Peer Evaluation Feedback

In class we were each told to watch and evaluate our fellow classmates' film openings, then record our findings on a sheet. My film opening was evaluated by Romina, and this was the feedback I received:

Mise-en-scene: The costumes of the characters tell the audience that the time period is more middle aged as opposed to being made in modern times. The props are really good because they reflect the classy feel of the atmosphere.

Camerawork: I really liked the use of shots at the very start of the opening of glasses of wine, paintings on the wall and the bookcase, whilst the voice over is being played because I think they really set the scene and show the audience the calm and laid back atmosphere. I think as an improvement for the ending scene (when the murder has happened) as people are running into the room, a close up shot of each of the characters would've been really good to show the drama and how everyone responded to it.

Editing: I thought that the transitions and the music really brings the opening together. I really liked the sound you chose for the ending of the opening when the murder happens as it builds tension.

Sound: I liked the used of the calm piano music at the start whilst everyone is mingling because it creates a happy, calm mood until the murder happens and then the thriller-type music is introduced. I think this was a really good juxtaposition.

Reviewing my Footage

After getting the opportunity to gather all my cast members and find a location to film in, I finally managed to film my opening. Later on, however, whilst reviewing my footage, I had come to the realization that due to the fact that I had to be weary of time, unfortunately I discovered that I was missing some vital clips and shots for my opening. After panicking I needed to find a way to edit what I already had, in order to make it 'make sense' and tell the intended story. I debated whether or not I should go back and film certain parts which I really wanted to be included, however with the deadline only being a week away, I realized that it wouldn't be enough time. Editing was certainly a challenging experience at first, however after I added in a few transitions, some sound and a title sequence, I felt that it really brought it all together and was a nice finish.

Target Audience Profile

I think that my film opening will attract a target audience that's main interests would be reading, detective/crime drama type shows etc, and I believe that in order to attract this demographic I will have to use certain conventions that these kind of shows use. For example, a recurring theme which I have noticed in detective/crime drama films is that tension is always mainly built through the use of sound (for instance in television series 'Murder, She Wrote', once a murder has been committed, a deafening scream and low threatening music is always used almost as a signal to show disequilibrium has begun.)

Developing my Film Opening Ideas

Throughout the process of preparing to film my film opening, I have gone through periods when I felt that in order for my storyline to work and the course to run smoothley, I would have to change and develop a few of my ideas.

At the start of this task I had it in my head that I would base my opening on the films 'Pink Panther' (2006) and 'Clue' (1985). I aimed to have a cast of 8 (4 boys, 4 girls), with 3 couples, 'Kreviss' (protagonist) and a maid. However, as the days progressed, I realized that it was difficult to find boys who were dedicated and serious about the project. Therefore I decided to develop this idea and change the cast to an all female 'feminist' group. I found this to benefit me as fortunately I am surrounded by female friends who I can depend and count on with a task like this. I believe this change will really help me for filming in the future and at the same time contribute to the comedy genre.

Todorov Research

Todorov in 1969 produced a theory which he believed to be able to be applied to any film. He believed that all films followed the same narrative pattern. They all went through stages called the equilibrium, disequilibrium, equilibrium.

There are five stages the narrative can progress through:

1. A state of equilibrium (A calm state, all is as it should be.)

2. A disruption of that order by an event.

3. A recognition that the disorder has occurred.

4. An attempt to repair the damage of the disruption.

5. A return or restoration of a NEW equilibrium

 

For example, a film that follows these steps perfectly is Die Hard:

1. John McClane (Bruce Willis) is coming home to his family for Christmas and all is calm. (The equilibrium)

2. Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) and his team of terrorists take over the nakatomi building which is hosting a Christmas part of which McClane and his wife are attending.

3. (Two points of recognition) McClane isn't in the room when the terrorsits storm in so is able to move up the builiding when he hears screaming. People outside of the building realise there's a disruption when a police man's car is shot at from the building.

4. The police try sending in a SWAT team in which fails. The situation is solved by John McClane throwing Gruber out of a high floor window which kills him.

5. The equilibrium is restored when the police got McClane, his wife and the other hostages out of the building, and the McClanes leave in a police car.

 

 

 

What is a Film Opening?

In my opinion, the main purpose of a film opening is to grab and hook the audience, and to set the mood for the rest of the film. The most important thing that the opening of a film must accomplish is to establish a tone so that the audience fall into the same mood as the film they are watching. It's also important to make sure that the opening is dynamic as well. If this scene is only one long, dragged out, recurring shot, then the audience doesn’t become engaged with the characters or the story. The way a film is created within the first few minutes is vital and by using the visual and sound, the director is able to create an opening that will leave the audience wanting more, therefore staying to watch the rest of  the film.

An example one of my favourite film openings would be horror film 'Stephen King's, IT" (1990). The film begins with a shot of a young girl riding her bike around a gloomy neighbourhood, whilst singing 'Itsy Bitsy Spider' (emphasizing the fact that she is a very young girl.) After her mother warns her to return to the house due to the terrible weather, she slowly walks up to the pathway and comes to a halt after she sees a doll laying in front of her. After she picks it up, she suddenly hears a creepy and threatening laugh coming from behind the clothes which her mother had laid outside to dry. Soon after, she witnesses a odd looking clown, who's peeking from behind the clothes, trying to get her attention. The whole atmosphere created is very eery and unsettling, and this is shown mainly through the music non diegetic music used, which is 'circus-inspired'. The camera then stays fixated on the worried little girls' face and slowly tracks closer and closer to her, followed by a blackout. The audience eventually discover that this clown is in fact a serial murderer who targets young children. I find this film opening very interesting because it manages to set the mood of the rest of the film. It starts off with a high, therefore the audience are somewhat prepared and intrigued to see what happens next.