Review of Monday 27th September Lesson

In todays lesson we discussed different film genres to help us decide what type of film we will be making for our assesment two minute film opening. The class came up with several ideas such as Brit films, Indie/Alternative and even Comedy genres which we could possibly make our two minutes films on. These ideas were individual as the majority of media students choose Horror/thriller films. One of the films we discussed was 500 Days of Summer speaking about how the film is in reverse chronology adding to the effect of the film. This gave some of us ideas of the chronology we will use in our film openings. Also in the lesson we watched the film opening to Sherlock Holmes and saw how the opening title credits were not shown until ten minutes into the film, this added to the effect of the film opening as the audience is immediately drawn into the story line and plot.

Saw 2 Camera angles

The opening shot is a close up of a flickering light bulb,different lighting experiences have been used. Then swift camera movements are made showing different parts of the room from a low angle. These shots are points of view camera movements. Then a shot of a mirror is shown and the characters face is shown, this is also their point of view as they are looking in the mirror. The camera then zooms out and shows a long shot of the character trapped and then an overhead shot is used, a zoom is then used to show different close up shots and also the shots are then zoomed out. The next shot is manual focus, the shot is of the man but suddenly the shot changes to the tv screen. A close up shot is.used for the tv and regularly changes to a mid shot of the man. Over the shoulder shots are then used to show the mans point of view watching the tv. Shots keep changing between the man and the tv using transition shots , then an echo is used as shots of the mans actions are used in three very fast transitions. Transitions are made and shots are shown of parts of the room, showing the mans point of view, e.g looking at the clock. A long shot is used to show the man struggling to escape and transitions are used and parts of his face are zoomed. A part is fast forwarded to show him running in frustration, then extreme close up shots are shown of his eye.Fast forward is used again as well as pan to show several moving shots.

Film making techniques

The Wedding Singer opening

I find The Wedding Singer a very effective film opening as as soon as the film starts you are immediately drawn in. The film is set in the 80s which the audience immediately knows as along with the 80s outfits the 80s classic You Spin Me Round is the music in the background and  this introduces the film as an exciting 80s inspired film. The title credits also represent the era of the film as blue old fashioned style font is used. The film is obviously a comedy as Adam sandler conveys along with other likable characters including a typical funny bunch of people at a wedding including a table full of fat people. The Wedding Singer opening is both funny, exciting and immediately introduces the audience to the era of the 80s within the first three minutes of the film.

Se7en opening credits

The opening credits to Se7en are very effective as the audience immediately sees just what genre of film it is, a crime/thriller. The credits of the film open to spooky music setting the feel of the film, to add to the effect roughly written black and white credits are used to perhaps show nervousness or anticipation. Imagery is also used to show the audience what the film may be about as images flicker on the screen allowing them to be intrigued by the images shown and for them to question what they may mean. Overall, I get the impression that the film is a thriller and from seeing the flickering images Se7en intrigues me into what the film is actually about.