Evaluation One
In what ways does
your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
These nine images are all screen shots from my film opening. I will use these images to help to explain how it uses, develops and challenges the conventions of real film openings.
These nine images are all screen shots from my film opening. I will use these images to help to explain how it uses, develops and challenges the conventions of real film openings.
Film Title
The name of the film reflects that take place, as Dichotomy means "a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different". It is conventional by the way it looks (e.g. big lettering, a plain background and a professional font), however its position within the opening sequence is less conventional. When analysing billing sequences, I found that the film title typically comes after the lead actors, however, I chose to challenge this convention by putting it last. I did this because it will have a stronger impact on the audience.
Credits
The credits are conventional as they follow the typical structure. The font type and style is also typical of a crime film as it is professional - representing the formal side of Murphy's life as a police detective. They are also positioned in a way that enhances the framing, and makes the text easy to see - for example although when Murphy is walking towards the subway, it would be an ideal place to position the credits, they were not legible (even if a black font was used), whereas when Murphy is walking in the switching locations, the credits are easy to read and make it clear that the rule of thirds was used to make it aesthetically pleasing for the viewers.
The name of the film reflects that take place, as Dichotomy means "a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different". It is conventional by the way it looks (e.g. big lettering, a plain background and a professional font), however its position within the opening sequence is less conventional. When analysing billing sequences, I found that the film title typically comes after the lead actors, however, I chose to challenge this convention by putting it last. I did this because it will have a stronger impact on the audience.
Credits
The credits are conventional as they follow the typical structure. The font type and style is also typical of a crime film as it is professional - representing the formal side of Murphy's life as a police detective. They are also positioned in a way that enhances the framing, and makes the text easy to see - for example although when Murphy is walking towards the subway, it would be an ideal place to position the credits, they were not legible (even if a black font was used), whereas when Murphy is walking in the switching locations, the credits are easy to read and make it clear that the rule of thirds was used to make it aesthetically pleasing for the viewers.
Locations
Filmed in Southend, the setting for the film opening meets the conventions of a crime film. As discussed in one of my earlier blog posts, crime films often are shot in dull and dreary
weather to reflect the seriousness of the storyline (especially in British films), with common locations being busy cities and large offices, deserted factories, dirty/empty houses, off licences, night clubs and back street alleys. When filming, I chose to shoot early evening to achieve a darker atmosphere, which overall turned out to be a success, especially when combined with iMovie's 'camo' filter.
Filmed in Southend, the setting for the film opening meets the conventions of a crime film. As discussed in one of my earlier blog posts, crime films often are shot in dull and dreary
weather to reflect the seriousness of the storyline (especially in British films), with common locations being busy cities and large offices, deserted factories, dirty/empty houses, off licences, night clubs and back street alleys. When filming, I chose to shoot early evening to achieve a darker atmosphere, which overall turned out to be a success, especially when combined with iMovie's 'camo' filter.
Costumes and props
As my crime film combines both elements of a police perspective and a gangsters perspective, the costumes are very varied. Despite this, they are still conventional; for
example, Murphy's smart, but slightly casual costume is very typical of a police detective character as this kind of clothing is seen in films and series such as Se7en, The Killing and
Bloodline. Jordan's costume is also conventional, as following Propp's character types, he would be described more as a villain, and is therefore wearing dark colours to make him appear more sinister. On top of this, I also followed the conventions of having a male actor play the lead role. I chose to do this based upon the results from my questionnaire and survey - I felt that if I was going to challenge personality types and binary opposites, I needed to include something familiar and conventional in order to appeal to a broader audience. Although the common props and iconography such as blood, weapons, money, drugs and cars are not all featured in the opening sequence, the brown package exchanged between the two characters eludes to this type of behaviour.
Camera work and editing
As my crime film combines both elements of a police perspective and a gangsters perspective, the costumes are very varied. Despite this, they are still conventional; for
example, Murphy's smart, but slightly casual costume is very typical of a police detective character as this kind of clothing is seen in films and series such as Se7en, The Killing and
Bloodline. Jordan's costume is also conventional, as following Propp's character types, he would be described more as a villain, and is therefore wearing dark colours to make him appear more sinister. On top of this, I also followed the conventions of having a male actor play the lead role. I chose to do this based upon the results from my questionnaire and survey - I felt that if I was going to challenge personality types and binary opposites, I needed to include something familiar and conventional in order to appeal to a broader audience. Although the common props and iconography such as blood, weapons, money, drugs and cars are not all featured in the opening sequence, the brown package exchanged between the two characters eludes to this type of behaviour.
Camera work and editing
As shown in the mood board above, I stuck to using the basic techniques I had planned in my storyboard (e.g. match on match action, the rule of thirds, 180 degree rule, pans, tilts, fades and time lapse). Although my plan helped when it came to filming and editing, when looking back, I realise that there are further improvements that could have been made. For example, to improve my editing skills, I could have used a cross dissolve when Murphy is pictured walking in different locations - however, doing this would loose the snappy, upbeat atmosphere. The editing technique that made the opening most conventional was using the 'camo' filter. This enhanced the dramatic effect, and created verisimilitude at the same time. It is important to make a crime film feel realistic in order for them to believe and get involved in what they are seeing.
How genre is portrayed
Throughout the production of the film opening, I kept in mind the typical conventions of a crime film, as using these would help me to successfully convey the genre. The key aspects within my opening that suggest it is a crime film are:
- The combination of filming in the early evening when the weather was slightly overcast, and edited with the 'camo' filter all helped with the lighting aspect of mine en scene. This is important in crime films as lighting can be used to create verisimilitude, however using the filter to make it seem darker helped to suggest the gangster side to the story, as darkness can often act as a kind of cover to hide the criminal activity.
- Genre is also portrayed through the characters genders and costumes, the locations used, the font used for the credits and film title, and the iconography (e.g. the car and brown package).
- The only way I have not portrayed genre conventionally is by the soundtrack used. Typically, crime films would use sinister and more serious music, however I chose an upbeat and funky soundtrack to capture the audiences attention by making it quick and snappy.
How genre is portrayed
Throughout the production of the film opening, I kept in mind the typical conventions of a crime film, as using these would help me to successfully convey the genre. The key aspects within my opening that suggest it is a crime film are:
- The combination of filming in the early evening when the weather was slightly overcast, and edited with the 'camo' filter all helped with the lighting aspect of mine en scene. This is important in crime films as lighting can be used to create verisimilitude, however using the filter to make it seem darker helped to suggest the gangster side to the story, as darkness can often act as a kind of cover to hide the criminal activity.
- Genre is also portrayed through the characters genders and costumes, the locations used, the font used for the credits and film title, and the iconography (e.g. the car and brown package).
- The only way I have not portrayed genre conventionally is by the soundtrack used. Typically, crime films would use sinister and more serious music, however I chose an upbeat and funky soundtrack to capture the audiences attention by making it quick and snappy.
How the opening sets up the story
As it is a narrative film opening, the events seen do relate to the rest of the story. I had planned to follow a similar structure to what was used in the film Reasonable Doubt as I thought it was very clever and surprised the audience. Although I did not include anything that would be a massive shock to the audience in my opening, I thought it would look good to have the same scene in the subway shown again later on in the film to show that the opening is relevant.
As it is a narrative film opening, the events seen do relate to the rest of the story. I had planned to follow a similar structure to what was used in the film Reasonable Doubt as I thought it was very clever and surprised the audience. Although I did not include anything that would be a massive shock to the audience in my opening, I thought it would look good to have the same scene in the subway shown again later on in the film to show that the opening is relevant.
How the characters are introduced
I chose not to show the main characters face until one minute and 27 seconds into the opening. The reason for this was to reinforce the fact that Murphy is living a double life, and therefore has to be careful about who he reveals himself to. The audience finally gets to see his face after the exchange of the package, it is almost as if he is subtly telling them that he has another side to him being a detective, and in a way teases the audience as they know it is mysterious but they have not yet learned why. When Jordan is introduced to the audience, I ensured to frame the scene well to make him appear discrete, yet unwelcoming. His face can be seen, however, the tunnel is heavily shadowed, making it difficult for the audience to get a clear idea of what he looks like. I did this because is increases mystery.
I chose not to show the main characters face until one minute and 27 seconds into the opening. The reason for this was to reinforce the fact that Murphy is living a double life, and therefore has to be careful about who he reveals himself to. The audience finally gets to see his face after the exchange of the package, it is almost as if he is subtly telling them that he has another side to him being a detective, and in a way teases the audience as they know it is mysterious but they have not yet learned why. When Jordan is introduced to the audience, I ensured to frame the scene well to make him appear discrete, yet unwelcoming. His face can be seen, however, the tunnel is heavily shadowed, making it difficult for the audience to get a clear idea of what he looks like. I did this because is increases mystery.
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