RESEARCH + PLANNING: FILM OPENING INSPIRATION

SINISTER & DEXTER: INSPIRATION + RESEARCH 

I began by researching the meanings behind Dexter and Sinister to solidify my understanding of the differences between the two (before I could apply this to the narrative and casting of our fictional film opening).

“Sinister” derives from a Latin word meaning “on the left hand side.” The “left” giving evil, foreboding and negative connotations. From further research I had found  that the association of the left with evil is likely to be the dominance of right-handed people within a population.

“Dexter” derives from the Latin word meaning “on the right ride,” which is the positive to Sinister. Thus meaning, it have mainly positive, strong connotations that survives through its linguistic descendants. 

When conducting research and gaining inspiration for our fictional film opening I found that there is an emphasise on the good angel / bad angel dichotomy which dates from medical morality plays and which was continued in drama as Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus. The good angel stood on the right hand to represent virtue (dexter) and the bad angel stood on the left side (sinister) in an attempt to persuade the should to go down an evil path.

This is applied in my fictional film opening as I acknowledge the draw of the criminal path, represented by Gabe’s (sinister) lure and temptations, The counterbalance is Holly (dexter / angel like energy) who is redemptive and wholesome, representing strong, social values. 

Morality Play, Marlowe’s Dr Faustus

DEVELOPED / FURTHER RESEARCH: Images of Dr Faustus work

Our casting of Holly positions her as the Pre-Raphaelite angel with flowing locks and limbs, pale skin.  

HOW MY PRODUCTION SKILLS DEVELOPED

PART 1

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PART 2

CCR3 - PART2 by Preesha Patel

 

CONSTRUCTION: CREATION OF FX IN PHOTOSHOP

CREATION OF FX IN PHOTOSHOP

In our filmmaking and editing, we explored ways of creating visual representations of what was developing inside our protagonist’s head. This is integral to the narrative – as he is under such pressure from the stressful thoughts about his past criminal record spoiling his chances of any real future – as well as being an artistic experimentation that attracted us as it promised to lift our filmmaking out of the run of the predictable into more filmic work. 

To suggest his inner maelstrom, we took an image of the protagonist into Photoshop and cut the space inside the outline of his head, leaving. 

Photoshop (Steps): 

1. We firstly decided to edit the background of the image/video and edit out the main characters face (Kevin). 

2. We will then be moving on to blurring the last seconds of the scenes and creating of the scene, to make the transition into the next scene/flashback. 

CONSTRUCTION: PRODUCTION COMPANY LOGO - MAKING

PRODUCTION COMPANY LOGO - MAKING 

Thursday 10th December 

In the the next hour session, we decide to start making the production company logo (at the beginning of our film opening). We both decided to call the name of our production Ten Pin Productions. Our teacher had brought in the props that we needed - which were a pack of ten skittles and a ball.

At first we used a black back drop to roll the ball along the table/black back drop. However the challenge was that it caught the background of the overall frame. There were other objects etc.. that were interfering with the frame of the shot. So, we decided to use the green screen and my IPad Pro to film the clip. We set up the skittles agains the screen screen on the floor, and propped up the IPad in the position we wanted. We started the filming, one of us would throw that ball and the other with film. 

PLANNING: CASTING

PLANNING: CASTING 

PLANNING - ACTION SEQUENCE STORYBOARD

ACTION SEQUENCE STORYBOARD

Started: Friday 16th October

Finished: Friday 4th December

We first started our initial planning/ideas on the last day of half term. This session was our first major brainstorm for our film opening: generating ideas, planning characters etc.. 

After Half Term, we developed the main storyline and changed some of our scenes at the end of the film opening, as we faced some challenged in terms of filming due to the pandemic. So, we altered the locations of our film opening so that everyone who was involved (who are filming and directing) would be safe and are taking precautions.

INITIAL STORYBOARD

FINAL STORYBOARD

CHARACTERS, SOCIAL GROUPS & STEREOTYPES

 SOCIAL GROUPS & STEREOTYPES

SOCIAL GROUP STEREOTYPES: 

           1.     SOCIAL GROUP – YOUNG EX-CRIMINALS

The first social group we use in our fictional film opening includes young ex-criminals. They are serving their time by carrying out community service After they Have committed various crime. Thus, making them ex-criminals: although in the film we do not see what every crime each character commits; we see them working hard to Essentially redeem themselves from the criminal acts they committed in the past.

2.      SOCIAL GROUP (aesthetic) – PRISONERS

This social group is the stereotypical criminal in prison. These types of scenes will not be in our final film opening, however we wanted to show the type of criminals in prison and how they act in prison and outside of prison (when they are out). These images reflect the stereotype inside prison and what happens behind locked doors. 

3.      SOCIAL GROUP – COUPLES

This social group is for the end of the film opening where the love interest to Kevin is introduced. She is also a criminal, there is a shed of hope for Kevin to decide what path he wants to go to (his old ways or a better/positive life with his new love interest). This ending will help audiences build character relatability, as for many people there could be one person in their life that would change them to be good and be in a better place. This stereotype builds audience empathy, sympathy of antipathy very quickly, this last scene will end in a cliffhanger.