certain movements occurring in the scene e.g. when footsteps correspond to feet walking

 

https://youtu.be/2hHj97Chf9w - Clip

In this example, synchronous sound is clearly used as the actions presented to us are accompanied with sound which completely matches the actions.

 

 

Asynchronous Sound - Sounds that match the action being performed however is not precisely synchronised.

 

https://youtu.be/Mhp5SpTxQw8 Hitchcock The 39 Steps

In this clip from Hitchcock’s The 39 steps, asynchronous sound is used when we see a women screaming which then cuts to a steam train coming out of a tunnel

 

 

Parallel Sound – Are sounds that match a scene, e.g. a happy scene will have happy music and laughter.

 

https://youtu.be/kYiIsoMVQCY - Untouchables

This clip from the film Untouchables uses parallel sound: the music playing is added to enhance and emphasise the mood of the scene. The mood of the scene is dark and sad, as we see the characters trying to escape this darkness, trying to become free and leave their worries behind. It allows the audience to feel more deeply for the characters due to their current situation.

 

Contrapuntal Sound – Are sounds that do not match the scene, e.g. happy scene will have sinister music.

 

https://youtu.be/oeVhxSSPsac - Reservoir Dogs

his example is from the film Reservoir Dogs. Though the scene contains blood and gore and danger, the music played is upbeat and happy, normally associated with joy and happy things. The pairing of this song (stuck in the middle with you- Stealers Wheel), with the storyline is unusual, which could make the audience feel quite uneasy and tense, wondering what might happen next.