Codes and Conventions - understanding of thriller conventions, credit structure and what to expect from a film opening.
At the start, I've only just watched films without really realizing the convention only being able to interpret the meaning from it. After learning in class and knowing about conventions, I start to recognize the convention and by watching many thriller movie clips it develops my understanding of thriller convention. For example, after watching the opening for Women in black, I've identified that the key expectation of the audience is that the tone of the film is established.
What we then apply to our film opening is that we set the tone of our film by using music that sounded magical creates a sense of mystery. What we then apply to our film opening is that we set the tone of our film by using music that sounded magical but at the same time creates a feeling of suspense and a sense of thrill. We also kept the idea of the sound of a music box, because it is often used in thriller or horror movies as a convention for creating tension and the feeling of uncanny. As the music suggest the idea of something is going on but you don't know when it will end.
Planning & Organisation - ability to organise actors, locations, props for a efficient and effective film shoot. Ability to hit deadlines.
The first time we went out to film, we did plan out before hand but we wasn't as prepared as the second time we went to film. The reason being the second time we're able to bring equipment that was needed on the first went out. Also, it was the first time for me to go out and shoot a film therefore I didn't really know what to bring. This was improved by communication between me and Nana, we made the aim clear and list down equipment needed.
To conclude that by learning through mistake, we found that having to short list equipment needed or the aim before heading out to film is an important thing to do in order to make it effective.
Camera Work - confidence in building composition and using different shot types.
Taking photograph is one of my hobbies, therefore I have some level of knowledge in the composition of objects. However, I've noticed that in a cinematic composition of characters are much more complex and there are certain rules to follow, which I wasn't aware of. After studying films, I've gained more knowledge on camera angel and how to make use of them.
One thing that I've learned is that meaning can be created by using different shot types - for instance, a birds eye shot that we included near the end of our opening, is to establish the feeling of isolated of casper which couldn't be portrayed just through a shot from DSLR camera.
Moreover, a technique we included in the short siding that was used by David Fincher. We used it in the near the start of the opening, to emphasis the idea of the character being isolated from the surrounding.
Visual effects - realizing ideas using digital software, using credits in an interesting way.
I wasn't familiar with the program like after effect and premier pro, I've only heard of it and watched a few tutorials. However, through the course work, I've downloaded the programs and starting to spend time practically making animations. Which made me gain more understanding on how the program works and some special effects you could do with these programs.
By following the tutorials that I've search on YouTube for our film opening animation, I've learned that to create an animation involve a fairly large amount of time and effort. As you need to consider when to set the keyframe and learn about what you could do with setting keyframe. The things that I've taken out of the making process, the order of the layer is very important and that setting the timing of the keyframe that fits with your animation. The progress I made, is that by doing this I start to understand the basic, making it easier to follow the youtube video.
One thing I've learned is that before you start any tutorial, make sure to check if they provide any component or any download that you will need to make the tutorials. Or else it will be a waste of time when you reach the point that requires that specific tools and you don't have it.
Editing - making meaning through editing. Making the narrative sense for the audience
At the start of the course, my knowledge on editing wasn't as detailed compared to now. The reason being, by learning the course, I've understood that meaning can be created through editing. If you want to emphasis an importance detail to your audience, you often give a much longer screen time. For example in our opening, we wanted to convey the idea of the character feels lonely and wanted interaction as we editing a long screen time when the boy is holding the toy like a precious treasure.
I've learned to identify some editing techniques and made use of it for our rough cut, such as match on action. We also included this in our film opening when the character is climbing the stairs.
Our initial editing sequence is following our storyboard. After getting some reviews back on our rough cut we had to add and remove scene, which changed the editing around. I've understood that we need to plan out our clips sequence in order to let the audience make sense of the storyline. One of the feedback was that the scene where the boy is tying the sticks together the screen time was too long, it loses it's meaning, therefore, we then cut down the screen time.
Creative confidence - thinking of interesting ideas and making them happen.
I've took IGCSE Drama as a subject, which I've gain some understanding of possible composition and scene you could use to illustrate meaning. However, getting to watch and analyze film that are more similar to my film opening combining with my further understanding of convention and camera work, I think I've develop in the creative part of producing interesting scene and are more able to create meaning through cinematography.
Also, it is the first time I've get to produced a film opening. I've learn how do research on ideas and to contribute into creating a piece of film.
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