Week 1 Beginning to film

Me and my group decided to start filming this week. We decided to clips this week that didn't require going all the way out to the baseball field because we did not have enough time this week. So we decided to film clips such as putting the clips on and walking to the field. 

 1.  

This is Courtney taking a picture of me and Peter walking out to the baseball field which will be the first scene of our movie opener. We did it by the entrance towards all the schools fields. We couldn't go closer to the field because the gates were locked which were our first obstacle. So we improvised and did what we could for this scene. 

2. 

Next we decided to film the scenes of me and Peter tying our cleats which is going to be a close up shot for our movie opener. We did these outside the field and me and Peter both got our cleats and tied them while Courtney video taped us. 

3. 

Our next shot that we filmed is me and Peter stretching getting ready to throw to each other. Courtney got good angles and good lighting of us on grass fielding. The picture above is a picture of Courtney filming us while we started to stretch. This is going to be the fourth clip in our movie film.

Today we faced the challenge of not being able to get onto the field but we worked it out and filmed the parts this week that we don't need on the field. Next week we are going to make sure we have a key to the field so we can shoot the shots that need to be on the field. We have about 4 more shots to film and then all we have to do is edit it together and add the background music and effects. 

Q3 week 3 - preparing to film

Actors- Courtney (FGCU Scout), Theresa and Peter (athletes). 

Costumes- Theresa and Peter (Softball/Baseball clothes including cleats), Courtney (FGCU gear)

Props- Softball/Baseball bats, gloves, balls, cleats for Theresa and Peter. FGCU folders and clipboard for Courtney.

Location- The Lely High School baseball field, the bleachers outside the field, and tables by the field. 

Dates and times- Unsure about the date but planning on filming next week or the week after. (Week of the 8th or 15th). Planning on filming after school and sports practices so around 4:30 or 5:00.

Scripts- Going off of the storyboard we created last week. Only dialogue will be between Theresa and Peter talking about who the lady (Courtney) is sitting at the bleachers, and also when Courtney is talking to the two athletes. The rest will be music. 

Film equipment- Theresa's phone using the regular camera app so then editing can be done on the same phone.

We plan on using establishing shots, close ups, extreme close ups, and pan shots. 

Initial Storyboard

 

Me, Peter, and Courtney first decided to make the plot of what the movie would be so then we can decide what the intro would showcase. We decided that the movie would be about Theresa and Peter, the two baseball players, and their journey of moving on from high school baseball to college baseball and Florida Gulf Coast University. Our movie would be about Theresa and Peters experience at FGCU and playing a college sport. We all agreed on naming the movie "The Next Level". Then we started planning our movie intro. We all said that it should start with Peter and Theresa at their high school and that the intro would show how they got to play at college. 

The first clip is going to be Peter and Theresa walking out to get to the field and getting ready to warm up and practice. There will definitely be an establishing shot to show the main setting. The next clip will be in the dugout and show all the equipment. Some camera angles that will be used will be close ups to make it seem dramatic and a high angle shot to make sure the angle shows all of the equipment. Next is Theresa and Peter playing on the field and there will be full shots of us throwing to each other. Next scene is when we realize the lady (Courtney), sitting in the bleachers. There will be a far shot showing Courtney and then a two shot of Theresa and Peter talking and looking confused. Then, the next scene is all 3 of the characters talking and Courtney explaining how she is a college coach and wants to recruit Theresa and Peter. Then the final scene is Courtney sliding a scholarship package to the athletes and then the screen goes black to create drama. 

We decided that there will be background music throughout the whole intro and also a voice over at times through certain scenes. We all worked well creating the story board and split the work and were able to work together. 

Movie Opener Brainstorming & Research

 1. Rise- 

- Many various shots

          - Close ups and extreme close ups

          - The camera follows the soccer players movements 

           - Upbeat music that engages the viewer

           - Changes in music creates suspense

           

2. Offline-

    

           - Creepy music

           - Lowkey lighting to creep the viewer out

           - Drama

           - Contrast is shown by showing the girl in the cage and then her daily life.

          

3. Dear Lover-

    

           - Happy music

           - Romance/Romantic

           - Voice over creates connections towards the audience

           - The ending draws the viewers attention.     

4. Dare to Thrill-

            - Upbeat music

            -  Film opening was action packed. 

            - Confusing at the end

5. Always watching- 

            - Has some suspense 

            - Gave a lot of information for an opening scene

6. The Blue Boar

            - Good costumes

            - Good music and lots of different camera angles.

            - Happy tones

            - Symbolism in the end

7. White Coat

           - Quick cuts are used well, show characters confusion

           - Sound and music fit very well

           - Pulled the viewer in

8. Stalker

            - Sound effects created suspense

            - Could be drama and/or horror

9. Nostalgia

            - Camera cuts are used very well

            - Cuts between painting and people

Summary- 

Overall all the movie openers had a good amount of different camera angles and shots. I also feel like all the openers choice of music fit well and played a big part in the videos especially the horror/drama movies. My favorite one was "Rise", because it kind of had the same ideas that me, Peter, and Courtney had, of it being based off sports and starting off with skills of the sport. This movie opener also helped me start creating our story board and all the other videos as well gave me some ideas and inspiration.

Semester Exam - Film Opening Analysis of Black Mirror (season 3, episode 4, San Junipero)

 In the movie, “Black Mirror”, there are many film elements shown within the first couple minutes. Within the first five minutes I was able to understand elements such as editing, sound, mise-en-scene, and camera shots. Also, within the beginning of the movie, I was able to get a quick understanding of the three main characters, Yorkie, Wes, and Kelly. With all of these elements, it gives me somewhat of an idea of how the movie will play out.

To begin with, sound played a big role in the beginning of the movie. Automatically in the first minute, when the people pulled up in the car you can hear music which was digetic sound. This helped me understand the time frame this movie is taking place in. Because I could recognize the song, I knew it was most likely taking place in the 80s. Another form of digetic sound I noticed was the music inside the club, which also hinted to it being the 80s. When Yorkie was first walking on the street outside the club, you can hear the music coming from the club. The sound is muffled and that tells the audience how loud it is and could represent that it is so loud that she can not hear herself think, which is why the sound is muffled. Also, because the sound is muffled it makes it seem like Yorkie is nervous or scared of going into the club. Also, the music inside the club showed sound perspective. This showed how loud the music actually is. I also noticed synchronous sound. This is when Kelly is walking into the club and you can hear her heels clicking on the sidewalk. Sound also played a big role of the friendship that was being created between Kelly and Yorkie. Kelly came over and was talking to the guy she came with getting him to leave so she can talk to Yorkie. This can be seen as symbolism later in the movie if their friendship leads to something. 

The next film editing strategy that I noticed is mise-en-scene. I specifically noticed the costume first. As soon as the people came into the shot I saw their outfits and how they don't look modern and how their outfits are outdated. This gave me another clue that this movie is taking place in the 80s. This established a theme right away. Also regarding costume and the characters' outfits you can tell the difference between people. For example, Kelly’s outfit is more in your face and loud, while Yorkie's outfit is a lot quieter and makes you realize she will be quiet and shy.  A big part of mise-en-scene that I noticed as well was the lighting. In the demonstration of the lighting, the whole movie so far was lowkey light and the main lighting was in the club with the bright flashing neon lights. 

Regarding editing and camera shots, there were only a couple noticeable editing techniques that I found. First, there was a contrast from when the film starts. The woman is outside the club and it seems very dull and quiet. Then quickly, the editing strategy is a quick cut into the club with loud music and people talking very loud, so it was a very different location and setting. Also, in the club when Yorkie is playing a video game, another character comes up to her and asks to play a car game. There is a camera shot used while showing the video game. The shot is a close up and it zooms in on a car crashing in the game. Yorkie sees the crash and it shakes her up and she gets weirded out and looks like it affected her. The music changed to a fast paced sound which symbolizes that she experienced something or something traumatizing is happening or happened. Another camera shot I noticed was a dolly shot which followed one of the characters in the club. This linked to a panning shot / establishing shot which showed the whole setting and gave me an understanding of the club. An editing technique noticed was a cut shot. This was a cut shot from when Yorkie was on one side of the street and then Wes, and Kelly were on the other side of the street. 

Overall, in the first five minutes I noticed a bunch of film elements including sound, mise-en-scene, shots, and editing.These contributed to the movie in several ways and will most likely make another appearance later in the movie.

My film opening project- Genre and group members

 For my film project I will be working with Courtney Odell and our genre will be comedy.

Film Opening Research #2- Paul Blart Mall Cop

How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film?

There are 3 titles displayed in the opening sequence to the film. The first title displayed is "Columbia", the entertainment company. Next is, "Happy Madison Productions", the production company. Finally, the 3rd title displayed is the title of the movie, "Paul Blart Mall Cop".

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence? 

The image that is prioritized in the opening sequence is the badge, which clearly looks like a type of officer badge. This shows that the movie will be about a cop associated with the title.. Mall Cop.

What connotations do the images carry? 

The connotations that image carries is that the movie and characters will probably be dramatic in a comedic way. This is because the movie is already taking the mall badge very seriously even in the opening sequence. 

How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset? 

Comedy is reinforced right away in the beginning of the movie. It shows men training to be a police officer, and it shows strong tall men and then zooms into Paul Blart, who is a lot bigger but shorter than the other men. It then shows him passing out during the police officer course. He then becomes a mall cop and their is comedy here by him going from training to be a police officer to becoming a mall cop. There are symbolic codes here because the movie started by showing a very serious looking badge but then he is a mall cop. 

How does the film establish an enigma from the outset? 

The film establishes an enigma from the outset because at first the audience does not know what type of cop he is. Then when they show all of the super fit men becoming police officers, the audience assumes he is a police officer but then the camera shows Paul Blart who does not look like someone who can complete the course. So there is a question of what is this guy doing here and why is he considered a cop. 

What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience? 

One of the strategies used is the use of the actors. Kevin James is the main character/actor in the movie. He is well known in the comedy industry and using him as the author attracted the audience that likes comedic movies because they know it will be funny if Kevin James is in it. 

How has technology been used effectively? You might want to consider camera angles, transitions and editing techniques. 

Technology has been used effectively especially with camera angles. For example, while showing the men in the police training program the camera shot is an eye level shot showing all the men side by side. Then when it gets to Paul Blart, it is a high angle shot shown from above to show the difference in height between Paul Blart and the other guys. This use of camera angles was comedic and fit the film well.