Resivior Dogs Opening Sequence Remake (BLK)

This is an edit of our classes remake of the Resivior Dogs opening sequence by Alex E, Alex S and myself

Dexter Title Sequence Re-edit Evaluation

Summarise the conventions of title sequences that were most important to this task

• Maintaining consistancy in font and generally in transistions
• Linking the titles to the imagery
• Including all the legal requirements
• Leaving enough time for each title to be read
• If possible time titles to the soundtrack/sound fx

How did your group plan to edit the title sequence?

• Watched the clip through a couple of times and talked through how we were going to go about adding our titles
• The sound was removed to prevent confusion, however this didnt allow is to sync our title appearance timing with the soundtrack
• We looked for places where a particular transition may be relivant
• Looked for space where the titles would be visable (i.e. blank surfaces like the sink) and at the same time discussed where titles wouldn't be appropriate

Explain the creative decisions made by your group

• Found a suitable font, which could be taken quite seriously, and coloured it in a dark red to match the font they've used at the beggining and also because it matches the colour or the blood shown throughout the sequence which comes with conotations suitable for the genre
• Matched a blur tansition with a change in focus in the clip
• When Dexter is shaving it fades out of focous, so we attempted to use a blur tansition to match this
• Tried to place titles where they would be most visable - so against the most blank backgrounds or in places where the colour would stand out when it contrasts with other colours
• Maintained a constant font syle and size
• Gave the sequence quite an imposing feel by bringing the text toward you as it fades out

How does your re-edit compare to the original?

• The origional contained a lot more titles than ours
• We both used similar fonts and font colours
• Ours had alot of time without titles, whereas thiers rarely had a scene which lacked titles
• Our transitions didn't suit the music, but theirs did
• We both went for some of the same times to place titles

Preliminary Evaluation (BLK)

We were given the task to film and edit a short film focusing on continuity which must include a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match on action, shot reverse shot and the 180 degree rule.

Who did you with and how did you manage the task between you?
I worked in a group with Sam Durdy, Chris Pangalos, Sriyadash Suresh. We all planned the task together by brainstorming ideas, storyboarding, writing a shot list, creating a script, working out locations and which props we need. We decided that Chris and Sriyadash would do the acting, whilst Sam and me would film. Then after the filming we created two different edits from the footage we had collected. The final edit of Sam's and my version of the film 'Wrodland Mars' is attached at the bottom.

How did you plan your sequence? What processes did you use? What theories did you try to take into account?
Initially we just discussed ideas before greeting them down on paper. The idea of 'Wrodland Mars' must have originated from a joke between these guys a while ago so that together with an agreed thriller genre was our starting point.



Script and Shoot schedule

When planning the locations we took into account the 180 degree rule during the conversation and we also wanted to use a variety of different shot types. We also looked to use low angle on Wrodland Mars at the beginning to symbolise the power of the character. We also planned locations behind both characters seating positions in anticipation for the shot reverse shot. We originally just planned the one match on action during the opening of the door, but we decided to add a few more in where the objects were passed over the table and well guess we used a match on action in every group of shots containing continued movement.

What technology did you use to complete the task, and how did you use it?
To edit the task we worked on a programme called Premier Pro - which was a new programme to me, but it seemed better than iMovie which was the only editing programme I've used before. I guess this was because you could use a greater degree of accuracy and also it was a lot about editing the audio as apposed to just the film. To physically film the task we used the schools cameras, which I don't know the name of, but seemed to have very good quality - these were attached with microphones which seemed equally as good.

What factors did you have to take into account when planning, shooting and editing?

We had to consider many factors when planning, shooting and editing such as:

• Ligthing - we originally planned to shoot this in a room with curtains, which could be used to control lighting and also possibly to cast a shadow on a characters face to give the impression they're hiding something, however on the day the room was being used, so all these considerations weren't evident.
• Editing - when shooting, we kept the editing in mind and shot the scene m,any different times from many different angles so we were faced with lots of choice when it came to the editing suite.
• Timing - we had to share the first location in the scene and therefore had to agree on times with other groups. Also we quite successfully organised out time leaving enough time for each shot without any being rushed.

How successful was your sequence? Please identify what worked well, and with hindsight, what you would improve/do differently?
I felt our sequence was pretty successful as we included all the necessary features, it made sense and I think we achieved our intended genre. I think the acting was really convincing and our match on action shots were pretty accurate - which worked well, however I think our cutting rate was maybe a bit too fast. Also at the beggining of the scene the cut from the master shot to a medium shot on a characters face was a bit intense and not so easy on the eye. I'm pretty proud of our timing too though since usually I'm quite 'last minute' but we seemed to have achieved this in time. If I did this again I would check that the chosen location would be free when we need to film since we had to improvise a bit this time. I would also maybe spend some more time on getting some more interesting angles and framing as I felt the majority of our shots were pretty standard and didn't really have anything new/unique to them. Finally, I would spend more time making the location look more realistic with lighting and by clearing the space more.

What have you learnt from completing this task? Looking ahead, how will this learning be significant when completing the rest of your foundation coursework, do you think?
The task has introduced me to some of the basics of Premier Pro (the editing programme.) It has also increased my familiarity of the way work is done in Media at Latymer and in that sense I found this task very useful for the future as I will have a greater understanding when it comes down to the real things.




Title Sequence Sound Analysis (DYM)

   
http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/this-is-england/#

I looked at the Opening sequence of Shane Meadows' 'This is England'. The opening sequence has quite a nationalist theme throughout as it includes a lot of cultural codes relating to a stereotypical England. The film is about 'skinheads' and illustrates how their subculture has taken inspiration from 1960's West Indian culture which is the home of ska, reggae and (partially) soul music - which explains the song choice for the title sequence '54-46Was My Number' by 'Toots and the Maytals'.

The sequence begins with an introduction by 'Roland Rat' which introduces the comedic sub-genre of the film and is also used as symbolism for England in the 1980's era. This is the only dialogue in the sequence, which works quite well as a que for the soundtrack. The cutting rate is in close relation to the music at this point as it cuts from plain white credits over a plain black background to dated footage of other symbolic codes for 1980's England. This works very effectively as it does really hook your attention as it is pretty dramatic. Then as the music finally drops the credits come to an end and we are left with footage and eventually the title appears. Then the credits start up again but this time over handheld film footage. The music is then timed to link with explosions, fences being pushed and clapping. The choice of music really compliments the images as they could potentially look very boring accompanied by another soundtrack, but the excitement radiated from the track seems to really lift the imagery despite some of it consisting of people fighting - which would usually be seen as negative. I think also this isn't seen so negatively because there are no sound effects, only a soundtrack. At the end of the clip the music fades out to silence, probably because they wanted to begin the film with silence and a fade out is easy-on-the-ear.

Continuity Clip (BLK)

This is a closing clip from the film 'Bladerunner' and I will be analysing it from the perspective of a continuity editor.

Establishing Shot - the clip does not begin with an establishing shot, but with a medium/close up of the main character (Rick Deckard)'s  hand struggling to pull him up onto a surface. Then after about 25 seconds his location is revealed with the initial establishing shot. I think the wait is to cause a bit of tension and to increase the shock when you find out hes clinging onto the side of a building. This shot also makes the viewer feel quite uneasy because of the darkness on the right hand side of the shot which is where Roy Batty could be - who is looking for him in the scene - this is presuming the viewer has seen the rest of the film rather than just this clip.

Match-on-Action - as Rick jumps the gap and manages to catch onto a beam or something there is a match on action, and again as Roy successfully jumps the same gap. This means the shot changes, yet the action continues - so despite the fact the characters have jumped the gap many times, they are edited together to appear as the same jump. \This is pretty effective on the second ump as it cuts to a low angle which in a sense works as a little establishing shot as the actual threat posed by the gap hasn't yet clearly been shown.

Shot-Reverse Shot - During the conversation the shot-reverse shot technique is used to give the impression they are talking to each other. During this they must follow the 180 degree rule so it makes sense in the viewers head. However, at first glance I thought they had actually broken this rule, but when I looked again I realised they hadn't, however it just seemed that way as Roy isn't actually facing Rick, he is looking into the rain, deep in thought.Since this isn't really a proper conversation since Rick doesn't really contribute - its more of a speech and the fact Roy isn't looking at him isn't an accident in my opinion its just to show how much hes thinking about what hes saying and with this his emotions attached to the speech are revealed. Also to back up my point that this doesn't follow all the rules deliberately - the first shot is an over the shoulder shot which introduces the conversation and the connection between the two characters.

Continuety Clips (BLK)

We were given a brief to make a short video consisting of six clips, which focused on continuety and the only editing we were allowed to do was with the record button.

Things that went well

• with a little editing I reckon this would all make sense
• establishing shot gives viewer orientation
• easy on the eye L,M,M,CU,L,M with the exception of the close up to long, but that was just a cut away to the establishing shot
• the establishing shots were in roughly the same position
• followed the thirty degree rule
• pretty convincing crash

Things which went badly

• there were people in the background of shot two
• the phone continued to ring when he answered it
• the tracking shot was a bit wobbly
• did walk past the same things twice, but it wasn't that noticeable i dont think, especially if your not familiar with the setting

Film Opening Barthes Analysis (DYM)

Enigma Code (Hermeneutic Code)

• Is the first man mad?
• Is the first man responsible for all the dead bodies?
• Is he still there?
• Is he going to kill the second man?
• Is there a reason he killed all of them?

Action Code (Proairectic Code)

• Second man shoots animal - is it dead?
• Second man discovers alive man with gun - will either get shot?
• First man is arrested - will he escape?
• First man strangles police officer - will this be a success?
• First man puts oxygen thing to someones head - what will it do?

Semiotic Code

• The desert is shown to hint at the location - Texas
• The first man looks straight up with very open eyes and not even at the officer as he is killing him - this could show insanity
• The oxygen thing could have the connotation of life as oxygen is essential to life, so this could work as a juxtaposition as it seems to just introduce death
• The police offers says 'I've got it under control' which gives the impression that he probably doesn't
• The blood of the dog has the connotations of death, which is an insight of whats to come

Cultural Code

• 'Sheriff' what Americans call a Chief Police Officer
• 'I sent to the electric chair' means sentenced to death
• The first man is wearing handcuffs so we know he's been arrested
• When we see the first man behind the police officer we know he is going to attack him from our knowledge of film
• We see loads of parcels in the back of the van which we presume to be full of drugs which the driver has been smuggling

Symbolic Code

• When he says 'I've got it under control' you would think it means hes got it under control but it could also mean he hasn't
• The Blood of the dog could be to symbolise the death to come
• The lack of expression on the first mans face could be to symbolise insanity
• The speech at the start could literally be a symbol for whats going to happen in the film but just disguised as an anecdote
• It seems every character so far has had a gun on their person, this could be to show whats to come