AS media students film openings

Student film openings

I looked on to youtube to look at other film openings that have been uploaded by other students that have taken this course.

Whilst watching this clip I focused on their use of mise en scene, camera movements, editing and sound.

I have chosen this clip to analyse because I think the genre fits well with the genre we will choose for our opening sequence. 

Firstly, I like how they emphasized the breathing of the man, I think that this created a more panicked atmospheric effect. 

Also I think the mise-en-scene was made very well with the low key natural lighting and the bland walls with the blood gives the surroundings a more dangerous vibe. 

The editing at the begging with the clock in the eye was very effective. The fact that it just started with that gave us the audience little information however it was still intriguing and would want the audience to keep watching because they would want to find out the relevance of the clock. Therefore, this makes me think that enigmas would be very good to use in our opening sequences so hopefully it will make audience more intrigued in our piece like this opening sequence has done for me. 

Match on Action

Match on action refers to the editing technique for continuity editing.

By having a subject start to make an action in one shot and carry it through to completion in the next, the director creates a visual bridge which distracts the viewer from noticing the cut or any slight continuity errors between the two shots.

Art of the Title

Art of the Title 

The shining 

 

Personally, I think that The Shining deserves a lot of credit for it's opening/ art of the title. I think that the composition of the music used fits perfectly well with the genre of the horror/ thriller movie. It creates an eerie atmosphere and yet it is visually deceptively simple. 

Mise en scene

Mise-en-scene

In my theory lesson today I learned about Mise-en-scene, which refers to the visual theme and everything that is seen on the film including stage design and cinematography.

One key aspect of Mise-en-scene is setting and props. It is important to visually show the connotation of the setting and it can also manipulate the audience by creating specific expectations and then spontaneously taking a different turn. Making film sets can be very time-consuming but it can be very convenient if the setting already exists if it's being filmed in a more mundane realistic place e.g a generic park or street.


Another important aspect of Mise-en-scene is costume, hair and make up. This is important because it is a visual signifier that could portray the character's personality, status and role in society. Costume and make up is especially important because these can instantly be a signifier for people which the audience can recognize quickly. For example:

 How 'The Joker' from Batman has distinct make up around the eyes and mouth which is instantly recognizable even in the most sparse portraits. 

























Facial expression and body language also has a very significant part to play in Mise-en-scene. These can be easily denoted by the audience and can be an indicator or how a character is feeling.

 For example, in this picture the man has his arms crossed which could suggest that he is feeling closed off to others and is not approachable. His facial expression also represents sadness. His body language is also hunched over and he is leaning on something which could suggest that he is tired or could reinforce the sadness emotion.  

However, in contrast, this man is showing a happy facial expression which portrays him as a light-hearted character at this moment in time. His body language is also relaxed which shows that he is in a comfortable situation.



Positioning of character and objects is an important part of Mise-en-scene as well. It can direct the audience's attention to a certain object or obvious distance between two characters. 

In this image the distance between the character's are very close. This shows that the characters are close and that they are both fighting together. 

Camera movements

Camera Movements 


Deep Focus
Deep focus is a technique of cinematography and staging which uses a great depth of field. This shot is usually composed using  relatively wide angle lenses and small lense aperture to create a sharp focus with the close and distance subjects simultaneously. This shot includes the foreground, middle-ground and extreme background objects, which are all in focus.

Establishing Shot

Is a a long shot at the start of a sequence that shows the location from a distance, it is usually an aerial shot. It is intended to help identify and orient the location and also to show the relationship between the characters and location.

Hand-held shot

It is a shot when the cameraman/ women holds the camera instead of using a tripod and moves though space whilst filming. And then this is used because it makes the audience feel like the scene is more realistic and makes the audience feel involved. The film Paranomal Activity is a great exmple of using this shot since it's used throughout the film. 

Head-on Shot

a head on shot is when the character is moving towards the audience it intensifies the scene and enhances the audiences excitement and involvement. 

High Angle

A high angle shot is when the camera is above the subjects in the shot. This is used to demean the subject and make them seem, smaller, vulnerable and powerless. 

Long Shot

Is from a distance a long way away from where the subject is. The effect of this shot is to establish the relationship between the character and surroundings. 

  

Camera angles

Camera Angles

Big/Extreme close up

Big/Extreme close up is used to show the facial expression clearly. It can also be used to increase intensity. The eyes are very visible and they are considered to be ‘the windows to the soul’ therefore, we get a more in-depth view of the character/person.

Close up

This angle may be used to identify the character and what they’re thinking and feeling. It is commonly used in the romantic genre.

Medium Close Up 

This shot can be used to put the character into context because some of the location/surrounding is also visible. It also shows some of what the character is wearing.

Mid shot

This angle is usually used in a dramatic genre. It makes the surroundings even clearer and if a prop is being used then it is usually revealed in this shot.

Medium Long Shot

This shot usually alternates with a mid shot. At this angle the viewers get to see the body posture that the character has. However, it doesn’t show the whole of the character yet but more of the background is revealed.

Long shot/wide shot

This shot is usually used at the beginning of a film/video. The whole of the character is shown therefore, we see every part of the person and from this we can deduct things about them for example what their clothes say about them, their body posture and how far away they might be from any other characters.

Two shot

In this shot between two character the viewer’s are able to see who is more prominent and the type of relationship that is being portrayed between them. It also introduces another character.

Three shot

This shot is between three characters and like the two shot the viewer's are able to see clearly the dialog that is being shared within the group.  

High angle shot

A high angle shot is used to make the character look smaller and vulnerable. This makes the character seem more submissive and also removes the significance of the character. 

Low angle shot 

A low angle shot is when the camera is looking up to the character. This intensely makes them seem more significant and also makes them seem more dominant and threatening.

Over the shoulder 

An over the shoulder shot is used to see the dialog that is being exchanged between the two characters. It also allows the audience to see the facial expression and the reaction to the other character.