How films attract Audiences

 
There are many ways a film can attract their audience, such as:

• Posters
• Trailers on the internet
• Adverts
• websites

  These ways of advertising are key to making the movie a success. If the film is not advertised and marketed by the Distribution companies they won't make any money. The more money the film make the better.  The companies who market films need to make millions of pounds. Most of this is just to cover the amount spent on the production of the film and cost of actors etc...

 Here is an example of different types of advertisment...

 

http://www.thehungergames.co.uk/

Establishment of narrative and enigma

The establishment of narrative and enigma is created in an opening scene.

The Narrative is established because in the opening scene hints are dropped in about what happens in the film and often it tells you what has happened to cause the situation the film is showing.

This is mostly done in post-apocalyptic films through a news report/ interview. This applies to the conventions I have picked up on in my research.

This is best shown in the films...

• I am Legend 

• The day after tomorrow

The enigma is set up in the opening scene as it makes the audience ask questions about what has happened or what will happen. This draws the audience in to watching it. For example, using the film "I am Legend" again, the audience may ask, why is he on his own? what happens to him? etc...

Research into Soundtracks

On another miserable morning in October, I am going to be talking about sound tracks used in opening scenes of post apocalyptic films. The music is always sad and depressing. It is always has a slow tempo ans quite a low pitch. soundtracks are a key role for setting the mood of the film. Furthermore the soundtracks often portray the emotion of the character, which can make the audience sympathize with the protagonist.

Here is a great example...

• I am Legend  

 As you can see from the chopped clip the music complies with the conventions I have already wrote about. For example, it is sad and depressing and helps create sympathy for the character. This particular soundtrack is played on piano, adding extra effect as it is the only instrument used. This illustrates the protagonist loneliness; 1 instrument and 1 man.

Research into Classification Categories

This afternoon I have looked into the Classification Categories for my genre (post-apocalypse). The reason for my research is because when me and my group make our own film we need to know what age it is suitable for so we know what audiences it would attract.

Post-apocalyptic classification ratings vary. This is because they get more graphic in terms of language and violence. They vary from around 12-18.  For example, Pacific rim= 12, World War Z=15 and the Divide=18. I think that age rating of 15 is the most common age rating as it is seen in many films. Age ratings of 18 are generally more common in horror films.

 I think that our film should be age rating 15 because it is most common in our genre, so it is easier to see what we can and can't have in our film.

Research into Production and distribution Companies

Production and distribution companies are vital in the making of a film: Without them the film wouldn't exist. A production company does what it says on the tin. They make them film. They are responsible for all aspects of the production (pre and post production). Whereas, a distribution company markets the film. They are involved with things like the release date, where it will be shown. Also they are involved with the advertisement of the film.

From the website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_film_production_companies
I can see what production companies made what film. I can see from this list that particular companies like to make the same genre of films. This is probably because they have the correct facilities to make the film. In addition, it links with audience as it is easier for the audience to know what to watch.

 From my research I have discovered that Production Companies don't tend to stick with one genre, they tend to make different films. However if they are a low budget company such as "Asylum", they tend to make 1 genre.

Researching costume in Post-apocalypse films

This morning I am going to look at costume in; "The Book of Eli". The film is set in the future after nuclear war.

The costume in the scene is very poor looking and quite trampy. This is because everything has been blown up in the war. The costume can make it look old fashioned such as the 19th century, but some props so that it is futuristic, for example, the goggles the man wears.

Researching shot types and distances in post-apocalyse films

Today I am going to research the shot types and distances in the film; "Battleship". This film is about an alien invasion and the scene I have chosen is a battle scene set out in the middle of the ocean.

 There are various shot types used in the scene such as:

• Close up
• Long shot
• Over the shoulder shot 
•  Establishing shot 
• Low angle
• High angle 
• Mid shot
• POV

All of these shots except the Close up shots are filmed from a long distance. The close up shots are to show the mans emotions of the battle.
 All the shots filmed from long angles are used to show the scale of the battle and the vast area it takes up. It is also shot from long distances to belittle the huge props before they get/ nearly get blown to smithereens.

Reseaching editing in post-apocalypse

On this rainy morning, I am going to be researching the editing used in the film; "World War Z". The scene I am using is near the being of the film and this is where we see the first zombie transformation.



 The editing in the opening scene is very fast paced, quick and sharp cuts. This illustrates the confusing and panicked situation on what is happening and that everyone is sprinting away. There is also a lot of camera movement in the scene, like it is filmed from a persons point of view. This a convention  i have picked up on during my research. Also there is lots of tracking and camera movement to show the people running, making the audience feel confused and panicked. When it  comes to planning my film opening I will think about using these conventions.

Average star ratings for Post-apocalypse films

   The average film rating for a post-apocalypse film is a minumum of 5 stars (out of 10 stars). This includes all sub-genres such as nuclear war fare, zombies, extraterrestrial attack, virus and pandemic, environmental and climate change and disaster, impact event, cybernetic revolt, dysgenics, supernatural phenomena, divine judgement, resource depletion, economic/financial/ecological collapse etc...

 I have took this information of the very useful IMDB; the link is below...

http://www.imdb.com/list/f0vG-RUAoT8/

Lighting in post-apcolaypse films

  There is 2 types of lighting used in the first 6 shots used in opening scene of "The Road". I got these images from the blog: http://evanerichards.com/2012/2571

• The first type is high key lighting.                            

  The lighting used is high key because it is really bright, like a summers day. The lighting conforms to the definition of pathetic fallacy. This is showing us that the man is happy. However, due to my recent studies of post-apcolaypse films I know that this lighting doesn't conform to the conventions of post-apocalypse films. This lighting portrays that the scene isn't real; that he is dreaming or in a flashback.



• The second type is low key.

  Low key lighting is where it is really dark and gloomy. This conforms with the conventions of post-apocalypse films and pathetic fallacy as it illustrates the depression and death.

                           

                                                 

Although in this shot there is a small hint of High key lighting. This is shown in the womans face. This portrays the mans love and comfort for and around the woman.

Title squences

Today I annotated the title sequence to two post-apocalypse title sequences. The first was "The Terminator (1984)" and the second was "The Walking Dead (seasons 1 & 2) [2010]". To do this I used the websites...

http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/the-terminator/

http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/the-walking-dead-seasons-1-2/

I annotated the order of the titles and the length of the title song. This is so we know what order to put our titles in when plan our film opening.

• The Terminator (1984)

Conventions of genre (post-apocalypse)

  Whilst anaylising the 4 film openings i have studied I have picked up on some conventions of post-apocalyptic films. These will be very useful for my film opening. The conventions are...

• A news report in the form a voice over or on screen. This means you can have action playing in the scene with the news in the background.
• Sad and depressing/ eery music playing in the background creating sympathy/ tension.
• Filmed to make the audience feel like they are in the scene. For example using shots that make the audience and in the background watching on, such as over the shoulder shots and tracking shots.

  And lastly...

• There is an instant sense of the heirarchy characters made. For example using shots such as Low angle shots and high angle shots to illustrate power, dominace and weakness.

Researching post-apocalyptic film openings

I am Legend. A fantastic but scary film about one of last survivers on earth after the zombie apocalype. The infection was caused by a cancer cure, inceting thousands of people.



Setting up of narrative and enigma

The opening scene sets up a narrative because after the news report at the being it makes you wonder why the cure has gone wrong. Also you want to know why he is on his own and not with any other survivers; is he the only surviver?

Editing

In the opening scene, towards the being the scene the cuts are quite fast. This is allows the audience to see the destroyed city. Cutting fast also emphasises the fact that the city is empty. It then cuts fast and sharp into a title screen of the name of the film. Then the cuts are smooth cutting between shots of the man and his dog.

Camera shots

•  At the start of the scene there is a series of establishing shots (0:31-0:58), which contain the titles. These are used to set the scene, showing the audience that it is set in New york. This also emphasise the fact that the city is empty. A few of the shots are from a high angle. This illustrates the city's weakness as it has been destroyed by the outbreak of the infection.
• It then cuts to an insert shot of a manikin (0:58-1:01). This is portray his life is like a manikins; suggesting his loneliness and locked away life from everyone else.
• It then cuts to the title screen with the film name on it(1:01-1:06). This then dissolves out into an...
• Over the head shot (1:06-1:20); this follows the car the man is driving up the street. The shot is from above building height. This is portraying the loneliness the man feels as he is the only person in a vast area such as New York.
• Inset shot (1:20-1:21); this of the protagonists gun. This is shown the importance of it and how he depends on it.
• 4 Close ups (1:21-1:32); this shows the audience the mans emotions and that he has a companion. shot reverse sot and 180 degree rule are used here.
• Cut in cut away (1:32-1:46); this is where there is a shot from behind the car and then it cuts to inside the car. This is so we can see the main action and some of the surroundings, but when its cuts to inside the car it allows the audience to see what he can see. It shows the audience the desertedness of the city.

Mise en scene

• Pathetic fallacy isn't used in this opening scene. This is because the director is trying to show the audience that this is a normal day for the protagonist.
• Costume; the only item of clothing you can see on the man is a black jacket. This can be showing that this is just a normal day for him, but also the black of his jacket connotates death and his depression.
• Props: the Manikin portrays the mans lonliness. The fancy car the protaganist is driving shows the emptyness of the city because he has easily been able to steal a fancy car. Furthermore, it is the only thing that isn't destroyed in the city. Furthermore, the symbolism of the birds flying away shows the protaganists dream to escape.
• Lighting: the lighting is still however dull illustrating his depression and lonliness.

Sound

At the beginning there is a voice over of an interview witha scientist talking about curing cancer. This sets the narrative as we realise what has caused the destruction. Then there is a destress signal sent out by the man character making other survives aware of his existance. Through the titles scene and the same time as the destress signal there is a slow depressing piano playing. This creates sympathy for the protaganist. when the over the head shot happens we can hear the cars engine and the wind blowing. This shows the tranquility of the city.

Researching Post-apocalyptic film openings

Children of men

A film set in 2027; no one has been born for 18 years; 1 mans journey to save the dieing days of the human race.



Setting up the narrative and enigma

The narrative and enigma is set in the first scene because the news report on the youngest man dieing makes the audience think "why has no one been born for 18 years?" Furthermore, the audience is drawn in due to the fact that the shop blows up.

Editing

The first cut happens at 1:18 where it cuts to see the TV that everyone is looking at. It then cuts back to the man walking out the shop. This is the only cutting in the scene. There is only a few camera shots. This makes you feel like you are in the scene and are there watching. In addition there is writing that comes onto the screen to help set the scene.

Camera shots

There are only a few camera shots, this is because it makes you feel like you are there. Furthermore, it looks like the camera is filmed from a POV position of the cameraman; maybe portraying the audience. This further enhances the feeling of being in the scene.

• High angle shot (0:55-1:17); this shows everyones weakness in the shop. Inside the high angle shot there is also an eyeline match. The man is looking at the TV then it cuts to the tv.
• POV shot (1:17-1:31); this is a shot for the mans POV looking up at the TV watching and listening of the news story of the youngest person being killed.
• Tracking shot (1:31-1:48)- the camera follows the man out of the shop and leads into the next shot...
• Establishing shot (1:48-1:52)- This is a shot looking out from the shop into london. This sets t he scene for the audience.
• Tracking shot (1:52-2:15); the camera follows the man from the shop up to the the electric box where he puts his coffee down and starts putting liquer into it.
• POV shot (2:15-2:23); the camera is running towards the shop to show the audeince what happened.

Mise-en-scene

• Pathetic fallecy; the weather is cloudy and gloomy in the scene suggest that bad things will happen or have happened.
• costumes: Everyone is wearing general day to day outfits to portray that people didnt know what was going to happen. However there were people wearing futuristic outfits such as policemen. This shows that it is set in the future.
• Props: all the props were day to day oblects but like the costumes there were things that look futuristic. For example the bikes people were riding.
• Lighting: the lighting in the scene is quite dull and gloomy. This is because it refers back to pathetic fallacy, but also it could be illustrating that the problem of global warming is only going to get worse.

Sound

At the begining there is a voice over of a news report of the UK closing its borders to stop illegal imagrants getting in. From then on all of the sound is diagetic. There is on sound like cars driving and the explosion happening. The is no non diagetic sound in the scene;for example there is no music played in the background. These creates suspense and tension.

Researching post-apocalyptical film openings

  The Book Of Eli is a fantastic post-apocolyptical film. This shows a sub genre of the genre post-apocalypse: The Book Of Eli is set after nuclear war, unlike the day after tomorrow which is post natural disaster.



Editing

There is no cutting of shots until 1:55. It is all one shot following the cat down onto the man then up and round towards the man with the bow and arrow.  This is filmed from a long shot, this make sthe audience feel like they are there in the film. Like they are hiding and watching on from a distance. After this it cuts fast between the cat and the man. Then it cuts into shots of the man walking towards the cat he just killed.

Setting up of narrative and enigma

An enigma is created in the opening scene because the audience wonder why he has to kill a cat, whether its for food or other reasons. It sets up the narrative because it shows he is alone, killing food on his way, like his on a journey for something. Furthermore, the gas mask creates an enigma as it makes the audience want to watch on to find out who he is.

Camera shots

• Tracking shot from high angle (0:00-1:00); this is a shot tracking across a man laid dead on the floor with his gun fallen out his hand. It is from a high angle as this portrays his weakness as he is dead and has been killed be something more powerful.
• Etablishing shot; this happens for the first 2 minutes. This sets the scene for the audience showing that they are in a deralict forest.
•  Long shot (zoom in) (1:35-1:55); It starts as a long shot of the man sat with his bow and arrow. It starts as a long shot because it shows that the audience are watching on; it makes the audience feel like they are there. This is also a long shot because it is hard to see the man as he has camophlage on. It then zooms in and shows that it is a man and he is sneaking up on the cat.
• Full shot of the cat (1:55-1:57); this shows the smallness of the cat and what he is doing. This can illustrate hie weakness as he is so small.
• Close up (1:57-1:59); This is of the mans face. Normally this would show the audience the characters emotions; but the man has a gas mask on. This shows that the man may need to it to filter the air and for his camoplage. On the other hand it can illustratehis lonesomeness as he feels no need to show his emotions.
• Insert shot (2:00-2:01);  this is a close up of tha arrow head. This shows the importance of it as its about to kill the cat.
• Close up (2:01-2:03); this is of the cat, showing that the arrow is heading towards the cat. This is like an eyeline match, but with an arrow and a cat.
• POV (2:03-2:05); this is a POV shot from the cats view. This shows the audience that the cat has no idea where the man is.
• Close up (2:05-2:07); this of the cat again, this shows us that it was from the cats POV we just saw.
• 2 close ups (2:07-2:11); these are of both the man and cats face. This shows that the mans intentions are the cat as it shows that he is looking at it.
• Over the head shot (2:11-2:12); this shows the size and speed of the arrow.
• Slow motion wide shot (2:12-2:15); This also shows the size and speed of the arrow showing that the cat had no time to react.
• Low angle shot (2:15-2:21); this shows the mans dominance and power. Illustrating to the audience that he will be the main character in the film.
• Over the shoulder sot (2:27-2:28); this shows us what the man is looking at but it also helps the audience feel like they are.

 Mise-en-scene

• Pathetic fallacy is used. The weather is really dark and grim. Portraying that bad things have happened and furture tortures also will.
• Costumes: The man is wearing a big coat and a gas mask. His clothes look like rags. This shows that he has been through a lot. Also the gas mask represnts his loneliness as he doesn't need to show people his face. It also creates and enigma as the audience want to see his face.
• Props: The dead mans gun on the floor shows that it is set in the future because it has extra technology on it that present day doesn't.
• Lighting: It is really dark in the opening scene, suggesting evil.
• In addition, the cat symbolises everyone in the worlds vunrability to nuclear war as its a constant threat. It symbolises it because the cat is just doing normal things then the man (represnting nuclear war) sneaks up and kills it.

Sound

The diagetic sound used in the scene is leafs rustling on the flowing suggest the creeping up. Then there is a eery low sound played over the top creating tension and mystery about what will happen to the cat.

Final copy of preliminary task

Here is the final copy of the preliminary filming task. Hope you enjoy it!

Researching post-apocalyptic film openings

The first film opening I am going to analyse is "The Day After Tomorrow". I couldn't find the opening scene so I used an official trailer but it is still useful to annotate as i can pick up key camera shots and editing examples to use in our film opening.

  

Editing

The editing of the trailer at the start is very jumping; cutting really fast in and out to different shots. This represents the caos and mayhem the storms have caused and the world is literally collapsing under their feet. Once the fast jumpy editing finishes it goes into slow, dissolving cuts to portray the fact that no one understands and knows what to do.

Setting up narrative and Enigma

The opening sets the narrrative because it shows what is going to happen but not in enough detail so the audience know exactly what will happen. The enigma is created because the audience want to know why it has happened and in fact if its actually going to happen in the future.

Camera shots

There are a variety of camera shots used in the opening sequence. All the shots in the first jumpy part are blurry and fuzzy, like there is poor signal on the camera. This adds effect to the editing as it also adds to representation of mayhem and caos in natural destruction.

• Establishing shot (0:20); this sets the scene of the film; showing us its set in New York. This shot also shows the birds migrating portraying that winter is coming.
• Low angle shot (0:29); this shows the power of the storm passing through the building leveling it in its path.
• High angle shot (0:31); this shot is of the Hollywood sign, destroyed. The high angle shot illustrates the inferiority of it.
• Long shot (from a high angle) (0:47); sets the scene also but shows a main action. Furthermore, the shot being from a higher angle also illustrates the inferiority of it as it is getting pounded by waves.
• Eyeline match (0:52-0:53); we see the wave coming towards the building from where the man is stood, showing a POV shot, then it cuts to the man looking at the wave from the waves POV.
• Shot reverse shot- Over the Shoulder shots and close ups (1:04-1:14); This happens when the US Government are talking about the situation in a Board room. The over the shoulder shots creates a sense taht the audience feel like they are there, watching in on what is being said. In addition the close ups show the characters emotions creating a sense of empathy for the characters from the audience.
• Insert shot (1:29); this shows the importance in the object; which in this case is important because it has save his life from falling off the side of the ice.
• Wide angle shot (1:40); this shows the mass amout of people fleeing. It does this because it allows the audience to see into the distance and see the amount of people there.

Mise-en-scene

• Pathetic fallacy applies to this opening scene: The weather is really dark and raining portraying that things aren't going to go well for the characters.
• Costumes: The costumes characters are wearing are everyday clothes, such as work clothes. This illustrates to the audience that no one was prepared for it.
• Props: all the props that were inplace were there to make it look like everyday normal life. This further enhances the fact that no one was prepared for it to happen.
• Lighting: the lighting was dark which also links to pathetic fallecy as the dark conotates with evil. This shows that bad and evil things will happen, for example the world nearly end.

Sound

At the start of the clip there is storm sound showing that a storming is happening and to show what will happen. Also there is news readers voices showing that it is being shown all over America. You can here one clear voice describing what is happening on the screen but in the back ground there is lots of different news reports happening at the same time but quieter. Once it goes into the second half of the trailer, this is about what happens after the storm, the music is sad voilins playing. It makes the audience sympathise with the actors as it is like music you would play at a funeral.

Briefs for filming

The Briefs we were given today to start researching for our filming tasks are...

• A Si-Fi opening for mature audience (e.g. Moon)

• A Psycological thriller for a female audience ( e.g Black Swan)

• A Post-apocolyptical opening (e.g The Book of Eli)

The film Brief i will be researching into further will be Post-apocolyptical brief. This because it will be a good opening to make and it also covers a wide range of sub genres such as natural disasters, nuclear war, infections etc...

Research on film openings

The Dark Knight Rises



 The Dark Knight Rises is a fantastic film with a great opening.

The openning scene uses editing techniques such as; cut in- cut away, cut (shot reverse shot), and eyeline match.

Editing

• Cut in-cut away: this is where the camera shows the main action in a shot from a distance and then it is cut into the main action. In this film there is an example of this right at the beginning: The car is driving and there is a long shot from behind it, then it cuts to inside the car and a shot of the driver. This is used at the beginning of this film to show the main action and then to introduce to the main character who is hooded and portrayed as a victim (0:00-0:04).
• Eyeline match: this is where you see the character looking at something, then it cuts to what the character was looking at. This happens in the opening scene where the CIA man is stood in front of the plane looking at the car driving up to it. This helps create emotions with the character and makes the audience feel like they are there. In addition the camera zooms in on his face showing his emotions (0:04-0:10).
• Cut (shot reverse shot): this happens when the CIA man and the henchman are having a conversation before getting on the plane. It cuts from a close up of one character to another (0:12-0:32).

Lighting

The lighting used in the opening looks like all natural light. Pathetic fallacy applies to the opening scene. The cloudiness and darkness makes the scene feel eery and suggest that something bad will happen.

Costume
Bane and his henchman all wear dark clothes illustrating there evil. The CIA agent wears a suit portraying his authority and the army men wear army uniform showing that they work for America.











Camerawork

The scene starts with a long shot from behind the vehicle, this shows that the vehicle is important and sets the scene. Then it cuts in then cuts away inside the car; this introduces the audience to some characters. Then there is a full shot of the CIA agent but it zooms into the mans face to show his emotions. Then there is a few over the shoulder shots when the CIA man has a conversation with Bane's Henchman outside the plane. This agrees with the 180 degree rule and shot reverse shot is used. When we see the plane flying this is a establishing shot. These are often used at the start of a new scenery; this is because it sets the scene and it shows the audience where the main action will take place. In this specific scene it is on board a plane. It then cuts in-cuts away onto the plane. On the plane there is 2 main shots: a high and low angle shot. The high angle shots are of the CIA agent threatening the other henchman: this is illustrating his weakness and his lack of power even though he has as powerful status. On the other hand, the Low angle shot is of Bane. This portrays his power and shows his dominance in the scene.

Here is the trailer to "The Dark Knight Rises"