Preparing to Film

Actors: Jairo will play a student, Scott will be the main student with the inner monologue and can stop time. These roles, however, can be reversed. Either Dr. Strathman, if we ask nicely, or a student can play the teacher.

Costumes: We will just be wearing our regular clothes, as the budget is tight, and since we are portraying students similar to ourselves we want the most authentic costumes available, that just so happen to be in my closet at this very moment.

Props: Jairo and I will print out sheets of paper with the words 'Literature Final Exam' on top and blank lines on the following pages, so that it would look like the characters are taking an actual exam. We will also just use the clock already in Strathman's room, if he lets us, to show the time, and his desks as well. A water bottle will also be used to show the main character's anxiety as it will be used to spill onto the exam and look like the character is extensively sweating.

Locations: The entire film opening will be filmed in Dr. Strathman's room, or in the AICE Media room if he will not let us film there. We will probably film during lunch time.

Dates and Times: Monday we will begin to get the crops ready, and by Wednesday we should begin filming once we gain permission by Dr. Strathman. We also need to find a good camera man.

Scripts: So far only an inner monologue will be written, and it will be played over the film, so it will not be used during the actual filming. There is relatively no talking in the actual film, except for the teacher saying 'get to work' or something like that, so we will only direct the actors and hope for the best.

Film Equipment: A camera from the AICE Media lab will be used for filming, but other than the editing on the computer, that will be all we need.

Storyboard

Summary: Our action comedy film, which has yet to have a title, will start out in a classroom where students are taking a test. Since we have limited access to where we want to take our film, we thought it would be easier if we filmed at the school. In the first picture the shot focuses in on a specific student's id badge and then pulls away to show the entire class taking the exam. Then viewers start to hear the inner monologue of the character, who is unprepared for the exam, and is trying to look at other classmate's papers. Then we will have the teacher slowly walk up to the student from behind and awkwardly put their hand on their shoulder and look at the blank paper for 45 seconds exact. Using a bottle of water we will completely spill it out onto the paper, and have the student exclaim to himself that he is sweaty since he is nervous. The teacher then will leave without a word. Shots of the clock and the student will go back and forth faster and faster, and the ticking noise will get faster as well, but then it will suddenly stop. Time has come to a halt. The student realizes this and looks to see that his fellow students are completely still. He then goes over to another student's desk takes the paper and reads it, only for time to start again. Everyone stares at the student very confused.

Brainstorming

Notes:

• Make sure to use a variety of shots
• Maybe add music or a soundtrack to set the mood
• We can tell the story through the camera not just by speaking
• In the soccer video the producers seemed to focus on the talents of the actor, so we should focus on our own talents
• We can have a fake studio 
• What the heck was that second video about?
• Film the environment not just the actors
• Don't use bad words
• We can try animation
• Let's not do animation I can't draw

Summary:

The first student film Rise influenced us more than the other films in how we are to go about making the beginning of our movie. This is mostly because it was the first one we saw, so it contained a lot of the interesting shots that the films that followed had as well. We decided for our film that we should include music, and focus more on showing than telling in how we present the story. We should also focus on our own talents, just as in Rise where the actor showcased his soccer skills. To do this however we need to find out what we are talented in. 

My Inspiration

 For our film opening my partner Jairo and I have picked action comedy as our genre. We were inspired to do this genre because we wanted to be as involved as possible in our film opening, and thought we would have more fun if some high stakes were also included. Action comedy films also are really the only genre to manage to mix both serious events and humor. This makes the audience feel more relaxed and enjoy the film more because they are not stressed due to the events that take place in the film because the characters that are in the film are not stressed about anything either. We thought action comedy would also take some weight off our shoulders in that we didn't have to really try and act, because most action comedies are parodies of action movies so the characters are caractures of those in action moves. Thus, this genre fits best with our limited acting skills. Some action comedy movies also tend to break the fourth wall, such as Deadpool, which we also thought was an easy way to entice our viewers, and make them laugh, which gives us better reviews throughout the public, as people share their unique experiences with their friends.
    Some action comedy films that influenced us to choose this genre were Marvel movies such as Deadpool and Guardians of the Galaxy, as well as more independent films such as Scott Pilgrim vs the World. The opening scene of Guardians of Galaxy, for example, starts off more than an action move than anything else. We are introduced to a character that is masked, so we do not yet know of his intentions. Then when he enters some strange building he starts to dance to the song of Come and Get Your Love. Music is something that is unique to this action film, and specifically this sequence, because the film uses the music to move along the plot in what would be inappropriate instances in normal action movies. This unique attribute drove Jairo and I to choose this genre, because no other genre had this spontaneous feeling of laughter to it.
     Scott Pilgrim vs the World, was also a major factor in why we chose this particular genre. In the beginning of the film, there is awkward dialogue balanced by an unusual sounding music. This subtle awkwardness gives this action comedy its own style, and we hope to challenge the same awkwardness without even trying. The art style in this film is also interesting in how vibrant the colors our, and while we may not have the editing skills or the technology to pull off something like what is from the film, we can certainly add our own special effects for our film opening.
     I feel that the action comedy genre is perfect for both of our styles, and can is the best way we can get a high score for our film opening. With this genre we will also be able to add our own unique ideas, as each action comedy is a different genre in its own right.

My Film Opening Project: Genre and Group Members

Genre: Action Comedy
Group Members: Me, Jairo

Film Opening Research #2- Stand By Me

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

Just two titles are displayed in the beginning, the film company (Columbia Pictures) that made the movie, and the actual title of the movie.

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?

A car standing in front of a large kind of pasture is prioritized in the opening sequence setting up that the wilderness will be a factor in this adventure. The movie then closes in on a man in the car looking at a newspaper with murder on the headline. Then two kids on a bike pass by, making the man think of simpler times.

What connotations do the images carry?

The connotations that the images carry are that the man is reminiscent of the time he and his friends went out on an adventure to find a dead body, as not only told by the narration but also the newspaper, the establishing shot, and the kids riding the bikes.

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

The genre of this film is an adventure and a drama, which is demonstrated by the long establishing shot of the pastures and the shot about the murder of an attorney. The part where the audiences realize that these events are held in the present, and future events of the movie are in the past are also shown through the narration and the later 1950s setting.

How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?

By the narrator stating that he was in 6th grade when he first saw a dead body the audiences immediately become drawn in, since it is not everyday that somebody sees a dead body, especially an 11 year old kid.

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

By having Columbia Pictures' logo show up in the beginning the audiences are already buying tickets because they know that Columbia Pictures has made good films in the past.

How has technology been used effectively? 

you might want to consider camera angles, transitions and editing techniques.

By contrasting the car and the bike we seen the difference in innocence of the narrator. Also through the old cars and strange cash register we know that the movie takes place in the 1950s. Other camera techniques that are used are an establishing shot, and a zoom in onto the narrator as he goes through a flash back.

Film Opening Research # 1- Monty Python and the Holy Grail

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

 There are twelve titles used in the opening sequence, one for the company, another for the actual title of the film, and the others for the cast and the people involved in making the film.

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?

A somewhat deep fog surrounding a castle, and a knight and his squire pretending to ride a horse with coconuts are the images prioritized.

What connotations do the images carry?

The connotations that the images carry are that this film is a parody of other films set in the medieval era, as the knight is not actually riding a horse but galloping while his squire is slamming coconuts together to make trotting sounds. The set pieces also seem realistic, so you're not really sure what type of comedy is going to be used.

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

The characters are dressed accordingly as a knight and a squire. The squire is in some kind of rag, while the knight is wearing armor with a crest in the middle. This with the castle as a setting reinforces that this is indeed set in the Middle Ages.

How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?

The audience is left confused by the film since a horse is replaced with coconuts. Through dialogue the coconuts are then mentioned as confusing and out of place, enhancing the comic tone. The audience is then further confused by the dry humor, with the characters now being aware that this move seems too good to be true.

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

The dry British humor used ensures that the film appeals to its British audience, as a British comedy group created this film. The title itself also affectively attracts the audience because many people before this film was released were already familiar with Monty Python and their work.

How has technology been used effectively? 

You might want to consider camera angles, transitions and editing techniques.

Camera angles such as a high angle shot, where King Arthur is looking up towards the castle, makes the film's set pieces feel realistic and entices viewers by making it feel as though they too are in the film. The fog used also makes the film seem mysterious, and at the same time foreshadows the strange things that are ahead.