Reservoir Dogs Titles Remake

This is Raagavi and I's remake of the titles from the classic Quentin Tarantino film, Reservoir Dogs.

DYM: Dexter Title Sequence Analysis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1J5RWshYyQ&feature=g-upl
http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/dexter/
1. Summarise the conventions of title sequences that were most important to this task.
The conventions Raagavi and I followed in this title sequence were:

• A clear simple font
• A font colour that contrasted with the background
• Titles matching shots

2. How did your group plan to edit the title sequence? (consider timings, industry requirements etc). 

• We made sure we had at least 10 titles
• We put certain roles near the end like the director
• We tried to space out our titles equally
• We kept the same transitions throughout
• Tried to make the titles equal in length

3. Explain the creative decisions made by your group.

• We tried to match the titles transitions with the actions taking place, like when he swaps the mosquito or when the bacon is thrown into the pan the title also disappears
• We chose a stylized white font as we felt it matched the background of the shots, the miami setting of the programme, and the feel of the show
• We placed the titles in positions where they wouldn't obscure the action, but culd still be read and seen

4. How does your re-edit compare to the original?

• We used a similar font, but ours was white whereas theirs was red
• They had more titles than us
• We put one of our titles befor the progrmme name came up but they did not
• Some of our cuts and positions of titles were more creative than theirs, but also slightly more confusing

Prelim Evaluation

1. Who did you work with and how did you manage the task between you?
The people in my group (besides me) were Emily and Arianna, and we shared the different responsibilties. We all had equal input in the planning progress, and we all contributed to the shot list, shoot schedule and storyboard. However during the shoot Arianna did the majority of the filming, because she was the only one not acting in our task. When Emily and I were not in shot we often took on the roles of cinematographer, director or cameraperson, for instance the pan from the killer's POV was shot by me. I think we worked well together, and we had a lot of ideas about possible storylines for our task. Also while editing we had equal input and roughly the same amount of time actually controlling the mouse, and we agreed on all the editing choices and cuts.

I played the character of the killer in our film, and Emily was the victim.

2. How did you plan your sequence? What Processes did you use? What theories did you take into account?
We started planning by brainstorming all our ideas, which included a musical, a makeover and , but we were limited by the size of our group and the lack of boys. We decided to make a thriller, and wrote a scrip. Then we compiled a shot list and made a storyboard which I later turned into a shoot schedule.We also took pictures of possible shots to evaluate how they looked, and in this way very effectively planned out what we would shoot, and what technical codes we would use.

We tried to take to avoid continuity errors by using shot/reverse shot, and by not crossing the line. However, we had trouble keeping the lighting continious whilst trying to follow the conventions of the thriller genre by having dark moody lighting. We had a PAG light but in 2 shots we had no one to hold it, as we only had 3 members in our group. However we got round this by having me holding the PAG light in my hand whilst we were filming OTS, but the shadows were not in the exact same place as they were in the CUs. On a more positive note, the small PAG light did create dramatic shadows especially in the LA MCUs and CUs of the killer, which made her seem more threatening and evil.We obeyed the rule of thirds in our compostion, and the 180 degree rule. We also had an establishing shot which immeadiately helped the audience to identify the setting, a little of the narative and get some idea of character, and we tried to get matches on action.

3.What technology did you use to complete the task, and how did you use it?
The technology we used to complete this task included; a Canon 3C30, tripod, and PAG light, and for editing we used Adobe Premiere Pro. The PAG light was useful for creating shadows as in the LA MCUs of the killer and the CUs of the victim, which helped us to follow the conventions of the genre and produce good quality footage. We used it because while we wanted the room we were filming in to be dark, we wanted to end up with good footage where you could actually see what was going on. The tripod enabled us to keep the camera steady so our shots were clearer and the audience weren't distracted by all the excess movement, but equally we had to remove the camera from the tripod for some shots such as the CU of the killer's feet and the pan from the killers POV.

4.What factors did you have to take into account when planning, shooting and editing?
Originally we had planned to have the killer waiting in the room and the victim bursting in on them, but we swapped this around when we realized that this would mean the victim would be framed in a HA while the villain (who was supposed to be sitting on a chair) would be framed in a LA. Another restiction we had was the space we were shooting in, as it was a small edit suite. This limited the types of shots we could do and consquently there aren't many LSs in our film. It also meant we couldn't film any OTS shots from the victim's side as they were against the wall and there wasn't enough space. Another restraint was the number of people in our group, as we often had only one team member who wasn't in shot, so we often had to do several jobs at once. We tried to plan as sequence that contained all the nessecary requirements.
While filming we had the door of the edit suite open which posed problems as there was another group filimng in the classroom adjacent to it, which meant that we had to decide which group would film at what times and when to be silent so as not to disturb one another.
We watched all the shots so see in what take the actress's delivery was the best, and in which ones the composition was right and we had made any continuity mistakes. Some takes we couldn't use as there was a bit of equipment visible, or there was movement in the background of the shot. We didn't realize that in our OTS shots from the killer's POV the tripod was in frame, so we couldn't use all those shots, which was a shame as they made the victim look really small and helpless.

5. How successful was your sequence? Please identify what worked well, and with hindsight, what would you have done differently?
I think our sequence was successful in conveying the thriller genre, and I think that our matches on action were good, such as when the killer opens the door. The narrative is also very clear, and I think we were effective in following genre conventions and creating enigma and suspense. I think our lighting worked well (for instance in  the clenching the fist shot there is a silhouetted effect), and our quick cuts help maintain a fast pace throughout, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. The fade to black at the end was also satisfactory as it connoted to the audience of the victim being killed and time passing, and the fade in from black at the beginning of the sequence foreshadows the death to come and makes the scene more mysterious. We also used CUs well in the shot where the killer clenches their fist, and in the shots showing the killer and the victim's emotion, bu particurlarly in the CU of the killer's feet. This was effective as our master shot as it gave a sense of space and indicated that the killer had the power and the victim was helpless. The beginning of our sequence had lots of movement, starting with a MS pan which we cut back to after the LS wide of the room, which created a frantic, and forboding atmosphere.

However there were a lot of things we could improve, including my acting which could have been better, especially since as I have a lisp I couldn't pronounce 'breath' properly. There are a few continuity errors, like between the shots where I enter the room, to the one where I am saying 'Did you think you could run away from me' my position changes slightly.
On some of the shots of the victim we zoomed in slightly, but it was quite a fast zoom, normally about half way through the shots instead of a constant steady zoom, which looked slightly odd, and most of our shots were MCUs or CUs so we could have used a wider range of shot types.
As you can see from the photo storyboard below, we planned our shots out extensively, however we didn't manage to film all the shots we had hoped for, and if I had to re do it I would give each shot an allocated time to be filmed in so we didn't get behind schedule and didn't continue redoing the same shots.

6. What have you learnt from completing this task? Looking ahead, how will this learning be significant when completing the rest of your foundation coursework, do you think?

I learnt how to effectively plan a shoot, and it was very educational trying to make the shoot schedule, and even harder trying to keep on time, so I do think my time keeping and planning skills have improved, whih will be useful for future shoots. It was also useful putting the theory we had learnt in class into practise, such as the 180 degree rule, which I can now apply to future projects, as well as learning what shots work or not. Trying out the technology like the PAG light also helped us experiment with different elements of the cinematography, and I have a greater awareness of the possibilities open to me during production. It was good to revise my knowledge on editing and shooting, and I feel that I will be more prepared for completing my coursework later on in the year.

DYM: Film Opening Sound Analysis

The film opening I have chosen is from Scott Pilgrim vs The World starring Michael Cera as Scott Pilgrim and directed by Edgar Wright:
http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world/

Dialogue:
- The film starts off with a voiceover that matches the text seen on screen, and adds pathos and dramatic tension, which is then undermined by the fact he is announcing that Scott Pilgrim is dating a high schooler, which sets up the genre as comedy.
-The voiceover is repeated in a sarcastic girl's voice, which is followed by a male's voice asking 'Is she hot?'. This introduces these two characters immediately, and the audience can instantly gage the relationship between Scott and his various friends
-Their conversation introduces us to the character of Knives Chau before we've met her, so we want to meet her, and when she arrives she is expected. It also provides humour for instance when Scott says 'We have meaningful conversation about yearbook club'
-The first thing Knives says is a giggle then a nervous 'Hi' which introoduces her as quite young and a bit innoncent/silly
-When Young Neil says that he plays 'Zelda, tetris' this introduces him to us a lonely gamer.
-When Scott says 'Lets start with Launch pad McQuack' this informs the audience that nthis will be a quirky and unusual film
-Kim Pine yells 'We are sex bo-bomb one two three four' then the music starts, telling us the name of their band and starting the actual titles sequence.
-The opening finishes with a LS then a CU of Knives Chau saying 'You guys are so amazing'

Music:
-The Universal Theme music is played in an electronic way, making it sound like an old-fashioned video game and matching reductionist 8-bit rendering of the Universal logo
-Electronic game music is used to make the characters seem like nerds, or to add extra surrealism, making it feel like the characters are in a video game
-The cheery electronic music stops when he opens to the to Knives Chau
-There is very quiet background music that sounds like video game background music
-The song is "We Are Sex Bob-Omb" by Beck and it is allegro and forte, creating excitement and anticipation in the audience

SFX:
-Wind blowing during the shot of the outside of the house
-Bird tweets whilst the camera pans past the tree
-Door bell
-Most of the indoor sound have been recorded by folley artists, like the crunching toast and the squash being poured
-There is a quiet electronic whistle sound when the information about the characters pops up
-There is a two not sound like you find in video games
-Another video game sound is a little tune that plays while you wait or the game is reloading as he tells them that he's chinese
-There are outdoor sounds when he opens the door, including the creak of a swing and cars passing by

Sound and Video Editing:
-At first we only see Scott's back and hear his voice, which builds up enigma about him
-A few of the sounds such as the doorbell, and when he sings 'Yeah Yeah' are also titles, giving the sequence a comic book feel.
-The sound bridge between the shot of the house and the interior master shot makes it clear that they are inside
-While characters are speaking we usually see a CU or a MCU so we know its them and can see their emotions
-The sounds of the band tuning their instruments remind us that they're there and what they're doing while Knives and Young Neil are talking
-The lighting shaped graphics that surround the band while they play indicate how good they are, in a superheroic way. The lightning shapes throb with the beat of the music and then suddenly transform into the film's title. They only appear while the music is playing, which brightens up the otherwise dreary surroundings.
-The fast and upbeat tempo of the song matches the frenzied and bright titles made of scratched celluloid.
-During the part of the song where the guitar is strongest, drawings of guitars are present behind the text

BLK: Homework Continuity Analysis

The clip I have chosen is from the ending of 1942 film Casablanca starring Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine and Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa Lund.

Continuity Techniques:
Establishing Shot:
-The first shot doesn't really establish the exact location of the shot (but the audience can work it out from the line 'Put it on the plane') but it does indicate that the scene takes place at night, and it has been recently raining, which foreshadows the sadness to come and creates a romantic and dramatic backdrop.

180 Degree Rule:
-The camera obeys the 180 degree rule, allowing the scene to flow quickly and fluently, so the audience are not distracted from the sentiments being expressed by the charecters.

Shot reverse shot:
-They uses the technique of shot reverse shot during Rick and Ilsa conversation so you can see each of the character's from the other's view, aswell as displaying their emotions to the audiencce who are therefore able to sympathize. This is especially effective during the CU of Ilsa crying, as the audience sees how much she loves him and her pain.
-The shot reverse shot technique is also used when Rick speaks to the chief of police, but the length of the LA MS shot is so short it doesn't divert attention from the maibn event of the scene.

Other Points:
-The way the camera zooms in on Ilsa's face when her husband is leaving then cuts to the master shot of the 3 of them signifies that she is impatient to be with Rick, and enhances the guiltiness of their affair, promoting a sense of trepidation and urgency.
-In the distance of the 2 shot of them we can see figures moving around the plane, making it feel like a quick private moment, whilst promoting a sense of urgency because they will have to leave soon.
-The cut from the slightly HA OTS CU of Isla to the LA of Rick emphasizes his words about him thinking it over and making the right decision as he seems firmer and stronger, whereas the LA of her makes her seem weaker, like she's been crushed or is pleading with him.
-The OTS's reveal how close they are standing to each other, indicating their intimacy.
-The zoom in from MLS with the police officer to the MCU 2 shot of them makes it feel like a private moment that we are privileged to witness, and also reliterates how they must keep their love a secret. It also suggests that they are in their own little world at that moment, and nothing else is important.
-The scene constantly cuts back or zooms in to a MCU of the two of them, putting the audience's focus on them and reiliterating the idea that they are all that matters.

BLK: Homework 3 Continuity Sequence

This is my group's (very) short film based on the themes of accidents:

Positives:

I think we have a good establishing shot, as it instantly gave a sense of setting and character, and when you see the shot of the door you can tell someone is going to come out of it which conforms to our expectations, and the fact the actress walks out of frame raises enigma and makes the audience wonder where she's going.

The pan we did in Shot 2 was successful, and the camera movement added excitement and a sense of pace.

The 3rd shot was successful as we used a tilted LA CU which jolts or disorientates the viewer and helps create a sense of danger and of falling.

Our shots went from Wide to Mid to close so there were no sudden movement, which made it easy on the eye and coherent for the audience.

The final shot helps to convey the actor's emotions because it is a CU, and the penultimate shot reveals the second actor well, as he surprises the audience which mirrors the actress's experience.

The colour scheme and lighting in all our shots was consistent, so it did look like it happened at the same time, and gave a melancholy feel to the sequence, reflecting the accident but not the romance which takes place.

 

Negatives:

We often didn't get a match on action, for instance in shot 2 the actress walks the same distance again, and we see her stop slightly at the end of the shot.

Unfortunately in our 4th shot it wasn't clear that she was falling so this may have confused the viewer. Also in that shot we didn't cut quick enough, as after the actress falls someone else comes out of the door and the camera moves towards the sky, which means the shot loses its focus and is a little confusing.

In our final shots we broke the 30 degree rule as we didn't cut the penultimate shot quick enough to prevent this happening.

DYM: Film Opening Analysis

The film I have chosen is 1971 musical Fiddler on the Roof.

Enigma Code: Questions
-Who is the main man?
-Where is Anatevka?
-What are their traditions?
-Who is the main man's family?
-Will there be conflict between the Jews and the Russian christians?

Action Code: Series of Events
-Teyve picks up the milk can=Puts the milk can down in a different place
-Teyve gets into cart= Cart moves off
-Tevye driving in cart- Cart stops to make a delivery
-Butcher gets meat down from hook= Starts chopping it
-Bread goes into oven= Bread comes out cooked
-Boy runs to school= boy arrives in classroom

Semiotic Code: Signs
-Grey Skys= Cold weather,
-Tin cans= Milkman
-Scruffy brown clothes= Poverty, thriftiness
-Cutting meat= butcher
-Pink headscarf= feminine, innocence
-Black clothes= Seriousness, sobriety
-White beard= Old age, wisdom, senility

Cultural Code: our Knowledge
-Rising sun= New day, new hope
-Star Of David= Judaism
-Menorah= Judaism
-Scrolls= Torah
-Books in their hands= learned men
-Cross on gate= church, christianity

Symbolic Code: Overarching connotations
-Importance of maintaining traditions
-Jewish faith
-Loyalty and friendship
-Family
-Tensions between different factions of society
-Community

BLK: Homework 2

The clip I have chosen is from the romantic comedy Clueless

 

 

Genre Conventions and Technical Codes

A typical young blonde pretty heroine is used

The film is set in an american High School

Heroine is popular/likeable

The heroine has a jealous rival

Girl is being checked out and flirted with- romance

MLS is the establishing shot- reveals the setting and types of characters in the film

Background chatter noise- public place

The panning shot introduces the audience to the whole setting and the students and gives a sense of space

The slow moving shot down the aisle connotes how bored the students are and how little they care about the intellectual debate, providing humour which is essential for the genre

The zoom into Cher's face matches the build up to the climax of her arguement

The CU of Cher's face shows her emotions and empathises her attractiveness as one of her main features

The MCU of the teacher shows not only his confused expression but also his posture, making his emotions clear to the audience

Cutting between the CUs of Cher and her opponent  helps the audience understand their relationship and see their emotions

Guite slow paced editing is used to that the debate is coherent and understandable, as well as reflecting the boring nature of the lesson

Outside natural lighting is used, lighting up Cher's hair and drawing attention to her

Inside high key lighting is used to give the setting a bright cheery look

 

Culture Codes

The main girl is blonde- Stupid blonde stereotype
Yellow outfit- happiness, White shirt- innocence, purity
Dull colours in schoolroom- boredom
Abundance of teenage extras- high school setting
The heroine's voice-Rich, priveleged
Fluffy white bag- Feminine
Teacher's brown suit-boring
Desks and blackboard- Classroom setting
American flag on the wall- American school
Hair, outfit and gum are all yellow- vain, puts a lot of effort into her outfits
'Like right now'- teenagers, stupidity
Boy with long hair and skateboard- deliquent
Girl with plaster on her nose- nose job, vanity, self obsession
Girl wearing black hat and fur- the heroine's nemesis

DYM; Film Still

The film still I have chosen is Scarlet O'hara surrounded by suitors in the 1939 film Gone with the Wind starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable.

Why I chose this film still;
1.  This picture raises a lot of questions about who the girl is and why so many men are crowding around her.
2. The framing of the shot is quite interesting, as the men around the girl are forming a frame within a frame.
3. The girls bright clothes and lively countenance juxtapose with the dark clothes and tranquil facial expressions of the men surrounding her.
4. The girl's relationships with the people around her are interesting, as they all seem to be interested in her, shown by their facial expressions and posture.

BLK: Homework Film Stills + Evaluation

My Group experimented with film stills from a wide range of different genres (as you can see above) from horrow to romance, and we used costumes, props, lighting, models and framing to fit each of our different chosen genres.

The Shot
This shot is a high angle MCU of a man being pushed against a brick wall by someone who has grabbed him by his shirt.

In this shot we were trying to recreate a scene which could take place in an action film, and we used the actors clothing (which was dark) to fit with conventions, especailly as the main actor is wearing a hoodie, which characters often wear in action films. The characters postures also fit the genre, as this sort of scene frequently takes place in action films, and the man's hands are shown to be clenched, connoting anger and strength, whilst the main actor is cornered and looks powerless. The location also conforms to conventions, as action films usually take place in various urban locations, and the brick wall could connote that the scene is taking place in an alleyway, or another similarly secluded and dangerous setting. The shot also potrays themes of voilence and fear through the actor's postitions, whish are common themes in action films. Also the main actor is a man, and looks like he could be an informant or a villian, both of which are archetypal characters of the genre,

What We Did

It was quite a sunny day, so we took the shot in an area of shade, which also hepled to form a slight shadow on the actors face. By holding the camera above the actors head we managed to created a HA shot.

What Was Successful

I think that the colours in this shot work well together and connote action and danger, and the actor looks scared but unfazed, which could present him as either a villainous character (also suggested by his dark clothes), but the high angle of the shot connotes that he is a victim. I think that the close up was successful as it shows the actors emotions clearly, helping the audience to connect and identify with the character. Also, I think that the shot raises questions about the character and the narrative, such as 'Who is he?'.

What I Would Do Differently

If I could repeat the shoot, I would perhaps replace the actors clothing with something that strongly signals what role the actor is playing in the film, and use low key lighting to make the shot darker and moodier to fit into genre conventions more, as we shot outside and it was quite sunny. I would also try to remove some of the empty space in the shot, particurlarly the area above the subject's head by using tighter framing.