pics

Editing

When we are analyzing any type of film or clip we need to look at the micro elements. One of the micro elements is editing. Editing is an important part of the filmmaking process. 

They are 4 main types of transition:

Cuts- This form of transition is the most common and is invisible.Cuts are used in between different shots.Cuts help he film to retain reality as they do not break the viewers suspension of disbelief.

Fades- A fade occurs when there is the gradual darkening or lightening of an image until it becomes black or white.Fades can be used to signal an ending of a particular section of time within the narrative, or to suggest the importance of the image which has just 'faded'.

Wipes- When there is one image pushed away by the other from right to left.wipes are often used to signal a movement in a film between different locations that are experiencing the same time.

Dissolves-This type of transition is achieved by fading one shot off the screen while another shot is fading in.  

Continuity editing- This adds realism to a film and is commonly used. Continuity editing helps to drive the narrative forward. This form of editing makes the action appear real and draws the audience into the drama without establishing the obvious editing.

Shot duration- This is important sometimes shots within films are quick which makes the film more thrilling to watch. The longer the shots are on screen the film seems to have a slower pace and audiences are able to pick up important pieces of information more easily. 

All of these types of editing need to be considered and planned in detail when making a film.We need to consider and choose the cuts that we need to use for our thriller opening sequence in order to build tention.We need to make sure we plan all the shots and cuts in order to suceed.

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                                                                   M.B

Rillington Strangler (Final Sequence)

Rillington Strangler (Final Sequence)

This is the final clip produced by Monicon Meedia for our AS-level Media coursework.

In the time we were allocated we have produced an opening sequence for a film called 'Rillington Strangler' in which we believe to have been an efficient and enjoyable manner. We have cut, chopped and sorted through over 90 minutes of footage to create this sequence (140sec). After viewing many title sequences produced by previous AS Media students we were determined to create something more original. We did this using mise en scene and other techniques. We also decided that rather than using direct dialogue and voiceovers we would extract a piece of speech from someone who actually had some sort of connection with the original case.

The story itself is based on the miscarriage of justice that took place after events prior to March 9th 1950. Timothy Evans was tried and hanged for the serial murders of his wife, daughter and six other women. He had argued that his landlord was the real culprit. It later
came to light that the crimes were committed by John Reginald Christie - the landlord of Rillington place. Evans was granted a posthumous pardon in 1966.

Please note that all technical malfunctions and drawbacks occurred after the production process was complete. The blurriness/shakiness that can be seen throughout the course of the clip was non-existent until it was uploaded to Youtube. We have tried several times to remove and re-upload the footage. 

 

-C.W-

Update

We have finally finished editing our opening sequence.We have uploaded it on to youtube and will record some individual  sharing their thoughts and opinions about our opening.This would give us tips on how to improve our future films.Also it will show us the things we did well. It is very important to hear different opinions from people which can then help us decide which type of audience we would produce for? and 
Help us satisfy a wider range of audiences as different people see  the opening differently.
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                                         C.W

Our music for the opening...

So far we have finished filming and are in the process editing the titles and the music . 

we collaborated with the GCSE music students to compose a peace of music for our filmWe have used garage band to edit the music to suit our film.

As you can we have used sample loops which are found in garage band to edit and change anything.We have made some small changes which make this music compliment our opening sequence shots.

We have also found some foley sound which will be used in our film.eg. footsteps, rain, scraping sound of a shoe stepping on a cigarette.














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                                                                 M.B

Review

The main purpose of an opening sequence is to engage and encourage the audience into watching a film. The opening sequence needs to relate to the film and should reveal in what is coming up. The Titles give away a great deal about the film's context and the whole idea. Usually the tittles are set to compliment the theme of the film and the style. When you see a really outstanding opening sequence it does improve your viewing experience the opening sequence can effect the way you see the film. I personally enjoy graphic openings as they show how imaginative the film editors are.it also show how thought there has been put in producing the film.

Majority of the examples shown in the clip were graphic tittle which i thought were amazing! There are alot of different shots achieved in these openings which are taken from the actual film or the bckstage.I enjoyed the idea of having pictures taken of the actors,that are showing a close relationship outside the film and using them as part of the opening. I think this introduces the characters in a more revealing way which helps us understand the characters and there personalities better.

This inspires me to try and achive a high standard opening sequence with limited resources that we have with our film editing. I would like to achive a professional looking opening which could shown how thoughtful and imaginative we could be.I would like us to achive a opening tittle sequence that would be thrilling and exiting to watch. We need to make sure that we build tension and trill in order to achive the best opinion about our film.

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                                                                         M.B

Presentation of a thriller film Red Eye

  
This is the presentation of a film called the Red Eye. I have focused on the opening sequence of this thriller. This helps us gain knowledge of what hints we can give in the opening to create tension.
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                                                                M.B

In Bruges Powerpoint Presentation

http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/34561397

Creating tittles

I created the titles using photoshop. I chose a font to compliment our theme of the opening sequence which was the style of 1950's. The font of these titles is Bickham script pro size 18 (pt)

After doing some research on the style of the modern film titles we have realised that majority of the films have different fonts for the tittles and the production titles. however they progress trough with the same specific fonts for every name.this is why we have decided to keep the names a different style to the production titles but carry out the same style for every title.

This is the example of the the production titles which we did in the different font to the peoples names.

'Vertigo' opening sequence (review)



In the opening sequence for Alfred Hitchcock's 'Vertigo'. The first clue we are given as to what genre of film it is going to be is the high pitched, repetitive tune that instantly tells us we are about to watch a thriller. As the production logos fade out the first shot of the film is a pale woman's cheek and slowly the camera moves over to focus on her red painted lips. The music then quietens down for a moment before racing up in volume and down in pitch and the first name, 'JAMES STEWART', - all in capitals - shoots toward the ladies lips. The same process is repeated twice (showing both eyes, then just the one). Fear is conveyed on her face and this is another big hint as to what type of movie it is. The whole picture is then turned red and in the distance of her eye there is something growing bigger. It is the name of the film (VERTIGO), again in capitals. It zooms past the screen and now we see a small spiral in her pupil that is becoming more and more opaque until the image of the lady has completely disappeared.

Now there are several names all in a column and the spiral is getting larger and it gives way to a more intricate, more complex circular design which again gives way to another - each with their own set of titles. The accompanying soundtrack is now becoming louder and there is a lot of brass heard within the track. This whole set of visualisations is repeated for about a minute and a half until the intricate patterns fade back to the original picture of the woman's horror filled eye and we are shown the final credit which reads 'DIRECTED BY ALFRED HITCHCOCK'.

The music drops slowly out along with the footage. This is an effective opening sequence because it sets the film up for the genre but also leaves a lot of mystery for the viewers to enjoy throughout the majority of the film. The question of 'is this lady going to be killed?' and 'how?' and 'why?' are asked. Also, 'what is the relevance of all these strange patterns and shapes?'

-C.W-

Alfred Hitchcock impact on thriller genre

There are 13 steps on how to make a Hitchcock thriller film:

Step 1: It's the mind of the audience which is about the importance of each scene affecting the audience.To be able to achive a thriller like Hitchcock we need to make sure that the content engages the audience and reels them in by using the characters to tease the viewer. This would engage the viewer in wanting more.

Step 2:Frame for emotion

Emotion is the ultimate goal of every sequence.When positioning the camera we should already know what sort of emotion we are trying to potray.Emotion comes directly from the actors eyes so working around the eyes with the camera can give different emotions to the viewer.

Hitchcock used proximity to plan out each scene which helped him control when audience ia feeling intensity or relaxation.

Step 3:Camera is not a camera

The camera should take a human qualities and roam around plaufully looking for something suspicious in a room which makes the audience feel like they are a part of unreveling a story.Hitchcock silent film biginnings had to create a story and he had to use images to buy the audience. Now since 1930s when sound was introduced the main focus becomes dialogue.

Step 4:Dialogue means nothing one of the characters needs to be occupied when having a conversation as it reveals the true feelings and emotion. As Hitchcock says 'people dont always express their inner thoughts to another , a concersation may be quite trivial , but often the eyes will reveal what a person thinks or needs'

Step 5:Point of view editing putting an idea into the mind of the character without explaining it in dialogue is done by using a point of view shot sequence.

Step 6:Montage gives you control caregully choose a close up of a hand ,an arm, a face , a gun falling to the floor a way which potray an event.Hitchcock transferring the menace from the screen into the mind.

Step 7:Keep the story simlple the key in creating a Hitchcock energy is by using simplistic, linear stories that the audience can easily follow.

Step 8:Characters must break cliche

Make your characters the exact opoaite from what the audience expect them to be like.they should have unexpected personalities.Hotchcock criminals tend to be wealthly upper class citizens whom you'd never suspect , the policeman and politicians are usually the bumbling fools , the innocent are accused and the villians get away with everything because nobody suspects them.

Step 9:Use humor to add tension

Humor is essential to Hitchcock storytelling. Give the character the most ironic situation to deal with.Hitchcock tented to use comical old women to add a flavor of innocent humor in his films.

Step 10:Two things happening at once 

Build tension into a scene by using contrasting situations. Use two unrelated things happening at once. 

Step 11:Suspense is information

Step 12:Surprise and twist

Step 13:Warning May cause MacGuffin

                         M.B

What we've achieved so far...

So far we have finished filming our opening sequence. We are now in the progress of editing , making our own titles to match the theme. We have already done some of out titles which we have created on photoshop. The most important element of this is to get the exact same size and font. We also need to make sure we decide on the location of each tittle as it is very important. We have looked at different opening sequences and have a clear idea of how we want our tittles to look and were exactly placed on the screen. We have noticed a patern of titles which seems very interesting and hints us the new style of openings that are used. Almost all the new film openings use capital letters for the names of actors and everyone else in the film e.g:

         MONIKA BUDRYTE

Also they use :

Directed by 

         CONNOR WALSH

Almost every opening uses this simple idea of,having names,written bigger which helped us plan our own tittles.

 

There are alot of things we still need to do and one of the biggest is the music for our opening. We were thinking of doing Bathoven as his music is very slow and time but perfect for our religious theme.

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                       M.B-C.W

The art of Film & Title design - Review. (C.W)

The art of Film & Title design - Review.

 

'The art of Film and Title design' is a clip which really underlines the importance of an opening sequence. Made by the people that know most about it, we can see the true nature of what an opening sequence is and how it is necessary in capturing the audience and setting the scene for the film which follows. It doesn't matter what genre the movie is there is always a title sequence to match and compliment the style of movie.

 

 

As shown in the clip 'Blue Valentine' is a great example of an opening that captivates the style and story of its latter. This is done by using a range of editing and filming techniques to suit the film. Personally, I think that editing is the key to an opening sequence. Whereas filming is the most important stage of a film I believe that a good opening is about smooth and flowing images and titles. Although the initial shots are vital the distortion of these shots or otherwise editing shows the potential of the film and its makers without giving away the full capacity of what is to follow. In 'Blue Valentine' we see brief glimmers of the two protagonists and their relationship blossoming and then slowly deceasing although, as Jim Helton said, the love is always there. The very fact that all this can be portrayed in a matter of minutes is an example of why it is so important and effective to have a good opening sequence.

 

 

-C.W-

Things we have to do

We have both enjoyed the christmas break and have now gone back to editing and planning the things that we will need to do :

• We need to finish editing on time for our set deadline which is till the End of February.
• We need to make our own copy right free music using garage band.
• We need to create our won tittles with a certain font which would match our theme which is the 1950's.
• Finish filming any extra bits.
• The title of The film. 
• A biblical Quote .