Title Research: Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation

1. How many titles are displayed during the opening sequence to the film?

There were 15 title screens, with 28 total titles displayed.

2. What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?
Digitally generated sequences, special effects, and action scenes.

3. What connotations do the images carry?
Excitement, secrets, pressure, action, danger, impressiveness.

4. How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes for the outset?
Shots are dramatic and scenes are fast-paced and exciting, and the characters are shown in dangerous situations.

5. How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?
By already providing an action theme and engaging viewers by showing glimpses of the film without spoiling anything.

6. What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?
The editing and angles of the filming, as well as the digital effects used in the titles is visually pleasing and appeals viewers. Also, the movement and scenes shown have an engaging effect on viewers, piquing their interest and causing them to want to know what happens.

7. How has technology been used effectively? You want to consider camera angles, transitions, and editing techniques.
Editing and angles have been utilized to enhance dramatic shots, and provide an enjoyable perspective for viewers.

Title Research: Sky Fighters

1. How many titles are displayed during the opening sequence to the film?
There were 12 title screens, with 24 total titles displayed.

2. What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?
Shots of planes flying and taking off. There were also many digitalized planes coming apart to show the inner mechanics.

3. What connotations do the images carry?
Flight, military, government.

4. How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes for the outset?
It is reinforced through the apparent government involvement and music chosen, as well as the action paced transitions.

5. How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?
By showing the importance/relevance of planes and their mechanics, and implying a government or military involvement.

6. What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?
The editing and angles of the filming, as well as the digital effects used in the titles is visually pleasing and appeals viewers.

7. How has technology been used effectively? You want to consider camera angles, transitions, and editing techniques.
Editing techniques were used to follow planes and create the technical images of the inner planes. High angles and low angles are both used to capture flight and take off/ landing of different planes and types of planes in the opening scene. Eye level shots and panning are also used to show the situation/environment and include the people present.

Title Research: Watch the Titles Website

This website is called 'Watch the Titles'. It is the second of two websites that our teachers showed us. I am supposed to look at them to study openings of other films. They will help give me a good idea of how to plan mine. I watched a few opening sequences from each site. I chose action movies, since that's the genre mine will be. The characteristics in the openings I found on each website were often the same, as they were all in the same genre and therefore had many of the same conventions. I noticed that the music for many of them is fast paced, often energetic and loud. The shots are commonly fast/ move on quickly. This gives a tone of action and causes the viewer to know that something exciting is going to happen in the movie. Also, the font used in the title sequences were all the same throughout one film. This gives a sense of uniformity. It helps the film seem professional and visually appealing. The titles were also usually in motion, or were shown in a creative way. This also lends to the aesthetic and excitement of the opening.

Title Research: Art of the Title Website

This website is called 'Art of the Title'. It is one of two websites that our teachers showed us. I am supposed to look at them to study openings of other films. This will help give me a good idea of how to plan mine. I watched a few opening sequences. I chose action movies, since that's the genre mine will be. I noticed that the music for many of them is fast paced, often energetic and loud. The shots are commonly fast/ move on quickly. This gives a tone of action and causes the viewer to know that something exciting is going to happen in the movie. Also, the font used in the title sequences were all the same throughout one film. This gives a sense of uniformity. It helps the film seem professional and visually appealing. The titles were also usually in motion, or were shown in a creative way. This also lends to the aesthetic and excitement of the opening.

What Genre I'm Doing

I have decided on the genre I will be using for my film. I was stuck between using drama and action. I'm going to go with action. I chose action because the film as a whole will be more of an action-filled plot, despite the emotional turmoil and foundation of the story. Though I am not sure that the opening will contain much action, it will still suit the film as a whole better than drama would. My goals with making it an action film will be to keep viewers entertained and interested in the plot.

Genre Research: Action and Drama

Genre: Action

Common Camera Angles (CAMS):

• Low-angle, high-angle.

Common Mis-en-scene (CLAMPS):

• The costumes are usually detailed and expressive of the character.
• The lighting usually enhances mood, often puts emphasis on dramatic scenes.
• The actors are usually portrayed in a serious manner.
• The makeup is minimal.
• The props are usually hand props, like guns and phones.
• The setting is often somewhere recognizable or famous.

Common Editing:

• Most of the editing makes the movie visually appealing and gives a more enticing/interesting appearance.

Elements:

• Some common conventions include fight scenes, two or more opposing sides (in which the protagonist comes out the winner), and a high-stakes plot or conflict.

Examples:

• Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, Baby Driver.

Common Sounds:

• Sound effects added to action scenes.
• Energetic/dramatic/suspenseful music.

Elements I Like:

• The fight scenes and editing add an element of excitement and visual appeal that I enjoy about action movies.

Elements I Dislike:

• Action movies often seem all the same, as many do not have original plots and are simply knockoffs of other more popular movies.

Genre: Drama

Common Camera Angles (CAMS):

• Bird's Eye/God's Eye/Aerial shots and Eye Level shots are common.
• Pans and tilts are used often.
• Extreme close ups and medium shots.

Common Mis-en-scene (CLAMPS):

• Costumes used to emphasize themes and personalities.
• Lighting is dark, realistic.
• Actors are emotional, serious.
• Makeup is minimal to give a sense of realism.
• Props are fewer in order to direct focus to actors.
• Setting contributes to theme or plot.

Common Editing:

• Editing mainly enhances shot and dramatizes events.

Elements:

• Clear, evident plots to make them easy to understand and follow.
• Emotional scenes and relationships between characters.

Example films:

• Jaws, Titanic, Schindler's List.

Common Sounds:

• Usually diegetic and would naturally belong in the location of the shot.
• Emotional music to add to themes.

Elements I Like:

• Plots are often engaging and easy to follow.

Elements I Dislike:

• Some dramas are overdramatic or cheesy.

Genre Research (Epic)

In the first quarter of this class we had to do this project. We were each assigned a genre and did a PowerPoint on it. The genre I was assigned was Epic. I had to research the elements are commonly found in this genre. For example the common lighting, sounds, camera angles, and so forth. I explored a variety of movies in the Epic genre and found common conventions and standards. The project gave me insight into what makes a genre what it is and how the different elements in a film work together to produce the end result.

My Pitch

My two final pitches are:

1) “When a single mother's only son is killed in what the media deems a "tragic accident", chaos ensues when she goes after his killer.”  I chose this one because I already have a good idea of what I could do with it, and I feel very confident with this pitch. It will provide the right amount of suspense and emotion to draw viewers in. I have an idea of showing how empty and emotionless the woman's life is, without giving away how or why she ended up in this situation. Then, we would show that the missing piece is her passed son. The woman will come to the decision to take revenge on his killer, and the two minutes will leave off on a note of suspense and emotion. The hardest part would probably be making the emotions clear, at least with facial expressions, as there aren't many actual lines. The shots and music will also be a main contributing factor to this. I may use my mother or a friend, depending on when they are available for filming. I would also use my younger brother to play the woman's son.

2) "Two estranged sisters trapped in an elevator together during a family vacation reveal secrets about their alienation that bring the siblings closer than ever before.”. I decided not to film this pitch for a few reasons. One of them is that I don't have the right resources or equipment to make it effectively. I don't have access to an elevator on a regular basis, and while that wouldn't be too much of an issue, I also don't have the ability to film a elevator "break down" without it seeming cheesy and badly done. If I wanted to make this into a good film, I would need more than two minutes to properly express it.

My final decision is the first pitch. I chose this one becauseI think that a lot of people will choose the horror genre, and while mine is somewhat similar (being more of a thriller/action movie), I'm not sure it will be as easy to pull off a film that leaves viewers at the edges of their seats. I also think that this will be much easier, needing only two actors and very few actual lines. Another reason I chose it is because I see myself having a lot of fun making it, and already am enjoying the storyboarding process and coming up with ideas for it.

Starting Our Final Task

On Wednesday, our teacher announced the beginning of our final project. This one will be the opening two minutes of a film. The film will be a completely original one that I will have to come up with. I'm working by myself. This means that there will be more work for me to do on my own. However, it will also be easier for me to coordinate and plan out the different aspects of the project. This project will be more difficult than our previous ones. It will also be more important. This is because we have to come up with an entire movie, not just the two minutes we will be filming. This project will also be worth far more than anything else we've done, and will be part of our final Cambridge grade.

This year, I have grown and learned from both our teachers' lectures and hands-on experience. When we had our commercial project, the first project of the year, I was lost and unfamiliar with the filming and editing processes. Despite the difficulties I encountered, I would say that the tasks we have been given have helped me improve drastically. I've become better at choosing shots and angles, as well as filing in general. I have also gotten better at editing film. Although I absolutely still have plenty of room for improvement, as everyone does, I am proud of myself for how far I've come in just a few months.

For this project, we come up with 3-6 pitch ideas for a movie before planning what will be the opener (the part we shoot). I had a couple of ideas as soon as our teacher explained what we had to do, but after researching I realized that many of them were too similar to preexisting films or concepts, even if I had never heard of them before. Despite this, I managed to think of a few different ideas that I believe could work:

    1) When a single mother's only son is killed in what the media deems a "tragic accident", chaos ensues when she goes after his killer.

    This would be good for the project because it would include grief and conflict that would definitely be possible to show within the first two minutes of the film.

    2) A serial killer who uses victim's axes to kill leaves a note calling himself a demon, and warns that only jazz music could protect them.

    (Based on the true story of the Axeman of New Orleans.)
    This is a good option because it has the horror aspect that engages viewers and makes it easy to create a compelling introduction.

    3) Two estranged sisters trapped in an elevator together during a family vacation reveal secrets about their alienation that bring the siblings closer than ever before.

    This could be good because it has the right combination of tension and slight thriller that could make for a food opener.