Analysis on the opening scene to “CHILDREN OF MEN”
The opening to the film “children of men” was in complete contrast to the previous thriller “Se7en”, although even though it is shot in completely different styles we still get the conventions of a thriller theme which will attract a primary audience of around 15-40 years old.
 |
| The handi-cam movement through the coffee house and on to the street is one long camera shot (about a minute in length) Which doesn't apply to most if the thriller conventional shots which are short and sharp, trying to build tension. |
The first camera shot fades from black to a mid-shot of the protagonist in a crowed coffee shop, the symbolism and importance of this shot could mean it is an everyday routine when something disastrous happens. The second shot is where it cuts to the screen of the news; this is the only verbal analysis of the situation that is explained during the sequence of the film. The last shot is continuous containing no cuts or editing, just a continuous track of the main character walking out of the coffee house and onto the street, where the camera takes in the surroundings and pans around him.
 |
| The run down city, surrounded by dirt, yet contrasted by the futuristic, modern technology of advertising shows the need for people in a world of destruction to still feel motivated by money and need to go to work. The credits conclude that the film is set in the near future and the location being a popular and universally known city can make the film seem more realistic and relateable. |
Angles:
There are a few variations in the form of angles, however most of the shots are at the angle of around eye level except for two shots where they focus on the TV screen from a upwards angle from point of view, this being a low angle then cuts back to a high angle of the view of the protagonist.
Movements:
The movement is a very interesting technique in the opening and we can imagine will carry on throughout the rest of the film, they use the steady cam movement to manoeuvre through the crowd easily and still remain focus on the character, this creates a realistic outlook and gets the audience involved in what’s going on. The continuous shot then leads to pan around our character to regain background focus as well and him in the foreground, which is important because it means we can remain in the situation of the protagonist but also know the importance of the bombing and his reaction.
Sound:
There is only non-digetic sound in this film which is from the news and its background music which then leads to the deathly rumble of the street noise. The silence could be used to symbolise maddening, which then later on in the opening where the bomb goes off could prove to be true. The significance of the muggy and nauseating pollution you hear from the street mixed with the futuristic billboards on buildings and buses suggests to be a fallen society where money as is not the primary factor of the world anymore, and they have reverted back to the bare necessities.
Lighting:The lighting is natural, which produces a grey gradient creating an almost claustrophobic and abhorrent atmosphere or death and the survival of the fittest theme.
Editing:
The only editing that occurs in the opening scene is the voice over from the news reporter on a back screen but I don’t think this film needed a lot of editing, because the shots were long and there were minimal of them there was no need for them, and I think this is to almost represent that it is not important, the film is supposed to be a run down and messy to fit in with theme and surroundings.
Mis-en-scene:
The mis-en-scene isn’t as contemporary compared to what people might think they would see in a futuristic film. The costumes lead us to barely any conclusions except that their very similar to ours now but a little worn and fray. The most obvious give away in this opening is when the bomb goes off, this gives the audience the idea that the film will might be political or religious and dangerous. The same shot then watches as a woman emerges from the dust of the explosion with a missing arm. This could lead us to believe that it is an every man for yourself situation, and it also gives the readers that realisation of how possibly realistic the film could be.
Characters:
 |
| The TV screen shows the youngest person to live was only 18, which makes you question why aren't people reproducing. |
 |
| The significance of him taking no notice to the policemen could mean he had lost faith in them and authority or it is so usual to see police that he takes no notice or even perhaps he doesn't want to draw attention to himself. |
The plot is one of a traditional thriller, ominous and mysterious all aspects of a great opening. However the from what we gather for the plot is inspired, we are instantly thrown towards corruption in a near future, where the biggest story on the news is a teenager dying. There is an obvious remarkable factor there, as teenagers die every day which is when were introduced to the seriousness of the situation of where the teenager is the youngest person on the planet. We are not told yet the reason why he was the youngest person, so the audience is forced to be involved and to try and make connections to what the cause is, for example; government corruption, viruses, fertility, scientist’s experiments gone wrong or divine punishment.
 |
| The importance of this shot shows true emotion, there is sadness and uncertainty and most of fear as a reaction to the news report. However the main character shoes no emotion or sympathy but just ignores it, or so he wants us to believe, maybe he is like everyone else and it is killing him inside. else |
There are no opening credits but the visual style is created by the atmosphere; the costumes and expressions of the scene display a dark and gloomy claustrophobic feel that sets the tone for the rest of the film. The dusty clothing is mirrored by the filthy, run-down buildings, and the
Genre:
 |
| "Children of men" finishing to the opening scene is where the bomb goes off and an armless woman emerges from the rubble. The scene shows what the film is going to be about without giving you a reason or any implication to why this is. |
The genre is portrayed brilliantly as a thriller, immense suspense is built, anonymity and mysteriousness about the character and the situation of the future and also the almost documentary style of filming and the years not far off from now can intrigue the reader as is could be realistic. The conventions match in some way to a conventional thriller but the director has taken out, some of the traditional parts such as the dark glasses and suspicious brief cases. And instead the director; Alfonso Cuaron, created a new era of thrillers with a climax in the opening scene.
Analysis of the opening to “Signs”
The opening of a film is when the tone and setting of the film is set up. This is the first moment that the audience can decide whether they want to continue in watching the film. In the film, “Signs”, by M. Night Shyamalan, the opening credits set the tone of the darkness and suspense. This makes the audience want to watch more of the film.
As you can see from the image on the right, the opening shot is an establishing shot. This shot sets the location in which the film is based. You can also see that the shot is quite dark. This sets the tone of the film.
Camera shots:
The first shot of the film is the establishing shot which informs the audience of the location of the film. Most of the shots in the opening of the film are mid shots, this shows the audience what the layout of the scene is like and where the characters are at that moment in the film. There are a few long shots. These are used in the film to show the audience the surroundings of the character. This is important to the audience as it shows the significance of the surroundings, e.g. the crops and the layout of the house. The lighting in the opening scene is natural lighting.
Angles:The majority of angles used are at eye level. This draws the audience in to the characters to relate to them.
Sound:
The only sound also in the opening of the scene is of diegetic sound, which is in itself mysterious and surprising. There is the diegetic sound of dialogue between characters and the barks of dogs. The most significant use of diegetic sound is the human scream that seems to be coming from a young girl, this suggests panic and danger.
Editing:
The editing at the opening of the film is very intense as the shots are sharp and quick. This also creates a sense of mystery and tension. However, the opening of the film is similar to many other thriller openings as there are several long shots and close ups.This is the main characters blank face expression, which is similar to many other thrillers.
Mise-en-scene:
The dark atmosphere helps to create a mysterious and disorientated feeling for the audience. This sets the tone for the rest of the film. The opening is filmed in the early hours of the morning. This gives the audience the image that in the darkness, there is a ray of light shining on the house. This could give the audience an idea that the film may be a film of suspense and tension.
Characters:In the opening of the film the audience is introduced to the main characters of the film. However, we know nothing about them. The audience also has no idea why that family’s crops have been destroyed. The audience have not been given any names of the characters or any description of them at all. The audience may also get the sense that the characters in the film are in fear of what is to happen next.
The opening of “Signs” begins with an establishing long shot of a house situated in the country; there is no evidence of any other houses close by. Immediately, a sense of isolation is introduced. The camera cuts to an interior shot of the house and focuses in on the main protagonist bedroom; a long shot is used to show him from waking up suddenly from a nightmare.Plot:
The plot is similar to traditional thrillers as there is a lack of identity and there is no dialogue until a few minutes into the scene which causes uneasiness from the audience. This gives the sense of eeriness and suspense. This also makes the audience want to watch more of the film. All the audience knows is that a middle-aged man with children has had his crops flattened into some sort of sign. This gives the audience a sense that the man is confused and fearful of what has happened to his children. This also gives the audience a sense of what the rest of the film is going to be like.
This shot shows that the main character is confused on who had screamed and where his children were.
Themes:
The themes in “Signs” are difficult to establish in the opening, however, because the main characters crops have been flattened and destroyed by some kind of alien force, this suggests that an invasion of extra-terrestrials is imminent and Mel Gibson will be forced to protect his family from deadly forces intent on conquering the earth.
Visual style:
The visual styles in the opening of the film suit the film perfectly. This is because the opening credits suddenly fly at the screen sharply and quickly. This gives the audience an idea of the genre of the film and what the atmosphere of the rest of the film may be. The visual style is also perfect for the film as the style of writing has sharp pointed edges and has a slight glow around the edge of the writing. However, the visual style does not give too much away about the film. The visual style also fits in with the audio at the opening of the scene as the credits gradually become faster as the music becomes faster.
The visual style of the writing has sharp and pointed edges.
Genre:
Because of the conventions introduced in the opening scene, such as locations, dark lighting, screams and unexplained incidents such as the crop flattening which strongly suggests that this is a thriller.
This scene shows the main character suddenly sitting up in his bed as if he has woken from a nightmare. This may tell the audience that something dramatic has happened in his life.
Analysis on the opening scene to “SE7EN”
The opening to a film is the first few seconds of advertising and setting up the film that are in some ways the most important, because viewers will need certain genetic conventions to know what they type of film it would be and whether they want to watch it. The film “Sev7en” directed by David Fincher makes the whole audience want to watch more of the film by his opening credits. The camera shots:
There is no access to the characters as all the shots are intense close-ups, to create anonymity and suspense, this prompts a number of questions in to the viewers mind, for example: who is he and what type of person he is, why is he not in a full camera shot and what is he doing. The use of camera shots lead to a very could effect of rapid, quick shots of which the brain has barely any time to focus on what object is being shown. The shots shown appear to have no meaning in the opening sequence and could be hard to follow and piece together but will most likely have significance through the rest of the film. All the shots are filmed from inside, and a feeling of must and enclosed space is forced on the view as beside the dark shots there is no natural light, only artificial which means he could be doing something ominous and possibly threatening and obviously doesn’t want to be seen.
Angles:The angles are extreme close ups however there is no specific degree of low or high angle shots, yet the director still manages to create a feel of intimidation.
Movements:
Nor does the camera follow any specific movement, there is no form or tracking, the only movement we see on screen is the character or the editing.
Sound:The only audio in the opening scene is diegetic, which is in itself very metallic and sinister, also quite dysfunctional which could be used to connect the audience to the thought process in this characters mind at the moment, how disturbed and confused he is. There is only one sentence at in the music they have used in this scene which is by NINE INCH NAILS and the lyrics are “you bring me closer to God” this is another reference to religion.
Edititing:
The editing I find to be very interesting technique used by the director, all the shots are sharp and split second. It does not follow the traditional path of a thriller opening in some sense, because although you still get the feel of mystery and shadowy characters it is not conventional in the use of long shots or wide shots, or close ups on blank facial expressions.The reference to books and literature shows a sinister and intellectual mind. The claustrophobic feel from the dark atmosphere creates almost a black room, which is also shown in the many writing clips that is thrust upon us. There is a few shots of the developing and cutting out photos that he could of taken and ordering them along with the only one word cut out “God” this may have importance in the rest of the film. However the general mis-en-scene is disturbing and you are given the feel of unease during the opening sequence of the film complimented by the lack of identity when he shaves the skin off his fingers.
Characters:
The protagonist could be an anti hero or a “villain” we have barely any knowledge on this character, we know he obviously doesn’t want us to know who he is, which means he has the element of surprise and could turn up in the film without us knowing. This shows cunning and determination. So although what appears to be a dire and dark task he is attending to and also possibly quite gruesome with reference to the bandages around his fingers, he could just be misunderstood. We do not know his reasoning yet and I doubt it won’t be revealed until later on in the film.Location:
The opening portrays a hybrid of horror and thriller because the location is dark and intimidation. The grunge atmosphere created portrays the view of death and the unknown of what’s to come mirrored by the demanding music. The creative genius of David Flincher produces metallic scenery to force that sense of menace upon the audience.
Narrative:
The plot can be referenced to a traditional thriller because the lack of identity just portrayed in a darker fashion. There is also no dialog which also intimidates the audience with unease, this makes it hard for the reader to follow the plot because all we can piece together is that this lonely middle aged man had nothing but hatred in his life and could be trying to seek revenge on people that go against his beliefs, and in doing so he has shaved off his fingerprints for non identification, which leads us to suspect he is determined, vindictive as well as having a thought out step by step plan.The themes in the sequence come across as fear and diseat, dysfunctions and revenge which could be lead to the questions of is he a serial killer? We see close up, repetitive images of him scratching out pictures and faces of people. Another shot I noticed was the words he was blacking out in one of his many ancient looking books words like “homosexual” and “transsexual” this could refer to him as possibly being very religious and whether that has any importance to the film ahead.
Visual style:
The visual style of the titles I thought complimented the film perfectly; their combined styles meant that the actor’s names were flashed on the screen quickly with a bit of blurred shadow. I believe this is a purposely used effect to establish the confusion, chaos and perplexity of the up and coming events. The title “se7en” is a play on the word conjoined with the letter, this is a clever idea but the use of it could mean that there is precision in the film by the use of numbers however the simplicity of the title also doesn’t give away much of the film.
Genre:The film opening offers suspense and anonymity as any good thriller should try to create, an although the director has portrayed this in different ways it also blends in with the conventions of a horror film, as I references to the blood and gore of the razor blade.
Analysis on the opening to “SHERLOCK HOLMES”
Sherlock Holmes has an amazing opening for a thriller, and being its 6.30 minutes long a lot of ground is covered through a vast amount of different shots and angles. The film was directed by Guy Ritchie who also won the Empire award for best thriller for this film; he has reinvented the traditional Sherlock Holmes and brought the stories back to life through CGI’s and genuine London scenery.
 |
| The damp pavements and dark saturation develops a sinister atmosphere. |
Angles:
 |
| This low angle shows the traits of the character, portraying dominance and the ability to judge a scene. It also makes who he is looking at insecure and unsuperior. |
The definitely focused on the use of camera angles when making the opening to this film, and the two most important angle shots that they used was a high angle of Sherlock Holmes looking down on to the ritual, this gives the actors below room to move and also gives an aerial view of what is happening in that room. It involves the view because you see what Holmes is taking notice of, the simple and seemingly invalid objects he looks at, which will be later shown as great importance throughout the rest of the film. The second important camera angle was a low angle, when Watson and Holmes meet, this is to show them analysing the situation and how they dominate the other characters.
Movements:
 |
| The shilloite of our protagonist is followed to the camera until he runs off screen and the camera pans the city. This is a good technique because it shows anonymity of the character and the location of the film as you see St.Paul's Cathedral. |
Sound:
The non-digetic introductory music is from the soundtrack by Hans Zimmer specially designed to create an atmosphere for the film and the song is called “Sherlock Holmes”. This calming eerie music countered with the bleak first shots of watery, grey paving stone fades on to the digetic sound of running horses and old police chariots being pulled along. The music continues with a pace getting faster, developing in to the sound of loading pistols, the loading of the pistols is an important shot because the audience knows there’s been a case or a threat. The next sound we hear is Sherlock Holmes running, and a screeching of a single crow is very good imagery for an audience because they will associate it with death and deception which leads to the first dialog. This could represent the pace of Holmes thinking and the rumble of piecing things together. The music then turns to suspense as we get closer to knowing what is going on, to where its leads to the conversation between the two main characters. The sound is a key aspect in this film to create a real sense of a thriller film, and also portrays how the film will be set out, in a quick paced string of events merging in to each other.
Lighting:
The lighting reflects the time when Holmes would walk the streets of London as the surroundings are dark and colourless, the only lights appear to be the street lights and occasional fire. This gives a silhouette feel and the traditional dark shadowed thriller setting. A lot of shadow is created especially in the backgrounds and on the faces, the shadow on the faces signify metaphorical masks so aging we have a sense of anonymity, matched with the darkness in the background can cause a claustrophobic impression and the feeling of the unknown. The director has used a terrific effect to create mystery, deceit and danger which is represented by a lot of the actors emerging from complete darkness.
 |
| This close up helps the audience to connect with the characters |
The most interesting piece of editing in this opening is the slowing down sequence; it is an amazing way to reinvent Sherlock Holmes, as we knew he used to study types of martial arts, but directed in this way we can see the true technique of it and also how intricate and developed his mind is. How he is able to determine the precise actions of opponents and how to use that to his advantage, this is a crucial element to describing his character because we have an insight of the process of how he solves cases. The title is then on News paper heading which flows well after the picture is taken in the last shot of the opening. The last shot in the opening sequence is where a news reporter takes a picture of the inspector and Sherlock Holmes which then flows in to a headline which is the title of the film, I think this is a good use of the title in an imaginative sense and it also fits the era well.
Mis-en-scene:
We get an immediate sense of dismal and grey atmosphere from the tinted buildings and thick air, I think it was important that the shot the film in the darkness of night because it gives the audience a feel of secrecy and corruption but also develops a sense of unease through the other conventions in the opening such as the crow. The reference to the crow is hinting the viewer that this is a bad omen, a sign to show that events will take place later on. The mis-en-scene is also created by the appearance of Scotland Yard’s finest, this would link to a traditional thriller as generally the police or movement are involved in some way. Another key factor in creating for the mis-en-scene in this film is the clothing, the conventional dress of English men in that era but also their body language in them. The quick moving characters suggest possible lack of identity. The dialog is very important in this opening as it gives away a lot about the film, first of all the classy British accent which is matched by the tone of their voices, a lot of the speech in a hushed tone creating a specific ambiance. The second is the milieu created by the chanting, suggesting magic and dark settings.
Characters:
 |
| This is a match on action shot which is very effective as it creates a dramatic action scene which then ends up with the first close up of who the protagonist. |
Sherlock Holmes is the protagonist, from this scene we can deduct that he is a genius. Evidence for this is given when he sees a practically invisible weaponry. Elusive characteristic traits suggest he is a man of class but torn and lost within himself.
Watson has been reinvented also, instead what some people may have thought his character would be a fat sidekick with the only skill of writing about the adventures of his leader. But instead Guy Ritchie has portrayed Watson as he was originally described and as Holmes’s companion. His body language suggests he is a strong character both mentally and physically and almost more in command then the seemingly chaotic Holmes.
Blackwood is a fascinating character from the beginning also, even though Sherlock is the protagonist, the whole film revolves around him with Sherlock simply as his pawn.
The director and influence of the actors have been able to make three dimensional characters in the short opening sequence.
Location:
 |
| The full length black coat and tomb like scenery are all conventions of a thriller/horror film. It creates suspense and unease but also draws the audience in. |
Narrative:
The plot is so ingeniously developed, and is barely scratched upon in the opening to this film, although you think the plot is already finished in the 6 and a half minutes of the film because you have the climax then the solution, but you later find out that it’s barely the beginning. From the opening sequence we can establish that this film is a genuine detective thriller, through the detail of the repetition of the main characters “Holmes” and “Watson”, and also his attention to detail where he points out a practically invisible weapons device. The audience grasps that although a lot of Sherlock and Watson’s memorable characteristics are kept the same, a whole new perspective of them are reborn.
Themes:
 |
| The first shot where the duo is together is very symbolic through their casual dialog and positioning body language, as it shows that they come together through their work and are similar partners. This high angle also gives them power. |
Visual style:
The visual style is formed by the traditional 20th century London staging. The quick moving shots in and out the dark shadows is also a great visual technique because it demonstrates possible lack of identity and trauma with in the characters.
Genre:
The genre of this film is a hybrid in the beginning, of horror and thriller; we establish this from the conventions of the advanced and detailed script, scenery and atmosphere.
Analysis of the opening scene to Panic room
In the Panic Room opening sequence, there is mainly long shots and mid shots of buildings. These types of shots and scenery in the opening show us that the film is based inside a building. It does not however show any shots of characters in the film , therefore creating an atmosphere to get the audience thinking what happens in this film. The tracking around the buildings and the camera either panning up or looking down from the tops of the buildings show that maybe it is set on the top floor of a building. Also the pan of the streets and the ‘busy city life’, create an image in your head.
Location
Visual Style
 |
| This intense close up, is intended to make the audience fell the sense of drama and action. |
Analysis of the opening scene to Panic room
The opening to the film is very important as they show the audience a sense of what the film is going to be like and what type of film it is i.e. horror, comedy, romance etc... , they do this by the certain generic conventions that are used.
The camera shots
 |
| This opening starts out with who presents it, the production, the actors and then the film title. I think we shall adapt this sequence in to our product. |
Low Angles
The angles are low and high angle shots, they use this to create a sense that things are happening from the top floor or high up in the building as it also links in with the title Panic Room.
Movements
The camera does not follow any specific movement in the opening sequence only a long shot of cars moving around the streets, the rest is simply long and mid shots of buildings and pan shots around the buildings.
Sound
The only sound that can be heard in this opening is non- diagetic sound. IT is a dark sinister song that is very overpowering, to give the audience a sense of tension and suspense. As there is no diagetic sound it does not give away anything about the film or the characters.
Editing
For the editing of the opening sequence i find that all of the shots are short and sharp and a quick move on to the next pan of a building. What i find interesting and clever is that the characters names are put on the buildings as if they were shop or company names. This links in with buildings that have so far been the theme in this opening.
Mis-En- Scene
The short sharp shots of the buildings create a atmosphere of seclusion from the outside world. The height and overall look of the buildings show a dark side to the film. The cars and busy streets show that no one would hear or even notice these tall buildings which also tell us that maybe that is what the author is trying to create, a sense of loneliness and by the cameras showing the tops of the buildings a sense of maybe fear.
Characters
We get a short few seconds of two characters that look like they could be the main characters. The way they are talking and the tone, shows us that they are in a hurry and are either on the run or being followed or have a deadline to meet. The way they are dressed also backs up my theory of being followed as one of the characters is wearing black and black glasses. This shows a sense of hidden identity which links in with the theory above.
 |
| This opening is not conventional to a traditional thriller as there is no action simply angled shots of buildings and establishing shots. |
The location portrays a sense of hide and seek in the city. A game of finding and taking. The busy city shows this by the many cars driving past and the busy city life of hundreds of people walking around the city every day. This creates the view of not knowing what’s around the corner, and where to go.
Narrative
The plot can be referred to as a thriller as it has suspense with the short sharp cuts and a sense of not knowing what will happen next. There is no specific narrative as of yet in the opening sequence. They are not giving away anything in the first minute of the opening. Then with the cut to the woman walking fast talking looking like they are trying to blend in, this shows a suspense and tension in order to get the audience wanting to know what they are talking about and why they are in the city.
Themes
The themes in the sequence come across mainly as fear from the two characters and guilt and not knowing what will happen next. We see repeated long and mid shots of the buildings and the high and low angle shows seem to be a theme in this opening this could therefore be relevant to the location in which the film is based and could also be a meaning, but they just don’t give anything away at the beginning.
 |
| The font and titles are very simple and bland, however the only sequence that centers in the screen is the title, this shows that it is the most important. |
The visual style of the titles complemented the film well, as they were shown as being company signs on the buildings so they would fit in well with the film and its genre and theme. The boldness of them and size also meant you could see clearly the actors and actresses names in the film. The title Panic Room was cleverly put in mid air in between two buildings. This shows that the title is portrayed as being inside a room because it is in between walls of a building therefore linking with the title.
Genre
The opening of this film shows us suspense by the music but could also be linked with an action film as the two woman at the very end look like they are trying to steal something or hiding from a villain in the film therefore it could be thriller or action depending on the rest of the film.
Research Questionnaire
1. How old are you?
10- 12
13-19
20- 30
31-45
46+
2. What is your gender?
Male
Female
3. What kind of music do you think would be good in a horror film?
Lullaby
Tension - building music
Jumpy music
Music which contrasts to the action
Other
4. How often do you visit the cinema?
Never
Once a week
Fortnightly
Once a month
Other
5. At the cinema what film genre do you generally go to see:
Horror
Thriller
Rom com
Sci fi
Cartoon
Other
6. What is the ideal length of time you think a film should be
1 and half hours
1 hour and 45 minutes
2 hours
Over 2 hours
7. Do you like your films to have a build up to their main story or go straight in to the action?
Build up
Straight to action
8. Do you like well known actress and actresses to feature in the film?
Yes
No
Don’t mind
9. is the setting of the filming important to you?
Yes
No
Don’t mind
10. Do you prefer mainly:
Outdoor shots
Indoor shots
Mix of the two
Very scenic shots
Other
11. Do you like the ending of your film to be?
Happy
Surprising
Shocking
Incomplete (with an obvious follow on film)
Actors research
We chose Jake because he targets the right age group and his acting is phenomenal in Donnie Darko, we want to try and have the same effect that he creates where he draws the audience in to a believable performance. We also learnt from his body language as the story line is similar to ours, we mimicked his intense looks in close up and his tense movement.
After looking at this actress we decided to focus on a younger character. Although she produced a fantastic performance we think having an older character would attract an older audience.
Research on relatable films
We looked at this actress and decided that we would definitely use a female character as the lead, we think that a female actress would attract a wider audience as the females can relate and the males have the attraction prospect.
Pearl and dean is a website created for everything film related, it is a British cinema advertising company which displays all upcoming films, reviews and ratings.
Donnie Darko
What's the story
What's the story
Donnie darko is a disturbed adolescent from a semi-functional upper-middle class family. After escaping from near death because he hears the voice of a 6 foot tall bunny, Donnie is led by the bunny to create havoc that is both destructive and creative. genre(s): Sci-Fi, Romance
director: Richard Kelly
film cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Drew Barrymore, Mary McDonnell, Holmes Osborne
certificate: 15
distributor: Metrodome Dist.
running time: 122 Mins
average rating
*****
We chose this film because its themes are a blur of sadness, love and madness. The film forces you to make your own conclusions about it, the ending is so intricate and bold that you have to watch it again and you will find more sense the more you watch it. We want our film to have the same effect, to be able to capture the audience in a developed journey that is ready to shock them with dark themes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wqVHjK2bQs
We chose this film because its themes are a blur of sadness, love and madness. The film forces you to make your own conclusions about it, the ending is so intricate and bold that you have to watch it again and you will find more sense the more you watch it. We want our film to have the same effect, to be able to capture the audience in a developed journey that is ready to shock them with dark themes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wqVHjK2bQs
House of wax
What's the story
Car troubles lead a group of college students to wander into a museum overseen by a sadistic curator.
genre(s): Horror
director: Jaume Collet-Serra
film cast: Elisha Cuthbert, Chad Michael Murray, Brian Van Holt, Paris Hilton, Jared Padalecki
certificate: 15
distributor: Warner Bros.
running time: 112 Mins
average rating
*****
The house of wax was are second similar film because it uses the conventions of a traditional "teen horror" ; where a group of teenagers get lost and stumble across a seemingly abandoned town and a wax museum. We found similar plot lines in this film in comparison to ours and so we studied the stereotypical characters so we can interpret them in to our product.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DnFKwVcM10
The house of wax was are second similar film because it uses the conventions of a traditional "teen horror" ; where a group of teenagers get lost and stumble across a seemingly abandoned town and a wax museum. We found similar plot lines in this film in comparison to ours and so we studied the stereotypical characters so we can interpret them in to our product.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DnFKwVcM10
This is a print screen from the PEARL AND DEAN website
Seed of Chucky
What's the story
The family dynamics are far from perfect as Chucky and Tiffany go Hollywood and get rolling on a new spree of murderous mayhem – much to gentle glen’s horror. Chucky cant believe that his child doesn't want to walk in his murdering footsteps, and star-struck Tiffany cant believe that the movie will star her favorite actress, Jennifer Tilly (playing herself), who soon becomes an unwitting hostess to this new family in more ways than one. genre(s): Horror
director: Don Mancini
film cast: Jennifer Tilly, Brad Dourif, Billy Boyd, Hannah Spearitt
certificate: 15
distributor: Momentum Pictures
running time: 86 Mins
average rating
*****
Chucky however was the lowest rated film, however we thought it was important to our research as it was the most similar story line to ours. But because this film was so unsuccessful we learned not to be so obvious in characters and plot, instead we demonstrated more subtly and left the audience to make their own conclusions on who or what is happening.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqtxZUvu4lQ
Chucky however was the lowest rated film, however we thought it was important to our research as it was the most similar story line to ours. But because this film was so unsuccessful we learned not to be so obvious in characters and plot, instead we demonstrated more subtly and left the audience to make their own conclusions on who or what is happening.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqtxZUvu4lQ
DRAFT FOR RESPONSES
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2fr24VEqxM
IMPROVEMENTS
Through our responses we realised that we could improve our product to make it more successful. So the changes we made were:
1) DELETE THE SCENES THAT ARE TOO DARK
2)FEATURE THE DOLL MORE
3)HAVE A MORE DRAMATIC AUDIO AT THE END
IMPROVEMENTS
Through our responses we realised that we could improve our product to make it more successful. So the changes we made were:
1) DELETE THE SCENES THAT ARE TOO DARK
2)FEATURE THE DOLL MORE
3)HAVE A MORE DRAMATIC AUDIO AT THE END
MUSIC RESEARCH
For our audio, we searched for a copyright free song which had the same effect as a lullaby, our research on itunes and YouTube led us to the sound "Rosemary's Baby Lullaby". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpOpdrcwNPI&feature=related The music was suitable for our opening as it creates a sense of unease but also calmness which can create a very anxious atmosphere. The repetition and the use of humming and very little words links to the china dolls because when you think about dolls you think about childhood and the lullaby's your guardians would sing which makes you remember it.
For our audio, we searched for a copyright free song which had the same effect as a lullaby, our research on itunes and YouTube led us to the sound "Rosemary's Baby Lullaby". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpOpdrcwNPI&feature=related The music was suitable for our opening as it creates a sense of unease but also calmness which can create a very anxious atmosphere. The repetition and the use of humming and very little words links to the china dolls because when you think about dolls you think about childhood and the lullaby's your guardians would sing which makes you remember it.
WEATHER RESEARCH
During the week we checked BBC WEATHER REPORT to find which day and time was best to film, we found that Thursday early morning would be the best weather for our filming as it was predicted to be foggy and dark which created a brilliant ambiance to create the traditional thriller/horror conventions. So we were up and filming at 5.00 am Thursday morning.
LOCATION
Our search for our location was fairly simple, we had to find a heath or field that was covered with trees to produce an enclosed claustrophobic feel but also and open space or greenery for it to be filmed easily and effectively.
We tried many different parks but we found a heath in Dartford that had the right scenery to match our opening.
At first we tried to fins narrow path ways like these two.
Another idea was to have machinery or background Victorian houses in the scene to show a little bit of danger and mystery.
STORY BOARD
