Film Opening Final Cut

Responding to my audience feedback - here is my final cut, including the improvements people suggested.

Audience Feedback

Expert feedback / Family & friends feedback

What was good/effective about the project?

·      Continuity

·      Different shots back and forth to the character playing guitar

·      How the character is presented

·      ‘Fusion Films’ title looked good

·      Good narration

·      Close-ups of the character playing guitar – reminds you of what the film is about

·      Tracking shot of the wall filled with different posters – sets up storyline

·      Voice-over – explains that his dad died and shows that it has made an impact/went well with the music

·      Great cutting to the music, to the beat etc

·      Interesting variety of shots

·      Different camera angles

·      Music timing

What did you like?

·      Production companies

·      Several different camera shots

·      The camera shots

·      Good use of mise-en-scene

·      How the titles were written down on paper

·      Written titles

·      How the titles parallel edited with the other shots

·      Tracking shot of the posters on the wall – shows his role models

·      Character clearly established – we know who he is and what he wants

·      Overall theme

·      Hand written titling

Any suggestions for improvements?

·      Include music during production companies

·      Include credits?

·      Include the title of the film

·      Day/night transition – where is he going?

·      The pencil slamming down was a little distracting – not sure if necessary

What type of genre is it? How can you tell?

·      Drama/musical – voiceover (events have happened)/guitar (rock music)

·      Drama – domestic set up/motivation of father dying

·      Drama with music

·      Music-Drama

·      Teen movie? – Due to the age of the character and the rock/guitar theme

Is there a protagonist? What are they like? How can you tell? Is there equilibrium? Is there an agent of change? Do we see disequilibrium? Does it set up the theme, tone, storyworld, plot etc?

·      Clear protagonist  (Danny) – voice-over - been through a lot/music helps him escape

·      Clear equilibrium

·      Unclear disequilibrium

·      Disequilibrium hinted at – protagonist leaving house

·      Storyworld – music theme

·      Plot is set up well

·      Plot – character wants to go to University

·      Clear main character – determined and aspirational, maybe frustrated – due to facial expressions, body language and the sigh at the end.

 

A rough cut of my film opening.

(not finished)

Planning the Production Company Logos

These are some rough sketches of possible production logos for my film's opening titles. The boldest ones are the final chosen ones.

Research Into Institutions of Similar Films

Research into institution from rosiesutton

Storyboard for Opening 2 Minutes

MISE-EN-SCENE

To convey the protagonist’s characteristics I used mise-en-scene. I chose his own room as it had darker colours, which is more stereotypical for somebody who is into rock and metal music. I moved both of my guitars and my amp into his room to show that he plays guitar and to add further to the fact he liked rock music. I printed off loads of posters of bands the character likes and stuck them messy onto his wall, showing what music he is into and also he is passionate about it and has idols that he looks up to. I added an AC/DC vinyl next to the amp as another small detail of the music he likes, also adding to the rock atmosphere of his room.

In the close-up shot when he writes down the titles of the film, there is a letter from ‘Rockstone University’ in the background behind the paper. I came up with this name, as I wanted it to be clear it was a music university and I thought ‘Rockstone’ is a strong name for a university. To make the logo for the letter, I sketched some ideas down and then used Photoshop to create it. I then wrote the letter and showed that his name was Danny by saying “Dear Danny Cane”, a visual code for the audience to add to his character. I also put this letter in amongst the posters on his wall so that when the camera panned the wall, it would show this letter again.

His clothing was all black, and he wore a Motorhead t-shirt, again adding to the music he is into. He also wore converse to show that he is a casual person. 

The clock in the background when he is writing something and when the camera tilts up his wall, is purposely put on at 11pm, and then a fade out and fade in is used, to show he has been playing guitar all night. It was important to change the clock time to quite late at night to show that he doesn't sleep much, and is not extremely responsible. 

His bed was made to be very messy, representing the music he listens to as it can be seen as messy and loud itself.