Who's who in the opening titles...

As i'm thinking about putting together my footage, just been reading up on opening titles. It seems there is certainly a convention to follow, especially in regards to who is included in the opening titles.

Here's the material:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opening_credits

Anton Corbijn

I've been reading up on the director and photographer Anton Corbijn. He's well known for his monochrome style and well chosen bleak shooting locations. He directed 'Control' and has photographed 'Joy Division' and 'U2' amongst many others.

Here are the articles I've been reading.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Corbijn

http://www.timeout.com/film/features/show-feature/3522/anton-corbijn-interview.html

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/10/01/anton-corbijn-talks-ian-curtis-biopic-control-using-killers-track-in-film

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http://www.indielondon.co.uk/Film-Review/control-anton-corbijn-interview

He seems to talk a lot about his B & W style as characteristic of the period and it's very much in keeping with the mood and the band itself at the time.

This is an example of his music photography. It's a picture of Elvis Costello and I think the whole effect (including lighting, the B & W and the composition) really encapsulate the 'rock 'n' roll' lifestyle.

I think I could recreate this in my film by using low-key lighting and then converting the footage into B & W when I'm editing.

This is a still taken from 'Control.' It clearly shows how effective a choice of location can be, and also how dramatic a setting can become in B & W. Iconic telephone box. Grimey brick wall. It's all there. All representations of the British North. The northern location and the terrace houses are all symbolic of the grey area of the north.

Here are a few shots I took whilst out on location, set to some musical ideas I've got for the soundtrack.

I really like the interesting architecture around the forum, especially the St. Peter Mancroft church. The lighting will work really well, and I think the Gothic style reflects the character well.

The lighting around the market and the lonely corridors will work really well and are characteristic of the Film Noir style.

The street lamps in Chapelfield Gardens is ideal, and the colourful underpass contrasts the character and will come out nicely in Black and White.

Audience Research

Finally! It's finished!

My Ideas So Far

I'm still deciding on some of the details of my opening. I have, however, come up with some shots I think would be effective. These have been storyboarded, and I will upload that when it's finish. For now, I'm just going to blog my shot descriptions to show some progress.

Opens to credits. Names of actors and other key production credits appear white on a black background, slowly fading in. Music begins. Quiet piano chords.

A black screen is suddenly lit from the spark of a cigarette lighter, briefly illuminating the face of main character (Alex.) This repeats. The lighter sparks again, igniting this time.

Close up of lighter lighting a small candle creating a small pool of light, illuminating a small collection of items (blurry photographs, rough sketches.) This hints of a life before the events of the film, intriguing the viewer.

Pan shot of the entire room. Messy. Shady. Lit by several more pools of candlelight. Camera pans slowly around, eventually reaching the main character. He is sitting before a large window. Roughly lit by street lamps from outside and candle light. His face remains hidden.

Close-up of mobile phone. It reads 'No Messages.'

Shadow of Alex pulling on a jacket is projected onto a wall in flickering candle light.

Close-up of hand pulling large front door open, and feet leaving.

Shot through door viewer of Alex back, walking away from the house.

Shot of the Forum, and skyline. Alex walks into the frame and stops, looking at the building as the title slowly fades into the skyline and music reaches a slight crescendo.

Close-up of Alex's face, shaded by a hood, but partially visible in the light coming from the building.

That's as far as I've got. There are some OK shots in there. I know my character is heading somewhere, not quite sure where though. Suggestions welcome. Hoping lighting, music and mise-en-scene will establish the mood. This is only outlines the general direction of the opening. Additional shots and changes are bound to happen on the day.

My Ideal Audience

Just a 25 (ish) word statement which personifies my idea of the ideal audience for my work.

"Jack is sixteen. When he's not at a party or trying to get served at the pub, he likes modern art, pondering life, and watching Skins."

Preliminary Task

I've done my Preliminary short piece of film. It's nothing amazing but it has to be there.

Questions, Questions...

I've come up with a few questions for my audience research which I hope will give me relevant feedback and advice when it comes to my work.

1) Can you think of any iconic film openings? What do you like about them?

2) Is there anything that you would consider particularly important in a film opening?

3) Would you prefer to be thrown straight into the action, or a more gentle start? Why?

4) Would you consider visuals, or dialogue more important in the opening scene of a film?

5)Do you think filming in black and white would be too strong?

I've already got some responses on tape and hopefully many more to come.

Black and White?

I've had the idea of filming my opening entirely in black and white, hoping to emulate the effct of my key influence 'Control.' I think this would create a good atmosphere, would help to emphasise any interesting lighting and imediately give the piece an edge.



This is an example of the kind of effect I want.


Here are a few articles I've read and think will be helpful.

http://cybercollege.com/tvp027.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-key_lighting

Mood Board

Just a few pictures of characters etc that I think create the right mood... I used InDesign to arange the pictures.

One More of My Favourite Openings...

Napoleon Dynamite! This is a film you may not have seen. It's a Teen Comedy based around the bizarre and hilarious life of mega-nerd 'Napoleon.' Well worth a watch if you haven't seen it already.

I'm not doing any specific textual analysis, more just pointing out key themes and ideas that stuck out for me when watching this film opening.



This may well be the most creative title sequence I have ever seen. Its hypnotising!! The clever thing is, it not just nice to watch. It gives you all the relevant information you need at this point in the film. We get some hints about the main character by being presented with his student card, the contents of his wallet, and a few other objects typically associated with a 'nerdy' character. A sense of the tone and the Comedy genre is clearly established through the use of music, and the ever more obscene variety meals, drawings, and other random objects placed in front of us. Clearly, the story is told purely through visuals, not dialogue. This is a common theme I seem to see a lot of throughout my research. It seems to me that the main challenge of making an opening would be to incorporate the necessary information, whilst remaining subtle (ie not just telling the audience everything through dialogue.)

Brainstorming Characters and Ideas

Here is a short brainstorm I came up within todays lesson. It just briefly summarises some of my ideas at this early stage. I already have a strong idea of a character and many of the settings. I even have idea for what i want the mise-en-scene to look like... I just need to figure out a plot and I'll be ready to make some storyboards!!

Action Plan!

Preliminary Task
This consists of a short continuity task consisting of a short sequence of shots and a breif dialogue. This will demonstrate the basic skills involved with film production.

Task One - Film Research

Further research into other film openings. Analysis of some of the more effective examples including breaking down the camerawork, title sequence, mise-en-scene and so on...

Task Two - Audience Research

Audience research. This will include deciding on my target audience, and carrying out various research tasks within that sector. I should also discuss and get feedback on my own ideas.

Task 3 - Planning

I will have to create a pitch for my film idea to summarise it's appeal and central concepts. I will have to consider my own film script and complete it before I can shoot. Following this I need to decide on locations and photograph them before shooting, as well as creating mood boards and storyboards for my ideas. I will also spend some time composing and recording my soundtrack, noting any ideas or changes in relation to that.

All of these tasks must be documented on my blog, including use of Soundcloud and Youtube to present my work.

By half term I would hope to have the majority, if not all, of my audience research and film research done. Ideally I would also like to have completed the Preliminary Task. This would leave me the following 6 weeks to shoot and then edit my work.

My Favourites

Here are three of my favourite openings of all time. Two film, and one television.


The Shining

I meant to present this in class on Monday, but forgot the DVD (oops!) I really think this is truly a testament to the camerawork this film is so well known for. The tracking shot through such a amazing location works perfectly. The audience is immediately filled with a deep sense of isolation and dread. Something bad is going to happen!



There Will Be Blood

One of my favourite films ever! I do go on about it, but this opening is one of the most amazing pieces of acting I've seen in a long time. Daniel Day-Lewis enthralls you. Throughout the whole opening, he never utters a word. The audience is left just to watch. No words, no music, just an amazing location and a truly brilliant actor. Well worth a watch.



Skins: Series 3

I, like many teens, was somewhat anxious about this series. New characters? When the old ones were so awesome? Well, needless to say, this opening left a lasting impression. We meet Freddy, one of the most important characters. The camera track his as he skates down a hill, initially just following his feet, and then moving into a more complex action sequence. The tracking shots are perfect whilst he is skateboarding down, and the sequence of action is so well shot. Whatever your feelings about the new characters, you have to admit that this is a brilliant opening.

Overall, I would say it's clear, pictures speak louder than words in this case. I'm hoping to concentrate as much as possible on visuals, and try not to get tangled up with dialogue.

Openings: Initial Research

In our first lesson with Mr Cole, we watched a variety of openings. Here is what I noticed, in a couple of lines.

Trainspotting

Hard hitting. We are very quickly introduced to the central group of characters and their lifestyle. Drugs are established as a key theme of the film, and the central issue of quitting is raised.

London to Brighton

Again, we meet the central character and we quickly understand the relationship between them. We also get an idea of what the main issue of the piece is, and a general idea of whats going to happen.

Breakfast Club

Upbeat. Introducing the group of friends and we are given a general idea of their personality (ie. which stereotype they fit into) a bit about their background, and the issue that ties them together.

In general, it would seem an opening has to introduce characters, and give the audience some idea of what they can expect throughout the course of them film. A general mood is clearly established from the start, normally by music and mise-en-scene.

Opening Music

One of the key features of my opening is the music. I think it contributes to the mood greatly. I've already started work on my soundtrack and I'm hoping it will help to inspire me when thinking about the film itself.

This is only an initial idea. Any comments of critisism would be greatly recieved!

I used the 'Ableton Live' music software for recording, alongside my 'X Station' synthesizer and 'Novation Launchpad' mixer.

Here's the audio, linked from my Soundcloud account.

Bliss Excess by Carskol Blue Division

Film Pitch

Excess is the story of a teen off the rails. Isolated, addicted and alone, something has to change. Visually interesting, and with an established mood, the viewer is transported into the world of this teenage outcast. When all else fails, help comes from an unlikely source.

Brainstorming

1) What do you want to achieve by completing the practical work?

I want to create a visually interesting and memorable piece.

2) Do you want to work individually, or as a pair?

I would prefer to work individually. This is because I would prefer to have a more complete control of my own work. Opinions of other will, however, be needed.

3) Give an example of a statement you would like to receive following completion of your work?

I would like the audience to notice clear attention to the visual look of the piece. Whether this is in regards to colour schemes and layouts within a magazine, or Mise-en-scene within a Film opening.

This piece shows a detailed and interesting Mise-en-scene, especially in regards to camerawork and colour schemes. The piece is visual interesting and clearly establishes itself as a film-opening.

Initial Response:

I feel that both options provide a lot of scope to produce a decent piece. My initial thought is that I may find it easier to take the Print option. However, I also think that there is a lot more potential to gain the higher marks in the Film option. At this point in time, it seems likely that I will take the film option.

Example Material:

Video-

1) I would give the piece at least a level three (45/60). I like how they used sound to build up an atmosphere, and the good use of editing. I thought there could be more attention paid to Mise-en-scene, and possibly a greater variety of shots.

2) I would give this piece a Level 2 (34/60). There was a variety of camera angles, and the choice of costume and props was appropriate. I felt, however, that the piece didn't address the task at hand in that it didn't seem like a openning. I felt also that much of sound used didn't match, or wasn't appropriate to the piece.

Print-

1) I would give this piece a low Level 3 (38/60). I think that the doube page spread seems proficient, perticularly the use of images and choice of colour. The rest of the piece, however, often seems cluttered and the colour are innapropriate.

2) I would give this piece a low Level 4 (50/60). I thought the use of pictures was good. They were presented in a variety of ways. The layout and colour used on the front page, and double page spread was good. I thought the contents page let the piece down slightly, especially in regards to choice of colour.

3) I think this recieved a high mark due to a good balance between lots of content, and not being crowded. The colour sceme is well chosen, and there is evidence of a house style. Pictures are visually interesting and varied.

My Own Work:

I am planning to continue off from my trailer, taking the character and ideas from that, and adapting it to fit an openning.

Cover Work!

Media Convergence

3) Magazines began releasing publications in a variety of formats. From the mid 1990s, publications were available not only thorough paper format, but PDF, CD-ROM and Websites. Post-millennium, media groups began moving into television, radio, and even mobile phone formats. New, online-only magazines began to be created.

IPC Media Questions:

1) Time Inc.

2) Time, People, and entertainment weekly magazines. Merged with Warner Communications, owners of Warner Bros. and Warner Music.

3) IPC is one of the largest UK publishing companies, and would provide an easy way for Time inc. to gain a foothold in the UK market, and provide a platform for growth beyond the US. It has a very large portfolio of very well established titles, spanning several different interest groups making the company highly profitable and in an incredibly stable position economically.

4) Large corporations generally dominate whatever market they are in, making it very difficult for smaller brands to establish themselves, or even survive within the market. Larger companies will generally take the most sought after advertisement and custom from smaller publishers, limiting their revenue. For consumers, corporations may well charge more, or offer a less personal service than that of a smaller publisher. If the market is dominated by one creative force, there may be a more limited choice in terms of publishers and content.

Filming!

First on location filming! On Friday night, me and two friends braved the bitter cold and mean streets of Chapelfield to film my first masterpiece!!

Excess is the story of a teenager on the edge. Partying too hard, staying out too late; he's a mess. Inspired by Skins and Control, you can expect to see much of the familiar party teen steriotype.

Filming went well, but then, DISTASTER! Having taken some brilliant shots the night before, i decided to round off filming the following morning. In my stupidity, i forgot to rewind the tape, thus taping over some of my best and most important shots with no time to reshoot!!
Hopefully I can pull together a trailer with what is left over!