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A fantastic effort so far with theoretical and detailed responses to media texts. Be sure to begin to document every stage of your planning towards your film now – use technical terminology and take us on a journey to completion of your film project. Well done!

Planning- Film ideas/ Brain Storm - Malevolent Phantom

Malevolent Phantom

Genre; of our film is going to be Horror as this will give us the chance to build up suspense using the fear of the unknown, our planned setting in woods as that is a dark scary place which goes in perfect with our opening.

 Plot :Two friends saying their goodbyes after they have been out for the evening. One house is near and she goes home leaving the main character facing the decision whether she should go a much quicker route through the woods that she is unsure of or a much longer route following the roads. Her mother contacts her telling her to get home, she feels rushed and enter the woods feeling on edge.

she checks her phone often to keep her mind occupied. Suddenly her battery dies panic strikes and she starts hurrying, in her panic she drops her phone as she scuffles around on the floor. As she bends down the audience sees a dark figure in the distance. Rustling leaves and wind puts her in more discomfort, without her knowledge this man starts to edge closer until he grabs her and the opening then finishes leaving the viewers is suspense on a cliff hanger, dying to see more.

Shots:We will have a mixture of shots, starting off with a aerial shot of the girls walking down the road before they say their goodbyes. going to a shot reverse shot during their conversation. long shot as she enters the woods showing the setting. close ups of her face as the panic hits as well as a long shot of this mysterious character whom we fear. Ending shot is a low angle shot showing dominance and power to the malevolent phantom who is about to drag her away kicking and screaming. Finally we will interpret split screen shots to show emotions of all characters throughout the opening.

Music:We plan to use a certain type of  music to create enough suspense to keep them glued to the screen, Rising in tempo at the most important bits. We will also consider lighting as we are aware that plays a key roll. The mysterious man will have dark lighting on him throughout as this will keep his identity hidden making audience expect the worst; fear of the unknown, alongside softer brighter lighting on our main character to show her facial expressions.




Costumes: Finally we have considered our clothing, our main character is going to wear a bright piece of clothing while her friend wears neutral colours, to let the audience know she is unimportant. Our main character is wearing a bright piece of clothing because this draws the audiences attention towards her making them know she is the main character suggesting she is vulnerable and something may happen the evil stalking man will be wearing all black to fade into the shadows supporting the horror genre, as well as creating an enigma

Rules of Filming - Continuity

Continuity

Continuity is to film certain shots and make particular edits in order to make the scene flow as best as possible making the audience feel it’s a well-produced movie without them be aware its real life, they like to escape real life while watching films and ensuring the following features help with that escape:

• The 180 rule

This is a basic guideline about the on-screen relationship between a character and another character or object within a scene.  To understand the 180 rule and to apply film making you need to imagine a line which cuts the scene in half. Similar to an axis and by keeping the camera on one side of this axis for every shot in the scene it creates continuity.

• Match on Action (cutting on action)

This is where the editor cuts from one shot to another that matches the first shot's action. It looks as if they had been filmed all at the same time but in fact they may have actually been shot hours apart from each other. This creates continuity because it all flows well when edited together. To prevent the audience from noticing the editing the editor creates a “visual bridge” which is designed to distract them while watching so they are concentrating on something other than the editing.

• 30 degree rule

This is a simple rule that all film makers abide by. The camera shouldn’t go within 30 degrees between shots of the same subject occurring in succession. Failure to follow this rule a jump cut occurs which can distract viewers and make them concentrate on filming where they might notice editing as well. Exception can be made through; some films intend to do jump cuts to create a certain mood.

                                   

• Shot reveres shot

This is where one character is shown looking at someone else, and then the other character is shown looking back at the first character as if they are having a conversation.

                                              

• Rule of thirds

This is when the frame is cut up using 4 invisible lines creating 9 sections which create reference points which act as guides for framing the image. So you know where to place certain features.

Action Opening - Bourne Ultimatum

The Bourne Ultimatum

Immediately the scene starts and exciting suspenseful music is accompanied with diegetic train worker speaking over the radio as well as foreign police mens chaotic chatter. The closer the police get to this wanted man who is our main character the more the music rises in tempo. Lots of police sirens are heard suggesting that he is wanted very much by the authority of whatever country he is in. As he escapes the police sight momentarily he enters a pharmacy where he is crashing around, we hear him opening and slamming doors knocking bottles causing them to smash, all very diegetic giving us a sense of realism. All his actions are noisy and un careful suggesting he just wants to find want he needs as quick as possible and then move on. While aiding his own wounds music increases in tempo once again. We also hear him let out a shout in pain this is the first time we hear his voice. While he is reliving a memory the voices are echoed and muffled to make the audience aware that this is a flashback and not happening now. We hear very clearly the sound of the main characters fist  as it comes into contact with the policeman’s jaw, causing us to emphasise with how painful it was as well as the diegetic cocking of the gun again creating realism as we imagine ourselves being the other police man with a gun on us. Music halts as he gains power suggesting that the audience has nothing to worry about as he is now in control suggesting that we shouldn’t fear him. As we hear him speak once again it’s obvious he speaks English but has learnt this language making us wonder how long he has been there.

A wide variety of shots are used in this film’s opening to give the viewer the feel of seeing everything, getting every detail. Starting off with a close up shot of a man who seems to become who we a solely focus on making him our main character. The camera is not steady instead as if someone is running with it this creates what you would see if you were in that position, this is effective as the audience feel more connected to the scene. Many point of view shots are used showing us how he sees things. Low angle shot is used when he falls to the ground after jumping from the moving train this shows he is injured causing him to be vulnerable and easier to catch supposedly. Close ups of his face are used to identify his pain and hurt which is obvious through his facial expression. While he is in front of the mirror the camera focuses on his gun that he places in the sink, our immediate opinion is negative as we see him running from the authority as well as being armed suggesting he is dangerous. His hands are extremely bloody showing us that he is losing a lot of blood therefore must be injured. An interesting close up of the tap is shown this may represent the quality of the place he is in through the dripping tap or the rusting metal or it may have been a trigger to his flashback. Throughout his entire flashback the main shot used is a medium canted shot suggesting want he remembers is vague. From this anguish in his face after thinking about his memory it’s very clear to see this is causing him a lot of distress. Shot reverse shot is used between main character and the policeman he has at gun point. Ending shot in this opening is a medium shot of the main character lowering his gun.

Genre is very clear in the opening; it’s obvious that is action through the stereotypical props, characters and story line used. Guns are featured in every action film to create the image that whoever is in possession has power. The main characters clothing is all black giving nothing away about his personality leaving the audience to see him as an enigma. Stunts are used as he jumps from the train as well as fights and self surgery, majority of clichés are interpreted in this opening. Although some stereotypes are challenged, we see this through the police men being foreign we usually associate the baddies being foreign but in this case they are not.

Both the character and narrative is vague, this gives enough information to entice us but not too much giving the story away. Our main character is an earlier 30’s man who is wanted by the police. He is in a foreign country we know this from the policeman’s dialog, the audience wonder two things; why is he in that country and why are they after him. We assume he is a baddy seen as he is a wanted man, but as his flashback occurs it’s clear that he was being forced into something he doesn’t want to do we begin to emphasis. Finally it is confirmed that he is a good man as he doesn’t kill the policeman instead he states that, “My argument is not with you” showing that he is not a ruthless killer but only kills men who have wronged him.

Action opening- Hancock

Hancock 

Aerial shot of the highway with many police cars, already we know there is an incident, close up of the criminals inside the getaway car with their guns. Quick long shot of the police cars that are closely trailing behind building up suspense as if they are close to being caught. Camera swaps from the chaos to a medium shot of a homeless man on bench sleeping. Two shot of the homeless man and a young boy as he tries to wake him up, informing him about what’s happening as if he is supposed to do something. Shot of lots of telly’s showing the chase symbolising it is a major event.

Long shot of him flying up in the air destructing things in his path shows he isnt very considerate to his city. Extreme long shot as he zooms off into the city at a sonic speed surprising the audience. Hand held shot while he is flying throughout the recognizable skyscrapers.  Canted shots are used also both of these create realism giving you the view of what you would see if you were “Hancock”. Close up of him flying with his thumb in the top of his alcohol bottle as if spilling it at this moment would be disastrous. Birds flying at him showing the audience how high he is as well as adding to obstacles he is having to dodge; linking with the backing song.

Character we focus mainly on is the homeless man. As he is sleeping on the bench his body language is very open, his arms spread out, he is very relaxed as if he has nothing to be concerned about. We later see that he has powers of some kind therefore can protect himself against anything. As the child is talking to him he is very rude and tells him to go away making him far from a “super hero” who is supposed to be kind to the public. As he draws an alcohol bottle out from under the bench it’s obvious he has problems with liquor, the audience want to know why. Also he is rather obnoxious as we see him try to grope a lady, all signs point to him being an unorthodox super hero.

Action genre is all about car chases, guns, bad guys and destruction. All of which this opening contains making it your typical exciting action film.

Action music’s playing, the typical kind used to build suspense leading up to something, we can also we can hear police sirens and shouting in foreign fitting the stereotype of foreigners being the baddy. Bullets flying confirming the genre to be action as well as the car chase that is happening. Diegetic tires skidding around the road showing that they are putting up a fight to get away by going at very hasty speed.  Music suddenly stops as we are averted to a different situation, quiet, calm guitar music plays while we see a man sleeping on a public bench being hassled by a child. In the background diegetic news in playing about the highway chase that we just saw suggesting it is an event which has not yet been controlled. After he abruptly fly’s in the air an aggressive and rude song starts to play as he is swerving in and out of the buildings this could reflect him as a character; rude and aggressive. 

Action opening - Iron Man

Iron Man 

Our main character is the man in the expensive suit, he is holding whiskey showing authority and wealth, he makes a lot of jokes to break the ice, audience see that he is very likeable but self absorbed at the same time. Due to the soldiers asking him question and wanting pictures with him, he obviously owns something or has done something to remember. His importance is shown by the level of security within his transportation. His cool calm behaviour soon disappears as the attack begins, he seems panicked and un aware what to do suggesting he hasn’t been out in the field before, as its zooms in on the missile with his name on, we now know he is in the weaponry business, but something has gone wrong.

In the first 3 minutes it is very clear that this is an action film, as it contains many of the convections associated with the action genre: army vehicles, solders, guns, explosions and bullets flying.

At the beginning a heroic fun song starts, while the man power travels through the dessert. At first we think it is non diegetic but as scene goes inside the car we see that in fact it is diegetic. This song reflects the main characters mood. Music gets quieter as characters have a conversation. As scene changes dramatically music stops showing that the happy calm setting disappeared, an explosion and gunshots follows creating turmoil within the scene. High pitched sound occurs giving the audience a sense of what they would hear if they were in that situation creating realism. At the very end we hear muffled foreign voices suggesting that he was taken by people who attacked them.

Establishing shot of the desert with army vehicles approaching as well as armed men sticking out the top of the vehicle shows they are always aware that something may occur letting the audience know that something is likely to happen soon. High angle shot of the vehicles showing that the army is very powerful. Close up of a whisky glass which looks very out of place. Soldiers within the car are all looking inquisitive and scared towards the main character until he starts talking to try as break that barrier of silence between them. Mainly close up shots are used either on the person who is talking or on a person’s reaction. Two shots of them getting picture taken talking about peace and then an explosion happens, long shot of the explosion and then quickly back into the car showing the characters panic in trying to deal with the situation.

Long shot of a solider being shot and killed is very effective as it shows that they are in serious trouble here. Main characters point of view shot as the last solider has been killed causing audience to be empathetic with main character as he is alone, unarmed and defenceless.  As he gets out of the car and a start running the camera is uneven, meaning a hand held shot as well as interpreting canted shots symbolising the chaos. Close up of a missile that’s about to explode, we as the audience are on the edge of our seat at this point as we are waiting for it to explode. Last shot is a high angle panning out shot showing loneliness and vulnerability of the main character as he is lying on the ground injured.

Action Target Audience

Action Target Audience

Core target audience for an action film is young adults- male , they tend to see this with other men of similar age as watching a action is seen to “masculine” as they contains feature like car chases, fights and guns. Another reason for the majority of the audience to be male is action films contain mannish male actors who they aspire to be like as well as being interested in the female actors. Finally action offers an adrenaline rush which men strive for. They want people to think of them as manly men therefore they don’t watch a romance even if they secretly want to.