For this task we had to create our own film, advertise it over powerpoint and then present it.
As a group we were given the genre 'Historical'. With historical films people generally think of war movies, but we tried to pick a different, original genre that hasn't been done as frequently as other historical themes. This is why we chose a Viking themed movie.
Editing Practice
For this task we had to practice our editing skills on premiere using various clips that have been uploaded onto the system. The first video was on random clip on dancing animanls, the second was my opening sequence of James Bond.
Dancing Animals:
This is my edit on a random bunch of clips full of dancing animals; it looks similar to a music video that doesnt have any lip readin content.
James Bond:
This is my edit of a James Bond opening sequence using clips from various James Bond films.
Genres
For this task we had to take pictures around the school of things that could represent the genre action, rom-com, sci-fi, comedy and horror.
Action:
In this picture we tried to display action by having somebody burst through a couple of doors dramatically. I thought because the genre was action, I needed an action shot for the cover because it would be the most obvious way to display the genre.
Rom-com:
For rom-com we had a girl talking into a phone looking very happy. I thought this picture displays romance through the girl because she looks very happy which would mean she might be talking to a boy but we didn't make it too dramatic to show that the film isn't as serious as it seems and there could be a comedy element to it.
Sci-fi:
For sci-fi we took a picture of a bunch for different coloured wires with some shiny tin foil. These objects are similar to what you would see on a stereotypical space ship so it can relate to sci-fi. I also thought that the fact the foil is ripped and the image looks very broken it could give a hint as to what might happen during the film.
Comedy:
For comedy we took a picture of a boy falling dramatically off a chair. We thought this would relate to comedy because people would associate someone falling off their chair as being funny. Usually in comedy movies the actors really exaggerate their acting which is why the boy is flying his hands up in the air as he is falling.
Horror:
For horror we found an art piece on the wall which looked very stern and creepy. Quite often you see creepy faces in horror movies, so we thought this would resemble horror perfectly.
DISTINCT Opening Sequence
DISTINCT
For this task we were told to analyse 3 opening sequences, 2 of them were given to us and on of them
is our own choice of opening sequence. For each opening sequence we have to apply DISTINCT (Describe In detail, Setting, Theme, Icon, Narrative, Characters, Texual analysis.
Setting:
The location in Oculus is primarily based in a modern looking house where the creepy mirror is placed. There are some rare clips where the film is outside in a garden. The lighting is often quite dark which you would expect from a horror movie because it would add to the suspence. Most of the trailer is set at night which you would also expect from a horror movie.
Themes:
The obvious theme from this trailer is horror, due to the suspence and seriousness conveyed. It is clear from the trailer that it has a very jumpy and disturbing theme to it.
Icons:
The obvious icon in the trailer is the mirror, which is where all the horror in the movie originates from. In the trailer they're trying to prove the mirror causes paranormal activity.
Narrative:
The two main characters are the ginger girl and the brown haired boy. They have found out about this mirror and are trying to prove that is causes paranormal activity in the area it is based. As they're trying to prove it, a lot of strange things begin to happen to them in the house they're based in.
Characters:
There arent many characters in this film. There is the ginger girl who seems to be the most enthusiastic about monitering this mirror. There is a boy with brown hair is the ginger girls brother, whos clearly helping the ginger girl. There is a dad and it looks like there is a dead mum involved.
Texual analysis:
There isnt a proper music track to the back of this, the sound behind it is very jumpy and mysterious, with the whispering and the drums or loud noises. The camera quite often closes in on the scene its focusing on because this gives the affect that the camera is watching them, it also closes in on their expression which both adds tension to the clip. There is often strobe lighting effects added to the clips and the editing is all very quick at jumpy so you dont get a long look at the horror scenes.
Setting:
The setting is mainly in an normal looking house, with some clips outside in farmlands, muddy roads etc. Most of the trailer seems to be set on a sunny or an overcast day, the film isnt often dark. It looks like its filmed mostly during the day.
Themes:
There isnt an obvious theme to the trailer because its only a teaser trailer. To me it looks like an action or a thriller themed film because of the guns and the dust flying around the car.
Icons:
David (the guest) pulls out a gun half way through the trailer which suggests that the gun could play an important part in the film.
Narrative:
The guest way told by a family's dying son to look after them after he is gone. So the guest (David) enters the family's home and lives there for a while. He could have brought some trouble with him.
Characters:
The main character is the guest (David), ho is clearly an ex marine due to the fact he was with the parents son when he died, has been told to look after the family which was the dying wish of the dead son. David however always had a suspitious look to him because he looks too happy. The parents are called Mr and Mrs Peterson and the have a daughter and a son.
Textual analysis:
The doorbell to open the trailer is a ironic effect as its the exact time the family is introduced to David is the same time we are as well. The camera was often facing David square on which may suggest they are trying to put across his expressions to the audience. The music in the background has a continuous beat that seems to build up towards the end, giving us a hint that something big might happen at the end of the film.
Setting:
The setting begins in a mysterious looking rich house where there isnt much light apart from the glow blasting through the window and the broken lamp in the corner. due to the light coming through the window and the hot weather when he walks out of the building it looks like its set in mid day. The area looks quite bare and abandonned when he is in the building because the room is very quiet, but then he walks out into a crouded area.
Themes:
Its seems like the theme of this film is an agent/spy film portrayed by the man with the gun and an ear peice with orders being thrown at him. spy films are usually based around the thriller and action genre.
Icons:
The laptop with the missing hard drive appeared to be an important object because the woman in the ear piece asked the agent to double check whether it was there.
Narrative:
There isnt a clear plot given out in this opening sequence, all we can see is there are 2 or 3 dead men who have been killed before the agent got there and the hard drive has been stolen.
Characters:
The characters involved in this scene is the agent (James Bond) who is the main character. A few dead agents who are pretty insignificant to the plot. Lastly there is the woman talking to James Bond in the ear piece who is telling him what to do.
Textual analysis:
Throughout the time the agent is in the building the background music is very quiet which adds suspense to the scene. When the agent walks out of the building the music speeds up and gets louder which gives a hint that there might be an action scene coming. At the begining of the scene the camera is out of focus so all you can see is a silhouette of the agent. This adds more suspense to the scene because it could be anyone.
For this task we were told to analyse 3 opening sequences, 2 of them were given to us and on of them
is our own choice of opening sequence. For each opening sequence we have to apply DISTINCT (Describe In detail, Setting, Theme, Icon, Narrative, Characters, Texual analysis.
Setting:
The location in Oculus is primarily based in a modern looking house where the creepy mirror is placed. There are some rare clips where the film is outside in a garden. The lighting is often quite dark which you would expect from a horror movie because it would add to the suspence. Most of the trailer is set at night which you would also expect from a horror movie.
Themes:
The obvious theme from this trailer is horror, due to the suspence and seriousness conveyed. It is clear from the trailer that it has a very jumpy and disturbing theme to it.
Icons:
The obvious icon in the trailer is the mirror, which is where all the horror in the movie originates from. In the trailer they're trying to prove the mirror causes paranormal activity.
Narrative:
The two main characters are the ginger girl and the brown haired boy. They have found out about this mirror and are trying to prove that is causes paranormal activity in the area it is based. As they're trying to prove it, a lot of strange things begin to happen to them in the house they're based in.
Characters:
There arent many characters in this film. There is the ginger girl who seems to be the most enthusiastic about monitering this mirror. There is a boy with brown hair is the ginger girls brother, whos clearly helping the ginger girl. There is a dad and it looks like there is a dead mum involved.
Texual analysis:
There isnt a proper music track to the back of this, the sound behind it is very jumpy and mysterious, with the whispering and the drums or loud noises. The camera quite often closes in on the scene its focusing on because this gives the affect that the camera is watching them, it also closes in on their expression which both adds tension to the clip. There is often strobe lighting effects added to the clips and the editing is all very quick at jumpy so you dont get a long look at the horror scenes.
Setting:
The setting is mainly in an normal looking house, with some clips outside in farmlands, muddy roads etc. Most of the trailer seems to be set on a sunny or an overcast day, the film isnt often dark. It looks like its filmed mostly during the day.
Themes:
There isnt an obvious theme to the trailer because its only a teaser trailer. To me it looks like an action or a thriller themed film because of the guns and the dust flying around the car.
Icons:
David (the guest) pulls out a gun half way through the trailer which suggests that the gun could play an important part in the film.
Narrative:
The guest way told by a family's dying son to look after them after he is gone. So the guest (David) enters the family's home and lives there for a while. He could have brought some trouble with him.
Characters:
The main character is the guest (David), ho is clearly an ex marine due to the fact he was with the parents son when he died, has been told to look after the family which was the dying wish of the dead son. David however always had a suspitious look to him because he looks too happy. The parents are called Mr and Mrs Peterson and the have a daughter and a son.
Textual analysis:
The doorbell to open the trailer is a ironic effect as its the exact time the family is introduced to David is the same time we are as well. The camera was often facing David square on which may suggest they are trying to put across his expressions to the audience. The music in the background has a continuous beat that seems to build up towards the end, giving us a hint that something big might happen at the end of the film.
Setting:
The setting begins in a mysterious looking rich house where there isnt much light apart from the glow blasting through the window and the broken lamp in the corner. due to the light coming through the window and the hot weather when he walks out of the building it looks like its set in mid day. The area looks quite bare and abandonned when he is in the building because the room is very quiet, but then he walks out into a crouded area.
Themes:
Its seems like the theme of this film is an agent/spy film portrayed by the man with the gun and an ear peice with orders being thrown at him. spy films are usually based around the thriller and action genre.
Icons:
The laptop with the missing hard drive appeared to be an important object because the woman in the ear piece asked the agent to double check whether it was there.
Narrative:
There isnt a clear plot given out in this opening sequence, all we can see is there are 2 or 3 dead men who have been killed before the agent got there and the hard drive has been stolen.
Characters:
The characters involved in this scene is the agent (James Bond) who is the main character. A few dead agents who are pretty insignificant to the plot. Lastly there is the woman talking to James Bond in the ear piece who is telling him what to do.
Textual analysis:
Throughout the time the agent is in the building the background music is very quiet which adds suspense to the scene. When the agent walks out of the building the music speeds up and gets louder which gives a hint that there might be an action scene coming. At the begining of the scene the camera is out of focus so all you can see is a silhouette of the agent. This adds more suspense to the scene because it could be anyone.
Sean of the Dead poster semiotics
For this task we had to take a poster from a film of our choice and add in some connotations and denotations of it.
Sean of the Dead poster conotations
Semiotics:
- The study of signs
Semiotics:
- The study of signs
- Also anything which stands for 'something else'
- How we read an image and pictures
Denotation: What we see when we look at an image
1. Three people with rubbish weapons in the centre
2. The colour red behind them
3. These people are on a sheet of paper
4. There is a hoard of zombies around the sheet of paper
5. The zombies are trynig to reach onto the paper
Connotation: What we understand from this image
1. This shows that the people in the centre arent very proffesional in combat and the don't have much chance of survival.
2. This shows anger, rage, danger, blood, evil etc. which gives us a pretty good idea of what the movie is actually about.
3. This shows that they are very fragile and can be ripped easily which again shows that they don't have much chance of survival.
4. This gives us the idea of an appocalpyse or a clostrophobic atmosphere which both link to the idea of horror.
5. Immitating that the people in the middle are the target which shows that they are in danger, giving the observer the impression that the film could be a thriller.
Sean of the Dead opening sequence
For this task we had to take an opening sequence of our own choice and talk about the connotaions and denotations of it.
Semiotics
for opening sequence:
Denotations:
1. Man pushing
a trolley through a car park
2. Lady
working a counter at a supermarket
3. People in a
queue taking their phones out in symmetry
4. People
walking down an alley in symmetry
5. Boy kicking
a football on a road
6. Man 1
walking very slowly + yawning
7. Man 1
joining man 2 on the couch playing a games console
8. Man 1
leaving because he has work.
Connotations:
1. The man pushing
the trolley looks very lonely because the car park drowns him out because of
all the empty space. This makes the spectator feel some sympathy for the man
because the job looks very boring and uninspiring.
2. The lady working
at the counter is quite similar to the man pushing the trolley because her job
also looks very boring and repetitive. Although there are many people around
her, they all look alone as nobody is socialising with anyone, as if everyone
there is half asleep.
3. Again
nobody is socialising in this clip which shows a depressing vibe in these
people’s lives because they look half asleep and bored out of their minds.
Ironically most of them pull out their phones at exactly the same time which is
what people tend to do when they have nothing better to do and are trying to
make themselves look busy. There is one creepy guy in the queue staring strongly
at the man next to him as if he is judging him or ‘sizing him up’, as if he was
looking at his ‘food’ like a zombie would.
4. Everybody
in this clip is walking slowly symmetrically down a mucky alleyway with their
heads down all looking dead and as if they’re being run by a machine. The clip
gives the spectator a very depressing view on life being it seems like these
people are losing their ability to have personalities or socialise. Almost like
they are in their first few steps to becoming a zombie.
5. The boy
kicking the football seems like he’s lacking the energy a normal child should
have because he’s just standing on the spot. He is clearly also lonely because
he is without any friends to play with which adds the lack of social behaviour
everyone has in this opening scene.
6. The camera
focuses on the man’s legs to make it look like he is walking like a zombie
which adds tension to the scene. Although the tension is relieved when they
show it’s really just a tired man, adding some comedy to the scene. However
this tired man, looking half asleep and walking very slowly adds to the tired
and dead theme that’s been used repetitively in this opening sequence.
7. In this
clip the 1st man enters a very mucky room where there’s little space
to walk, giving the impression that both the men are lazy people. This is
further emphasised when the 1st man joins the second one on the sofa
to play a video game.
8. The 1st
man had to be reminded he had work, showing that he is very forgetful and
doesn’t enjoy his job. He has a look of disappointment on his face when he’s
reminded, adding to the depressed vibe that is used in the opening sequence.
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