For the action target audience it would mostly be men from the age 16 - 40 because males who are teenagers love a good adrenaline burst so that they can feel hyped about the movie. This is used because when you are grow up you can get the adrenaline and it makes the audience feel like they can do anything. Action movies attract males as it is stereotypical for men to be attracted to violence films. There would be different types of races that watch action moves only because it is one of the most watched and biggest out of all of the genres.
Jason Statham is a good example for action movies this is because he is a the stereotypical man who is strong and seems like he doesn't want to be messed with. This would make male audiences want to watch because he knows how to fight and most males like violence because it gets their blood pumping and gives them adrenaline.
Things that would attract the action audience would be helicopters explosions, hand to hand combat, gunfights, adrenaline bursts and a main character who portrays a action hero very good.
In our movie we are trying to include hand to hand combat to make the film seem like it has more action in it and gives the audience more adrenaline for when they are watching. Also we will make it seem like we are in the mafia so that we can make the audience think that we are going to make it so that there is a good chance that the audience will think that there is going to be a lot of fight scenes and action.
You have done some good research but you need to push yourself to evidence more planning of your film. There are a lot of things you have yet to evidence - storyboarding, scripting and location research is lacking and I am expecting video diary posts to show me how the filming is going! Push yourself and delegate responsibilities within the group to meet your time deadline!
Prop Ideas:
There are lots of props which are going to be used in our movie. For our main character we are going to make him dress up like a action hero. So he/she would wear a black coat or suit and shades ( sun glasses) Shades (Sun Glasses) - The shades would be used to make him look like they mysterious and like they are trying to hide themselves so they don't know who their identity is.Suit: The main characters would be in a suit to make them look like real a hit-man, this also makes the audience think that they are being payed or working for someone. This also makes them look like they are trying to look like they are being serious. The main antagonist is going to wear a suit to make him look like he takes business very serious and is not to be messed with. The henchman is going to wear a waistcoat which is smart and black trousers so he looks like he is going into a fight.The main protagonist is going to wear a long black coat and trousers- we chose the main protagonist to wear a long black coat we want to make him look like he is a serious character. For example when the hero is at the beginning he is either wearing a coat or an army uniform.The secondary protagonist is going to wear a jacket, shirt and trousers and sick trainers. we want to make him look like a sidekick of the hero, so he is not as skilled as the hero, so he still learning from the hero. So he can't fight as good as the hero. The Head antagonist is going to be dressed in a suit like he is part of the mafia, he is also going to be sat behind a desk. This makes him look he is the head of the business.
Primary Protagonist (Luke): The main character in the opening scene, a calm and collected character who has an expertise in fighting through the training he received in the military. His role in the Puppeteers company is highly disputed as his constant disregard of the set rules and his natural leadership qualities leave him as a major concern for mutiny to the Puppeteer, his mysterious and relaxed nature is integral in his antisocial behaviour towards the other members of the corporation. We have chosen to make this character have these character traits as we believe that the antisocial and somewhat uncaring attitude can help the audience relate this character to others from the action genre due to the masculinity and strength shown in the characters personality.
Secondary Protagonist (Matt): The supposed partner to the main character in the opening scene, he in many ways contrasts the quiet and serious nature of the protagonist as his light-hearted and humorous approach helps lighten the somewhat atmosphere of the group. He is known to be somewhat clumsy and forgetful but is also known to be a great leader due to his vast charismatic skill and ability to talk to most people, also accompanied with his high skill in weaponry and tactics. We have chosen to give this personality to this character as more often or not in action films the main protagonist is contrasted through the secondary protagonist as direct opposites.
Primary Antagonist (Bill): The main antagonist of the opening scene; a power hungry and manipulative tyrant, a criminal mastermind in the streets of London who's cruel and abusive tactics have made him a feared adversary amongst the cities authorities. He is an upper class businessman who gave into insanity's grip as shown by his unquenchable blood-lust and enjoyment in others misfortune, his upper class but maniacal look helps add an ominous and slightly eerie look to this business tycoon. We have chosen to make the antagonist of the film possess these traits as we believe that these characteristics will give him an original and idealistic personality which people can immediately assume his villainous nature and link him with other antagonists from other action films.
Secondary Antagonist (Conor): A professional assassin; known throughout the corporation as one of the best in business, his no-nonsense and meticulous attitude to his work has acquired him a reputation amongst his peers as one not to be messed with. His headstrong and sadistic personality ensures that although many find his profession inhumane, he is known to often enjoy the thrill given to him through physical combat or dangerous stunts and enjoys the psychological torture in which he can inflict upon his opponents. We have chosen to give this character this no-nonsense attitude as we believe the professionalism portrayed from this character will help emphasize the characters intentions and easily separate him from the main protagonists and allow him to stand out amongst the other characters.
We have decided to make either a horror or an action film for our opening scene to a movie, for a horror movie we have a couple of different ideas including the use of a villain which we have decide will be either a murderer or some sort of paranormal entity which in some ways affects the main characters. The horror movie would incorporate some horror cliches such as the antagonistic values of a scary villain to help emphasize to the audience of the horror film values. For the action film we would use a hero and villain to emphasize the action stereotypes and would involve some sort of fight or chase scene.
Setting:
We have researched a variety of settings to showcase our opening scene including the use of our local train station during the night-time. We have also looked at st Peters Mortuary and West Parks mental hospital in Esher if we are using a paranormal entity as our main antagonist as its desolate portrayal and oldness showcasing on the various walls and floors present helps add atmosphere to the film. The mortuary and mental hospital are abandoned but are open to the public which allows us full access to any various needs we may require from the settings. For the action film we may use a wooded area to help add the mysteriousness needed in the plot and allows us to manipulate the environment with ease as their would be no limitations on that.
Characters:
In the opening scene we will have around 3-6 characters depending on whether the choice of antagonist is a murderer or paranormal entity which is central in the film. There will be a main protagonist and antagonist to the film and we may also feature some other characters to help bring support and realism to the film. The main character may be female as that can showcase the vulnerability of the main character if needed be, however the main characters role may change according to the setting of the film. In the action film we would use a hero and villain as the main characters but may also introduce other characters to smooth the narrative of the opening scene and allow it to seem more realistic.
For our preliminary task we were asked to film a short scene involving three types of shots including a match on action shot, a shot-reverse shot and the 180 degrees shot.
Strengths - In the filming of the scene we were able to establish to the audience of the setting of he scene and correlated the scenes geography well as our camera shots stuck to the 180 degrees rule, this ensured that the audience would not become disorientated and or confused of where the characters are positioned in the scene. In the scene we used a variety of different camera shots to help emphasize the scene to the audience. During the editing of the film we were able to ensure that we got a nice clean cut between shots for the majority of the scene which makes the scene more fluent and easier to watch. We also ensured to stick to the 30 degree rule whilst filming which helps set the narrative.
Weaknesses - In the scene some weaknesses were present, this includes the quality of the filming as whilst we were filming the camera slightly wobbled during the filming of the scene. Also in some parts of the film, some scenes were prolonged which may be classed as unprofessional as the scene may become more fluent if the scene is cut quicker. One of the cuts appears slightly jerky as the camera wasn't steady during the filming so this has become slightly more obvious when the film has been edited and the shots have been sequenced together. It is also apparent that the lighting between the many shots shown differs substantially which may make the film seem a lot less realistic to the audience.
We have set some targets for our film including: using a tripod to ensure that there is no camera wobble which will allow us to ensure the shot is stable and focused and during the editing process it would ensure that the film will run smoothly and add realism to the scene. We also would need to make sure that the lighting during the scenes is constant which will allow the film to seem more realistic to the audience and emphasizes the camera shots and the dialogue.
A shot reverse shot is usually portrayed in films during a conversation between two characters in the movie and normally involves the supposed characters looking at each other during the dialogue and this leads the audience to assume that they are looking at each other. You as the audience are supposed to see what the characters see in the scene as the camera revolves around the characters.
The shot reverse shot is usually depicted with an over the shoulder shot of each character to help emphasize the dialogue between them and the fact that they are supposedly talking to eachother. The 180 degree rule is often associated with this type of shot as it is essential in a film to ensure that the audience constantly understand where each character is positioned in the scene.
The 180 degree rule refers to the alignment of characters in accordance to another character or object when they are interacted with in the setting of the scene. It is imperative that the object being filmed is always in the center of the shot whilst the camera is required to face towards the object. Sometimes a break in the 180 degree rule is required to add effect to the scene being displayed, this may be used to create a lost feeling within a character which the audience can follow or for dramatic purposes if the story supports it.
The match on action shot refers to the films editing techniques in which the editor cuts from the original shot to another shot that matches the first shots actions. Match on action helps emphasize a continuity of time during the scene.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Opening Scene Analysis (Own Choice)
In the opening scene of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone non-diegetic music is used extensively to reflect the narratives of the story and contrast the magical and unknown elements of the storyline. The music is quiet, mysterious and relatively fast paced which helps engage the audience and emphasize the importance of the characters shown on screen. The music is used constantly with the opening scene as its gradual but effective tone creates the atmosphere for the movie and also helps emphasize to the audience of when a character of importance is introduced. We are also introduced to a variety of non-diegetic sounds which help emphasize the mysteriousness of the film and its elements which are still unknown to the audience. Diegetic sound is used in the dialogue between the two characters shown as their conversation helps reveal to the audience of who the main character is and it helps establish the setting of the beginning of the film.
An establishing shot is first used of the initial setting of Privet Drive, this establishes to the audience of where the narrative at the beginning of the film will take place and also allows the audience to relate this shot to their respective houses. A tracking shot follows the first character introduced to reveal to the audience the importance of this character and with help from the non-diegetic music allows them to infer that he has an important role in this movie. This is also present when the next character is present as the camera eventually becomes centered on and around a cat, this leads the audience to assume that this is also a main character. A two shot is used of Dumbledore and McGonagall to reveal to the audience of what the main character in the narrative is and they help show the audience of the characters origins and how he arrived at the desired setting. Their conversation also allows the introduction of a new character into the opening scene in which he is introduced through a variety of non-diegetic music and camera shots; although a tracking shot was primarily used to help infer to the audience of the speed at which the character is travelling. There is a constant use of close-ups revolving around the three original characters introduced which helps engage the audience more into the plot of the story as the characters become more personalized to the audience as their personalities and character traits are shown constantly throughout the opening scene of the movie. At the end of the opening scene we as the audience are introduced to the primary protagonist of the film and we assume this because of the camera shots he is involved in; which help contrast the innocence of a child to the somewhat dark atmosphere of the film. A close-up shot is used of the character to help emphasize the potential power of this character and the scar on his forehead suggests that he has been somewhat affected by another being in the setting.
The protagonist is introduced towards the end of the opening scene when Dumbledore labels him, the audience recognises that he is the main characters through the use of the dialogue between the other three characters present and the camera shots in which he is involved in. He is also the talking point of the conversation between Dumbledore and McGonagall as apparently he was involved in a tragic event which has left him with just a scar. We are also introduced to three other characters who we assume will have a integral role in terms of the main character as the camera shots they are involved in and the information we learn about them helps to personalize the characters to the audience and can allow the audience to relate the characters to other characters present in the specified genre.
The audience can see that the two characters presented in the beginning of the opening scene are wearing large colourful cloaks and large hats which helps to add the element of mystery to the characters and it allows the audience to infer why they are wearing the given clothing. This unusual clothing showcases to the audience the hidden elements of the supposed setting and emphasizes the narrative of the story to the audience.
The audience is constantly left with certain puzzles about the characters in the opening scene of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone about where the characters work as they often refer to eachother with a higher class term such as professor. The audience is also left with questions unanswered about the origins and events the boy introduced has been involved in and where he received the notable scar from.
Pirates of the Caribbean Curse of the Black Pearl Opening Scene Analysis (Own Choice)
Sound is very important within an adventure film as its constant use of ambiance and music helps set the mood of the audience and the atmosphere they receive at given points in the film. Diegetic sound is present through the entirety of the opening scene and is first used during the slow and poetic song being sang by a girl, the song is effective as it adds a sense of mystery into the opening scene as the song is strange and dark which helps set the tone of the opening scene. This is accompanied by the constant noises both the ship and the water create to help add realism into the film and allows the scene to be established to a higher degree. Diegetic sound is also present in the dialogue between the characters at the beginning of the opening scene as the dialogue reveals to the audience the setting of the film and the immediate danger that the characters are introduced in is typical of the adventure genre as it constantly keeps the audience engaged with those sort of tense moments. The dialogue is also essential in proclaiming to the audience the known relationships between the characters introduced and allows us to assume that the characters are of a higher class due to their various titles they label eachother with. The scene eventually develops a slow rhythmatic non-diegetic music to infer to the audience that there is only a matter of time before something will happen and as the scene progresses the music becomes more intense and fast paced and when accompanied with the vivid imagery and sound of a burning vessel helps emphasize the danger present and creates a tense atmosphere for the audience. Ambiance also features heavily within this opening scene as it helps reveal to the audience when something significant to the narrative of the film is shown and allows the scene to become more effective and immerses the audience more.
An establishing shot is used of the setting which in this case is a medieval vessel sailing on open ocean, this establishes to the audience on where the narrative of the movie will take place and allows us to assume that the ocean will play a major part in the story-line. Individual close-up shots are used to help introduce the characters to the audience, and helps personalize the character and their personality more. A two shot is used between Gibbs and Elizabeth to help inform the audience of the main feature of the film and helps establish the setting of the film and allows us to infer that these are two of the main characters. Afterwards an over the shoulder shot is used to help reveal to the audience the potential power each individual character presents with Norrington seeming far more dominant due to his clothing and dialogue. A two shot is used of Norrington and Captain Swan to help show their relevance to one of the supposed main characters of the film and helps show the relationship between these characters, helping personalize them to the audience more. A tracking shot is used after we are introduced to a young male character to help infer to the audience the importance of this character and helps engage them in the movie as it reveals to the audience that he has supposedly been involved in a pirate attack. When this character is introduced the audience assume he is one of the main characters as the camera focuses largely on him and the dialogue between him and Elizabeth is purposely short; this may be due to the emphatic use of profound information which informs the audience of the character but he is otherwise unknown in this opening scene which helps the audience assume that he is important in the film.
Two of the main characters are introduced in the opening scene as the audience are extensively shown the young girl and later on the young boy, The audience recognises that these are the main characters through the extensive use of camera shots centering around them and the dialogue involving the two which informs the audience of their supposed names and roles.We are also introduced to some important supporting cast as the majority of the dialogue in the opening scene involves a few of these characters including: Norrington, Captain Swan and Gibbs. These characters are introduced to help emphasize to the audience the realism of the film and also allows us to relate this movie to others of the genre.
The audience can see that the majority of the characters shown are wearing upper class uniforms which infers to the audience that these characters are relatively important in terms of the narratives hierarchy and allows us to contrast this to the supposed lower class styling of Will. This is typical of the genre as they usually depict a wide array of characters in terms of race, gender and backgrounds as it helps engage the audience more into the storyline as they can relate more to the characters as they eventually become more personalized during the scene.
Certain questions are left unanswered in the opening scene such as the origins of one of the main protagonists and what happened to the supposed merchant vessel and pirate ship after that night. The audience is left puzzled due to the relative amount of information on the so called pirate ship but this only emphasizes to the audience that the pirate ship shown will be of some relevance to the film as well as the characters shown. The audience will want to know what happens to the characters after the events shown on screen and this helps immerse the audience into the plot of the story and engages them in the characters portrayals.
Jurassic Park is introduced to the audience first by using a tracking shot of leaves rustling to help establish to the audience through the use of diegetic sound the type of creature they are dealing with. The shot doesn't seem to focus on a set character at the beginning which gives it a hint of mystery and keeps what we can assume to be the main antagonist a secret which is typical of the genre as they usually act upon this curiosity to help emphasize the antagonist to the audience and allows us to sympathize the characters on screen who are placed near it. The shot then eventually begins to center around a character and zooms in to help add effect and shows the audience the emotional status of those involved. As the scene develops we are introduced to a low angle panning shot of a steel crate which helps suggest to the audience that in some ways the creature located in the crate is more dominant then the characters portrayed in this scene. Afterwards we are introduced to a long shot of the steel crate and the supposed setting of the film which is established through the use of text at the bottom of the screen. A point of view shot is used of the creature to reveal to the audience the creatures sights and motives and the audience can then infer that this will be the main antagonist of the film as the camera has indirectly centered around the creature for the whole opening scene. The scene afterwards contrasts the antagonists power and dominance over the characters as shown earlier by the low angle shot as the creature shifts the so called 'gatekeepers' power as the high angle shot of him is replaced with a less personalized and eye level shot oh him being attacked.
A low pitched dramatic non-diegetic music is used in the opening credits to help set the atmosphere of the scene which follows and allows the audience to be become immersed into the characters situations quicker. Diegetic sound is used between the narrative events occurring on screen and the dialogue between the characters to help emphasize to the audience the power of the creature and allows them to relate the creature to others from a similar genre. The camera constantly focuses on those who emit sound on screen as it helps set the scene and brings a greater sense of realism into the setting and can allow the audience to relate the exotic location to a place they know of. The dialogue between the characters for the majority of the opening scene is minimal as that allows a primary focus to be on the antagonist and how it affects those around it. The diegetic sound of the monster is sharp and strong and this helps contrast the power that is represented in this scene as the characters are shown to take extreme precaution in handling the creature.
Some characters are introduced in the opening scene including the primary antagonist and a couple of secondary characters and this difference in importance to the plot line helps emphasize the antagonist and its influence to the audience. The audience recognizes that the main antagonist is present as the camera is mostly centered around the creature and the dialogue of the secondary characters present suggest that the creature is evil. The secondary characters present are all wearing the same blue workers uniform which infers to the audience that they are not of real importance but one character is centered more in terms of camera shots and he is wearing a hunter type outfit. His dialogue and uniform suggests that he has a leader like role and could be of more importance to the film then the others around him.
In the opening scene the audience would identify by looking at the mise-en-scene, certain symbols which are present to suggest to the audience the power of the antagonist; this includes the extensive precaution used to keep it restrained and the weapons which are present in the later stages show that it will be a problem later on in the film. This can make the audience feel like this is the primary setting of the film as the antagonist is situated here which may infer that the main characters are yet to be introduced to the audience.
Certain puzzles are used in the opening scene which primarily revolves around the antagonist present including: its origins of how it was created and where it currently is situated in the film. After the initial death scene of one of the secondary characters the audience wants to know what will happen to the creatureand the other characters which we have been introduced to.
The opening scene is introduced by portraying to the audience of whom the movie is made by which in this case is Paramount Pictures, this helps immerse the audience slightly as they may be able to relate this film to others made by this well known film company. Paramount Pictures is known to be very popular and this will help attract a wider range of audience and allows them to simply enjoy the movie more as it may make a more relaxed atmosphere as the audience have come to expect high quality entertainment for films by this company.
The scene is introduced with a panning shot in which the camera follows a feather until a city like landscape is shown, helping to establish the setting of the film and infers to the audience that the feather may play an influential role in helping to show the protagonist. The camera follows the feather for a prolonged amount of time to help show the audience the large scale of the setting and allows them to personalize the film in some ways as they may relate to the town shown on screen. Eventually the camera settles on and zooms into what we as the audience assume is the main character, judging on the camera shots he is involved in. As the tracking shot ends, it reveals to the audience that the main character is some sort of traveler, which reveals to the audience that the narrative may involve retracing individual aspects of his life.
Non-diegetic music is present throughout the opening scene of Forrest Gump as its joyous and bouncy style reflects the freedom of the feather in the wind and emphasizes to the audience the individuality and different aspects of each person and allows us to relate the main character presented to someone we may know. Diegetic sound is present as its subtle car and wind noises help add realism to the opening scene and helps show the audience the busy and loud life in these familiar cities, this helps the audience become more immersed into the film as they may see something similar to their everyday lives and this helps them relate and sympathize with the character presented.
The main character is introduced in the opening scene when the feather eventually goes into the possession of a man, the audience recognizes that this is the main character through the use of the camera angles becoming more centered around his character and how the narrative of the film revolves around him. The character seems to of had some sort of military training judging on the hairstyle he has and this helps the audience relate to him as thay may have experienced some sort of change in which they were required to travel for.
Certain questions are left unanswered for the audience as they are introduced to this main character such as puzzles about where he originates from and where he is traveling to due to the considerable;e amount of dirt and mud present on his shoes. Questions are left unanswered about where the protagonist is heading as he is situated at a bus stop, which may infer to the audience that he is unsure of his final destination and that he has been like this for a considerable amount of time.
The audience can see that the character is wearing formal clothing which may suggest to the audience that he either has a highly rated profession or is wealthy by over means. However he is also wearing a pair of muddy trainers which helps emphasize to the audience that he is a traveler and that
he may be treated poorly or judged by other people for reasons yet unknown to the audience.
Silver Linings Playbook Opening Scene Analysis (Romance)
From the beginning of the opening scene non-diegetic music is present in terms of a slow but sharp humming noise which suggests to the audience of a somewhat calm atmosphere during the current narrative. This later changes during the scene as non-diegetic music is used to reflect the content of his character and this slowly fades when we are introduced to a new character which we assume is the mum. This suggests to the audience that the male character may prefer to be alone and doesn't like others meddling with his life. Diegetic sound is presented to the audience through the dialogue between what we assume is the main character and some sort of doctor which may suggest to the audience that the character has some sort of psychological trouble. As the scene progresses a slightly quicker melody is played as the camera reveals a close-up of the character which suggests that the story-line is building up to something which may disturb the calm atmosphere based around the character.
The shot we are introduced to first is of the supposed main character, we assume it is the main character as the shot is centered around him and the slow dialogue suggests to us that he has some sort of relationship trouble and this helps personalize the character to the audience adding emphasis on the message he is saying. . Further into the scene there is a fast paced panning shot around the protagonist's face and followed by the camera tracking away from him which can infer that the character is often judged and or treated differently. This may be due to the psychological trouble he is going through as suggested by the mid-shot of him taking some sort of medication or the shot of the release papers shown towards the end of the opening scene. This shot is followed by a flurry of different camera shots which portray to the audience more about the characters personality as they may see him as an athletic but untrustworthy character. Afterwards a low-angle shot is used to capitalize on how this new character which is introduced is more dominant over him and as shown by the expression on his face when the camera zooms in, she is typically bad news for the character. The character is further demoted in terms of importance as suggested by the next camera shot which portrays the main character at the back which infers to the audience that the other two in front of him see themselves as more important helping further show to the audience the supposed dominance of the mothers character.
The audience is introduced immediately to the main character as told by the constant centering of the cameras on him and the short but effective narration and dialogue portrayed in his introduction. The character is shown to be quite head strong and leader like as he is shown to be quite individual and shown to stick to what he wants to do and in some ways cannot be trusted as he disobeys people. The character is shown to be optimistic as when there is a tracking shot of the word excelsior, it indirectly suggests to the audience that the character is trying to set things right as the word refers to being "ever upward". The character is portrayed into having some sort of psychological illness as suggested by the medication and hospital discharge papers. The character is also shown to be unsocial and slightly unhappy when around family e.g. his mother but becomes much more relaxed and contemporary when he has a friend present.
The audience can see that the character is wearing casual clothing, which suggests that although he is shown to have some sort of psychological problem he is also very individual and is allowed to express himself which can infer to the audience that he is quite a relaxed person due to his calm and careless appearance. The mother is introduced differently however as she is portrayed to wear an expensive looking and formal clothing which helps emphasize to the audience her distinctive snobby attitude and allows them to sympathize with the protagonist and enables them to relate these characters to others from another film.
The opening scene features a slight narration towards the beginning which helps contradict and contrast the music or dialogue shown. The main character is introduced and explains to the audience the problems in which he is facing and this helps the audience personalize the protagonist and allows them to become easily immersed into the film. The audience may then relate this film to others of the romance genre which also feature a narrative opening and enables them to compare the two.
The character is shown to be having some sort of relationship issue as suggested by the dialogue between himself and this is typical of a romance film as it is often shown that the main characters have to get through these troubles to achieve their happy ever after. The opening scene also features an over protective and snobby parent figure which we assume as the audience will act as an obstacle between the main characters as shown by similar films of the genre.
Sound is very important within a romance film as it allows the audience to become immersed in the many different situations put across in horror films and helps set the mood of the film and the atmosphere surrounding the characters seen on screen. In the opening scene of Titanic non-diegetic music is used to reflect the original narrative events of the story and the strong but dark portrayal of the song helps to contrast the inevitable doom of those on board the ship. The song is used to help emphasize the imagery shown behind it as it allows the audience to relate the shot of the passengers waving goodbye to the somewhat sad music, this in integral in the portrayal of the opening scene as it helps the audience relate these characters shown to the original event it was based off.
In the opening scene the first image we are shown is a panning shot of what we assume is the primary setting for the story as it establishes to the audience the significance of the ship and helps them infer what may happen in the narrative afterwards. After the initial establishment of the ship we are introduced to a point of view angle at what the people who are waving goodbye can witness; this is ironic in the grand scheme of things as these people are actually saying goodbye forever in the majority of cases. The film makers (Paramount Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox) are introduced in this shot as it helps contrast the dark and vintage imagery of the events unfolding on screen with something bright and eye catching, this may be used to help the audience relate this film to others of the genre or from the same companies. As the scene progresses we as the audience are shown many different images of those on the ship and this helps personalise even minor characters as the audience can contrast the happiness shown by these characters with the darkness of the ocean within the next shot.
Many secondary characters are introduced to the audience within the opening scene of Titanic; although they most likely won't hold any further significance it helps add a sense of realism to the movie as the wide array of different characters help add an atmosphere to the movie and allows the audience to easily become immersed into the events unfolding on screen. The audience can assume that these characters shown are secondary to the story-line as the camera shots are all from a distance which may prevent the audience from personalising those characters and allows them to easily gather who the main characters are when they are later introduced.
The audience can see that these secondary characters are wearing a variety of different clothing judging on their position on the boat. This shows the audience that there is a difference In class on the ship as there is characters who are situated on one side of the boat in suits and fancy dresses and on the other there is the more commercial shirt and trousers, this may infer to the audience that the stories main characters have to breach this class difference. This is typical of a romance film as it is often shown that the two main characters usually have to go through many obstacles to get together and so the audience may relate this fact to other movies as it allows them to predict what will happen in the narrative.
The opening scene of The Possession begins with a panning shot which establishes a particular character used in the setting of the scene to purvey across a supposed significant character to the audience. We can see that she is significant because the next shot we get of her character is a close-up to symbolize that she has an important role in the ongoing plot of the story. The character is shown to be somewhat frightened by an object in her possession; the wooden box in this case is also shown to be integral in the storyline as when the box is featured in a close-up audible mumbling can be heard. This may symbolize to the audience that this specific item may have some sort of paranormal power and relevance to what will happen next in the narrative. As the scene develops the character is shown to be aware of a key piece of information which the audience doesn't, this would explain her sudden change in behavior. The fact that a tracking shot is used on the hammer suggests that they want the audiences full attention on the item in question, as a audience member we presume that the hammer is in her hand for reason unbeknownst to people in the audience.
The sound which is used during the opening scene is a mixture of non-diegetic and diegetic sound which are layered over one another to help add structure to the scene and emphasis on what is happening. Diegetic sound is used during the scene extensively as it helps immerse the audience into the characters situation and by using simple but effective noises such as the characters distant footsteps allows the audience to relate more to this character which we have been introduced to in the opening scene as it gives a sense of realism to the film. A steady paced ticking of a clock is used to help build tension for the scene and makes the audience feel as in the character is on some sort of time limit, allowing the scene to become slightly more fast paced for the audience and adding emphasis on what is about to happen in the scene. As the music is generated by the music player it helps contrast the uncertainty and possible danger of the situation with a joyous and enjoyable tune which gets the audience to focus on the unknown; which in this case is the box and allows them to infer that it is in some ways dangerous to the character and allows the audience to link this unseen evil to other similar movies of the action genre. Non-diegetic sound is also used during the scene as it helps reflect the narrative of the story to the audience as they can hear a soft but calm mumbling which helps identify to the audience that the main antagonist in this film may be hidden from view or invisible all together.
A couple of characters are introduced in the opening scene, one in which is hidden from the audience which can be a typical involvement in a horror film as some sort of paranormal entity is often used to portray the antagonist and they are often associated with specific items or locations e.g. the box. On the contrary we are also introduced to an older women who the audience may recognize from the camera shots that she is in fact not a primary character in the film but also plays a key part in introducing the idea of the entity in the box to the audience.
The audience are left with certain questions being unanswered after the opening scene has concluded such as what actually is associated with the chosen box and how it was able to manipulate the other character. Some of the audience may pick out certain enigmas including puzzles such as the origins of this paranormal item and the extent of the power in which it possesses.
The most notable prop which is used during the opening scene of the Possession including the supposed paranormal box. This is typical in the horror genre as it helps show to the audience the antagonist of the film and how he affects and manipulates those around it, helping to show the audience what the narrative of the story involves and allows them to inferwhat may happen further on in the storyline.
In the opening scene noticeable cliches are seen including the use of a paranormal entity acting as the antagonist, the characters death or injury in the opening scene and the usually vulnerable and helpless character being attacked by the antagonist. This engages the audience as they can recognize and compare these features with other films of the horror genre and this can help them predict what is going to happen in the narrative of the story afterwards.
The Ring 2's opening scene begins by showing the audience the developers of the movie which in this case were Dreamworks, this shows the audience the quality of the movie should be high as Dreamworks are a well known film company and this may help bring this film publicity and viewers as they have experienced and enjoyed other films made by Dreamworks.
The opening scene begins with interchanging shots of a rough ocean and what we assume is the water from a lake as it is much more tranquil and less violent than the waves of the ocean before it; this directly infers to the audience that water may play a key part in the story henceforth and may play a pivotal role in what happens to the characters of the story. Afterwards we are shown an establishing shot of an industrialized housing community in which both skyscrapers and houses are present which helps show the audience the setting of the film and where the majority of the story will take place. A two shot is then used to introduce two characters and judging by their interactions of romance e.g. kissing they may be classed as a couple by the audience. A close-up shot is used to show the characters during these interactions and help the audience understand more about their characteristics and feelings for eachother. As we get further into the opening scene a variety of different shot types are used including a tracking shot when the male character who was introduced begins to move around the respective setting, a medium shot of his interactions on the phone and a mirrored shot where you can see the female character in the reflection of the television presented. All these shots are used to help the audience understand the severity of a seemingly harmless situation as the constant changing helps show the panic and unrest in one of the characters and suggests to the audience they he may be on some sort of deadline.
Non-diegetic music is used in the beginning of the opening scene as the soft but strong tune contrasts the imagery of the water and helps reflect the narrative events of the story and allows the audience to become much more immersed in the opening scene. The opening scene uses this sort of dramatic music to help create a tense atmosphere for the film and emphasizes the message that the water holds a great significance for the movie afterwards. Diegetic sound is used when the water is depicted and during the various dialogue between the two characters in the opening scene. The dialogue reveals to the audience the main item in the plot of the movie and also shows to the audience what it does to the possessor of the item. This shows that the genre generally revolves around some sort of paranormal or dark pattern in which the characters are placed into immediate danger and the audience may relate this to other movies in the genre.
Two characters are introduced during the opening scene of the ring 2 and they may be seen as a young couple in the audiences opinion due to their affectionate interactions and relevant closeness to eachother. However as the scene continues the audience recognizes that the male character may have more sinister plans for his companion as he seems quite forceful and selfish as he is willing to place her harms way to avoid some sort of punishment himself. The dialogue suggests that the male character is nervous and the frequency of camera shots and the movement his character makes suggests a severe anxiousness for his female companion to watch the tape. This suggests to the audience that the tape that is involved in this event between the main characters has a large significance in the film in general.
After the opening scene finishes it leaves the audience wondering on what actually happened to the two characters as after the tape is played some sort of malevolent being seems to attack the male character and this leaves questions on his whereabouts and what happened to the girl afterwards. The opening scene also includes a puzzle for those who haven't watched the first film as to what is the significance and effect of watching the tape.
In the opening scene the two characters introduced are wearing some pretty average clothes and this can reflect their naivety of the situation but also shows the audience that not even innocence escapes the evil within this film. The causality of the clothing they are wearing suggests to the audience that they are either very close friends or a couple; in which the audience may be able to relate as the majority of people watching horror movies may be at a similar age or relationship status. This is typical of the genre as horror movies are known to contrast good and evil and often evil is kept hidden from the audience to create suspense and thrills for those watching and also helping to add effect and structure to the story being told.
Noticeable cliches are used in the opening scene of The Ring 2 such as the fact that a minor character is killed off within the first five minutes to act as a sort of prologue for the upcoming events of the movie, the characters willingness to investigate a strange noise or the fact that there is an immediate threat at the start of the movie to help create a tense atmosphere and help create the mood and setting of the film.
A panning shot is used at the beginning of the opening scene of Insidious as it helps establish to the audience the primary setting of the film; which in this case is a family house, which can help the audience relate this films to others across the horror franchise. The panning shot starts of in a child's bedroom which helps contrast the tense and dark atmosphere by showing the audience innocence through the use of the boy and this helps the audience become directly immersed in the movie. As the camera continues around the supposed setting of the movie, it helps the audience relate this speck of innocence to the dark and gloomy surroundings helping to emphasize the difference between good and evil in the film. The camera then directly zooms into and follows a shadow of an entity until giving the audience a brief look at a ghostly figure; which the audience may feel as that this character is the primary antagonist in the film due to the darkness immersing the entity and the ghostly white face only illuminated by the candle the creature possesses. This helps the audience further differentiate the evil within the house to the possible victim shown allowing the audience to sympathize and relate to the child shown previously. It then cuts to a gradual title sequence in which many different still shots of different aspects of the house are shown in which it helps expand the individual setting from just the two rooms shown before to the whole house as the primary setting for the audience. This will help the movie connect more to the audience as it gives them a more personal viewpoint as they may relate the aspects of the house on screen to their own houses.
During the opening scene of Insidious, non-diegetic sound is used extensively to help add effect to help set the mood and atmosphere of the scene, this is integral to the effect of the film as sound is very important to have in a horror film. Non-diegetic music is used to reflect the narrative of the events unfolding on screen and helps add structure to the title sequence and opening scene as it creates a tense atmosphere around the high pitched and slow sounds. The music is high pitched and gradual and eases the audience into the tense atmosphere often generated by horror films, it helps contrast the dark imagery of the house and allows the audience to easily get immersed in the situation. The music gradually gets louder to help add emphasis on the different scenes getting presented during the title sequence and the many objects and shadows which move to help keep the paranormal feeling about the film.
Some of the main characters were introduced during the opening scene, but the audience are introduced separately to help add emphasis on the individuality of the characters and their own aspects of their personality. The boy is introduced at the very start of the scene; in the scene he is asleep which helps shows his innocence and inability to stop what may happen during the film. This shows to the audience that the child is one of the main characters as directly after the audience is introduced to him, they are also shown the primary antagonist of the film in which they can identify due to the close up camera angle on the beings face and the darkness surrounding the character like a cloak against the light and innocence. Towards the very end of the opening scene you get a glimpse of what the audience suppose is the primary protagonist as quite often in horror films the protagonist can be female as they attempt to protect those held dear to her. As this is often used in horror films, it helps the audience relate the film to other horror films with a female protagonist in the familiar genre.
The audience can see that the protagonists are wearing some sorts of pajamas during the opening scene which may infer to the audience that the majority of events which are due to happen in the film may occur at night; as this is often a theme associated with horror films. The shadowy figure is wearing some sort of black wedding dress which helps it blend into the darkness which helps emphasize to the audience that this being is hidden during the film. This is typical of the genre as they often shroud the malevolent being in darkness to help create the necessary and required atmosphere of a horror film as quite often or not the audience watching enjoys some sort of adrenaline rush or jump scare and so a darker being is more practical in providing those requirements.
After the opening scene the audience is left wondering what significance the evil being has on the family shown, as the child and the ghost are shown in many ways to contrast one another. Questions are left unanswered on what the significance of the antagonist is to this specific family and how it will affect them in the rest of the film. The audience would therefore want to know what will happen to the characters if the ghost gets involved; which as they would infer from other horror films that the ghost usually targets the more vulnerable characters such as the mum and child in this instance.
Noticeable cliches are used in the opening scene of Insidious such as the familiar setting of a family house in a horror film, or the use of some sort of paranormal being acting as the antagonist; these two aspects are often associated with a horror film and this familiarity amongst other horror films helps engage the audience to the events in the film and relate them to other movies from the horror genre.
The predominant audience for the romance film genre is young women or teenage girls around the age of 12-24 mainly due to the light-hearted nature of the film and the usual protagonist is normally a female, Couples often choose romance films as well as it creates a nice atmosphere and allows them to relate to what they see in the romance genre. Romance films are generally rated between 12-15 due to the content usually shown within the films. Romance films are generally associated with the female audience but the genre is not restricted to that as romance films usually have some sort of male audience watching as well.
The majority of those who watch romance films watch because of their common interest in the genre and they believe that the key aspects of a romance film is the relationship and romance between the main characters. Many also watch romance films due to its versatility as a genre as it is often manipulated and hybridized with other genres; mainly action or comedy which helps romance films gain a wider variety of audiences due to their respective interests or beliefs.
The audience for an action movie usually consists of a majority being male from ages of a wide variety, the primary audience for action movies would be teenagers or adults aged between 15-40 as they most likely would enjoy some sort of adrenaline burst generated from the movies wide expanse of action scenes. Most action films are rated around 12-15 as that is the normal certification given by the film board due to the usual inclusions of violence and gore. The action movie franchise is renowned for a diverse cast amongst its many films which we assume appeals to a wider variety of the audience. Action movies are watched most commonly by people from the middle class as they usually have the luxury of watching movies regularly and it is believed they like to see action films as they like to compare themselves to the protagonist of the action films.
The reoccurring themes in the genre reflect the audience and their interests as the people who are associated with and usually watch action films would watch the film due to these interests which feature in the majority of action films. This could be anything from the usual cliches such as the gunfire, car chases and explosions or just that familiar burst of adrenaline you get when you witness a truly epic action sequence. Or it could be the simple fact that the action movies usually incorporate other genres such as comedy or romance into the film to help it appeal to a wider audience and their interests.
Aimed at a female audience
main characters are introduced early in the film
a voice over is often used to introduce the romance theme
normally contains some sort of tragedy e.g. breakups, death of a family member etc
is often mixed with another film genre e.g. action to add effect and structure
protagonists usually get separated and then reunited
known for happy endings
involves the typical "boy meets girl" scene
main characters usually have to overcome obstacles to be with each other
What are you doing here? - Media Studies Production
Sound - Diegetic sound is used throughout the 9 second film sequence, as the task instructed we said the statement "what are you doing here?" in a variety of different environments using different camera angles.
Camera Angles - During the video we used an over the shoulder shot, a low angle shot and a high angle shot which allowed us to ensure we got a variety of different shots using the different camera angles and we as a group selected the best ones. The camera angles were effective as it gives the audience a different look and setting in each one used. However we could of improved by acquiring a wider array of different shot angle such as panning or close-ups and used them to emphasize the message of the video.
Software - we used the specified editing software Adobe Premier Elements 10 for the editing of our video as it was simple to use and allowed us to easily manipulate our video by cutting, adding and changing the videos we filmed, this allowed us as a group to select the three videos with the highest qualitity to be in our final video. We managed to incorporate a tital scene with the original three clips which helped add structure to the overall film. However it would of been ideal to understand more of Adobe Premier Elements so we could manipulate the film with a higher degree of versatility to edit the film.
Camera Type - for filming we used a GE Digital HD Video Camera DV1 which allowed us to capture all of the required footage which we needed, it was a small and practical camera which had high quality 720p resolution which helped us to achieve the best quality image possible with the equipment we possessed on the day of the filming. It was an easy to use, versatile piece of equipment with simple instructions on how to take optimal film and process information using the editing software; Adobe Premier 10. Some negatives however; include the fact that the camera was too small for a tripod and so the quality of the image could be distorted or slightly hindered with slight movement of the hand of the filmer. This made it difficult to keep the high standard which we would strive for throughout the entire filming sequence.
Location - During the filming sequence we had a set location which we permitted to use; this location happened to be anywhere we deemed necessary amongst our school grounds. As the task suggested we had to use a variety of different shots and so as a group we had to make use of the environment we were in to help take any specified camera shots. For example the last shot we took was filmed on top of an outdoor staircase to give us a high angle shot of the scene unfolding in front of the camera.
Fast and Furious Five Opening Scene Analysis (Action)
The main characters are introduced in the opening scene when the camera reveals the protagonist on a prison bus and the other primary characters are introduced through the oncoming group of cars. The audience recognises that they are the main characters through the use of the camera shots to help show the audience what happens next and what these characters are involved in.
The opening scene to fast and furious 5 establishes that the film is an action film by using recognizable codes and conventions. For example the film opens using an establishing shot of the setting which is a desert and implies to the audience that something is going to happen there. This is followed by a close up shot of the prisoners, this shows the audience that the action movie may include criminals. These character types are common in action films and helps the audience to relate the film to other action films across the genre. A tracking shots follows the action of the jailbreak in process to reveal to the audience the intentions of the primary characters and the main protagonist (Vin Diesel) this engages the audience because it immerses them in the situation due to the vast array of camera angles and shot types.
Sound is very important within an action film as both the diegetic and non-diegetic sounds help set the tone, mood and atmosphere. Diagetic sound is used in the sound of the cars and their respective engine noises, it reveals to the audience what the plans of the protagonists are. This shows that the action genre as a whole relies on diegetic sound more often or not within their many movie scenes but may also incorporate non-diegetic sounds such as music to add emphasis to what happens and increases the overall enjoyment of the audience
In an action film enigma codes are used to tease the audience and engage them in the narrative so they carry on watching the film. Certain enigma codes are used in the opening scene of fast and furious five such as what will happen to Vin Diesels character after the bus flips, leaving the audience with their questions unanswered.
The audience can see that the protagonist is wearing a prisoners outfit, this shows that the main character has obviously been involved in a sort of crime and if the audience follows the film series then they would understand why he is in this outfit. This is typical of a film in the action genre because the character is normally required in the genre to be in some ways tough to act as the main hero.
Noticeable cliches are used in the opening scene of fast and furious 5 such as the oncoming group of cars obviously going to do a prison break of some sorts to help the main character escape. This engages the audience as they recognise these features and can predict what is going to happen in the narrative of the film.
Jason Statham is a good example for action movies this is because he is a the stereotypical man who is strong and seems like he doesn't want to be messed with. This would make male audiences want to watch because he knows how to fight and most males like violence because it gets their blood pumping and gives them adrenaline.
