Week 4 - Filming Ideas

Since I am filming my movie opening on my own, the number of actors, costumes, and other such variables will be limited. It will likely be only me in the opening, as my two brothers understandably object to the idea of being filmed. I will be wearing plain clothing, with no real 'costume' in mind. The idea of my opening is a horror movie that centers around a supernatural effect of exposure to the Sun on human behavior and physiology. As such, it will be done on a Sunday in the middle of the day (around 3 o' clock or so) and ideally on a clear day where the Sun can be clearly seen. I want to film it as a 'found footage' type opening, with a major character speaking and acting while holding the camera to himself. There will also be shots of the Sun itself (occluded by clouds, of course) and I will use video-editing software to create an effect of the sky becoming more and more red as the opening continues. There is place outside my apartment complex with a great view of the Sun during the day, which is where I will be filming it. I have not yet written my script, but it will be somewhat short.

Week 2 - Film Notes

RISE - Lots of close up shots in this opening. - There is no dialogue throughout the opening - Music is somewhat upbeat, suitable for a training montage such as that in this video (David Dallas - Runnin’) - Music stops at the staredown scene in the end, which creates a darker, more serious air OFFLINE - The studio title and director names are ‘typed’ onto the screen as an implication of the premise of the movie - Lowkey lighting is used to provide an eerie, dreadful atmosphere - The rest of the opening cycles between well-lit shots of a girl on her phone to dimly-lit shots of another girl tied up in a cage. DEAR LOVER - Peaceful music (Wayne Jones - A Quiet Thought) - Close up shots of the main girl writing the letter - Also has close ups of the two girls conversing - Generally quiet and introspective feel DARE TO THRILL - Dim lighting, nighttime atmosphere - The camera is off of the mysterious object in the trunk that causes the students to recoil, creating mystery - Shaky camera for a realistic, genuine feel to the opening ALWAYS WATCHING - The camera alternates between shots of two people conversing and shots of the main boy in various locales - The scenes get progressively darker as the opening continues - The directors describe it as ‘a relationship between two best friends that has taken a deadly turn’ - The talking scenes have high-key lighting, while the others have low-key lighting THE BLUE BOAR - The music is originally composed by the director herself - The main girl wears an old-fashioned dress and bonnet - maybe it takes place in the historic past? - She makes a boar glyph in the grass using picked shrubs, presumably the focal point of the film WHITE COAT - From the very beginning and the title one can immediately discern the medical theme - The lighting is very low-key to create eerie atmosphere - In close shots the main doctor performs an experiment on a tied up young man - the nature of this experiment is left vague STALKER - The video has a slightly lower quality than others - intentional? - The stalker’s presence is made clear but you can never see them on screen - Has a vintage horror movie feel to its camera work and quality - reminds me of Hitchcock’s Psycho NOSTALGIA - The movie centers on an old woman and her assorted memorabilia - It begins with a pan shot of a picture of an Italian(?) countryside - At the end, the woman seems to change back into a little girl in the same clothes LOST & FOUND - The opening begins with a flipbook animation of two people dancing - The rest of it I see that the common denominator here is camerawork. Each opening’s camera angles and filming style sets it apart from the rest, and through those things one can really get a sense of who the director is. I plan to use ‘found footage’ style shots in my opening, so as to differentiate from these openings (not to say that those openings are not good!). Stalker’s opening especially caught my eye, as it appeals to my penchant for the classic horror movies. The horror genre seems to be prevalent in this project, and the bar is set high; I hope that with my own film opening I can make a positive mark.

Week 1 - Genre

As mentioned in previous post, horror is among my absolute favorite genres, and the one that I selected for my movie opening project. In particular I envision my work being at least somewhat similar to the opening of Wes Craven's legendary production Nightmare on Elm Street. Its masterful use of indoor space to create a claustrophobic effect and lights and sounds to add tension are both things that I believe epitomize the genre. Horror is just as much about fast-faced action as slow-paced scenes, and the movie does both excellently. I prefer classic horror movies such as Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, William Friedkin's The Exorcist, and the works of Stephen King, but exceptions do exist, mainly Ari Aster's Midsommar. This film follows a young couple who become embroiled in increasingly disturbing events when their friend takes them to their hometown in Sweden, which happens to be home to a deranged sun cult. I was considering something similar as a plot device that I can use in my opening, as my infrequent horror writings often feature celestial bodies such as the sun and moon as the main villains.

My Film Opening Project - Genre & Group Members

Genre: Horror
Group members: Unknown - will likely be done alone

Film Opening Research No. 2 - It Happened One Christmas

How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film?
Six (6) titles are displayed within the relatively short opening.

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?
The film opens with a image of a shifting cosmic starscape, accompanied by prayerful wishes by a host of unnamed individuals. This is immediately followed by an establishing shot of the town the movie takes place in, with snow whirling and falling from the sky.

What connotations do the images carry?
The images in the opening connote that Christmas time is here, and generate feelings of warmth, security, and hope to emphasize this. This is especially true regarding the scene at the beginning with the image of the stars and the sounds of people making Christmas wishes.

How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?
The imagery of snow is highly prominent and serves as a symbolic code of the Christmas setting in general. Stars are also a symbolic code for the season as they are often put atop Christmas trees during it.

How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?
The film does not really establish an enigma, as that is not representative of the genre; however, the identities of the people making the wishes can be considered a mystery.

What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?
The film's all-around wholesome connotations imply that the film as suitable for all ages and audiences.

How has technology been used effectively? You might want to consider camera angles, transitions and editing techniques.
The slowly panning shots of the camera create a feeling of slow pace and relaxation, and the non-diegetic sounds such as Christmas bells and joyful music add to this connotation of happiness.

Film Opening Research No. 1 - A Nightmare on Elm Street

How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film?
Twenty (20) titles are displayed throughout the opening.

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?
There are many close-ups of Freddy Kreuger, the notorious dream murderer of the film, putting on his signature clawed gloves. Many shots also depict a young woman dressed in white (possibly to signify innocence) who is running through some kind of underground passageway, presumably in a dream world given the nature of Freddy's killing. There are also intermittent lamb sounds (possibly a hint that she is in the dream world, hence the phrase 'counting sheep')

What connotations do the images carry?
The images work in tandem to create strong connotations of fear and vulnerability; it seems that no matter how far the woman tries to run, Freddy is always catching up to her. The music and camera work add to these feelings of anxiety and trappedness.

How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?
The genre is strongly reinforced through a masterful combination of erratic camera movements and the frequent usage of the color red, mainly in the studio name, the transitions, and Freddy's red-striped attire. This red color may symbolize blood, murder, or wrath.

How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?
At first, we as viewers don't know for sure that Freddy is the one putting on the claw gloves in the beginning. We also don't know where the woman is or what she is doing there, why there are intermittent lamb sounds and live lambs, and/or by whom she is being chased.

What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?
A generally uncomfortable and frightening tone is set by the music and imagery, one that would likely deter younger children from watching the film.

How has technology been used effectively? You might want to consider camera angles, transitions and editing techniques.
The camera angles are shaky and erratic to create a feeling of confusion, and the transitions are frequent and abrupt to create tension and a sense that the events are happening at a fast pace.

My Favorite Genre - Slides

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1GLzz5bWGvWC1s-UMi7OB7EVwFHJzkpylTIVtvWC20GM/edit?usp=sharing