My Film Opening Project - Genre and Group Members

I will work with Erin Watson, Maddie Hopkins, and Josh Young on a film with the mystery/detective genre.

Film Opening Research #2 - The Sound of Music

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

There are no title screens that are displayed in the opening sequence of this film.

2.) What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?

The images prioritized in the opening scene of this film are of the mountains, the streams, the greenery of the land, and the woman.

3.) What connotations do the images carry?

The images of the nature and sweet looking woman carry feelings of freedom, comfort, adventure, and joy.

4.) How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?

The genre of this film is a musical which contains music and dance. The use of sound through the woman singing and acting through choreography are the first two main components of a musical that are found in this film. Also, the use of bright lighting and natural scenery help to give this musical a sense of joy and freedom that can typically be found in a happier musical.

5.) How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?

The opening of this film creates a sense of mystery from the very beginning due to the lack of information given about what viewers are watching. For example, while we see and hear a beautiful, singing woman, we do not know who she is. Moreover, the beautiful land around her is undefined, so viewers can not even point out her exact location. Also, the lyrics to the song help to create a sense of wonder. For example, through the song viewers learn of the main character that the hills "fill her heart" and that sometimes her "heart is lonely". This information leaves viewers wondering about the main character's backstory and how she feels.

6.) What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?

The film is a musical, and multiple strategies are used to convey such components of a musical. For example, the use of music and dance help to make this film a musical which is likely why viewers would choose to watch the film to begin with. Also, the film uses bright lighting for the natural and sprawling landscape that bring the happy and upbeat sense of a musical that many look out for.

7.) Has technology been used effectively? 

It should be noted that this film was created in the 1960s, thus the technology was not as developed as it is today. However, the technology in the camera work is effective in creating and developing the musical genre. For example, the arial shot at the beginning of the film helps to establish the setting which is one of sprawling and bright hills. Such an adventurous setting is typical of a musical. Furthermore, the camera tracks the woman as she sings which helps to allow viewers a more personal approach to listening to the woman's feelings. Moreover, the tilt shot that looks up upon the woman as she gazes away helps viewers to understand her longing as she sings.

Film Opening Research #1 - Murder on the Orient Express

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

One title is shown in the film opening, and it is blue, ambient letters that say "Murder on the Orient Express" amid a black screen. The bright lettering amid such a dark and blank screen may help to show how, later on, there will be an isolated and mysterious attack.

2.) What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?

The first image prioritized in the opening scene is the "Wailing Wall" in Jerusalem. Specifically, there is a little boy running through the Jerusalem town into a kitchen. In the kitchen, viewers see eggs, a timer, and a warm interaction between the egg-carrying boy and a man with a curly mustache.

3.) What connotations do the images carry?

The timer gives a feeling of a time limit and rush, where similarly, the eggs give a feeling of fragility. Viewers feel nervous and rushed, but yet with a sense of protection over the eggs.

4.) How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?

The symbolic code of location is important in this as the mysterious yet bustling land helps to develop a sense of urgency and mystery. In terms of sound, the bells at the beginning of the film make viewers feel rushed and conscious of time which too, makes viewers wonder where this mysterious film is going. Mystery films have smaller parts that come together, where in this case, the mysterious aspects of the film are meant to later come together to tell a more complete story. Similarly, the quick paced music following the little boy helps to further the mysterious rush. Also, the use of darker colors in the strange, picky man's office creates a sense of wonder around him that is typical of characters found in a mystery film.

5.) How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?

An enigma is a mystery, and the film creates a sense of mystery in the beginning through a variety of factors. For example, viewers do not know much about the setting, who the characters are, much about the little boy nor why he is exactly rushing, what the importance of the eggs are, or why there is such a time rush.

6.) What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?

Given that this film is a mystery film, the various random objects, strange setting, and undefined characters set viewers up immediately for confusion and an inquiry of what could possibly come next.

7.) How has technology been used effectively? 

Technology has been used effectively through the camera shots that made these scenes stronger. For example, the establishing shot was used to show the mysterious setting and a close up introduced viewers to the sand timer that also leads to a great amount of wonder. Also, the use of long shot helps to show the quick little boy among a multitude of adults in this strange land that creates even more question. For example, why is he running, where is he running to, and who is he?

Genre Research #2 - PowerPoint

My Favorite Genre - Video

https://youtu.be/8udEmeKn8eQ

My Favorite Genre - PowerPoint

Film Viewing Practice Essay

Word Count: 675

Throughout the movie Agent Carter from Marvel, there are noticeable aspects of editing, music, camera shots/angles, and mise-en-scène. Each of these film components contribute to the meaning of the plot as a whole, and ultimately help the filmmaker enhance the storyline.

To start, the film uses the editing technique of parallelism which highlights the differences and similarities between two scenes. In this case, viewers see alternating shots between Peggy and Steve as Peggy sits in an office and Steve is flying an aircraft that is in the line of danger. The similarities between these shots is the panic that is evident in the subjects’ faces, as well as the dramatic orchestra music that follows through with each shot. As for differences, Peggy is in an evidently less threatening environment whereas Steve appears to have his life on the line in the aircraft. This technique enhances the film because it shows how interconnected the characters are emotionally despite being physically separated. Also, leitmotif, which is a shot with a recurring theme, can be seen in the Marvel introduction sequence. This sequence is shown at the start of all Marvel movies, and the sequence sets viewers up with an expectation of the movie through general Marvel themes.

Sound is another technique that is employed in this film, where the film starts off using nonsimultaneous sound. Nonsimultaneous sound is sound in a film that takes place at a different point than in the specific scene it is used in. Non simultaneous sound occurs in the beginning of this film through sound of Steve and Peggy frantically radioing to each other during the flip scene of the Marvel introduction. This sound is important because it sets the film up for a sense of urgency and panic by making the very first scene inclusive of such a panic. Also, non-diegetic sound is used in the beginning of the film through emotional violin music. This sound was added in after the film, and it adds a sense of emotion and pain that the characters are feeling upon Steve’s situation because violin music is incorporated with sadness. Finally, a sound bridge is used to connect the scene from the fighter aircraft to the establishing shot of the city. This carrying of sound helps to relate the scenes which shows how the problems from the original shot are carrying on through time.

Moreover, certain camera shots and angles were used in the film to convey the meaning of the story better. For example, an establishing shot, which is a shot used to set the scene, is used when a wide view of the city is first shown. This view helps viewers to recognize that the setting is NYC, which is a bustling city full of life and action, where intense action will eventually occur for the characters. Also, an over the shoulder shot is used as the two men in Peggy’s case speak to her and as Peggy speaks back to them. This use of over the shoulder in two different ways helps to put the two parties on a more equal playing field, as Peggy is not any weaker than the men.

Finally, aspects of mise-en-scène can also be viewed in this movie. For example, low key lighting with darkness and shadowing is used in the office. This use of lighting develops an understanding that the workers there handle “dark” business, and that for Peggy, this is not necessarily a happy, welcoming place. At one point, however, Peggy is discussing her future with her boss, where the lighting appears of a higher key (ex: brighter lighting with less shadows) which symbolizes hope and joy for her future. Also, in regard to staging, there is a use of blocking in which all of Peggy’s male coworkers are placed near each other as she stands alone which shows how for this time period, men were considered more dominant.

Ultimately, the filmmaker of Agent Carter employed aspects of editing, sound, camera shots/angles, and mise-en-scène to help convey the emotions and meaning the story.

Graphic Organizer

Mise en Scène - Legally Blonde Movie

I chose to watch the movie "Legally Blonde" in an attempt to analyze aspects of mise en scène, which include costume, setting, staging, and lighting.

1.) Costume: The use of costume both in the beginning and end of the film help to convey the story of the transformation of Elle from a silly sorority member to a sophisticated lawyer.  Elle begins by wearing wildly patterned, bright clothes such as crop tops, tight dresses, and short shorts before she becomes a lawyer. However, after Elle becomes a lawyer, she begins to dress in a more reserved fashion by wearing business outfits such as cardigans, professional pencil skirts, and collared shirts. The outfits still have tinges of pink and purple, which are Elle's favorite colors, which shows how Elle had a transformation, but that she also maintained her sense of self throughout the process.

2.) Setting: The set designers from this movie chose to use setting in a similar way to how costume was used. The beginning of the movie takes places in a bustling sorority house, with bright, colorful furniture and silly decorations. The house has many rooms filled with girls, games, and partying. At the end of the movie, however, when Elle becomes a lawyer and attends Harvard, the setting completely changes. Elle is in and out of dark and serious court rooms as well as classrooms, and is surrounded by serious lawyers and students alike. These two settings visually show Elle's two different mindsets throughout the movie, which are mindsets first of partying, and then of seriousness.

3.) Staging and acting: In terms of staging and acting, Reese Witherspoon (the actress who plays Elle) used method acting. At the beginning of the film, Reese truly personifies Elle by raising her voice in a high pitched tone, wearing glitzy clothing and accessories, and using silly hand and body movements. All of this acting helps to create the initial portrayal of Elle, which is a goofy and immature character. Also, the use of blocking through character placement helps to show Elle's transformation throughout the movie. For example, when Elle is taking her LSAT test to get into law school, she is placed right in the middle of hundreds of other potential law students which shows how, in that moment, she is lost amidst others and does not know where she stands quite yet. However, later on once Elle is in law school, she sits right in the front of the class, and thus in front of her classmates. This placement shows how Elle is truly a go-getter and that she is willing to work hard to achieve her goals of coming in "first".

4.) Lighting: When Elle is still caught up in her lifestyle as a sorority girl, high-key lighting is used frequently. Whether Elle is at the well lit pool or at a fancy boutique, Elle is casted in bright, low shadow lighting. This use of lighting helps to show how, at that point in her life, Elle was nearly immune to the struggles of the outside world as her concerns were typically immature and not serious, thus her life was bright and bubbly. However, after Elle begins attending Harvard Law School and entering the court rooms, there is low-key lighting that features darkness and shadows. This use of lighting is important in showing how Elle's life has become increasingly difficult and serious, as darker colors and lighting are far more serious than happier, lighter colors and lights. Again, this use of lighting helps to visually show Elle's transition into a more mature individual through her education.

Five Editing Techniques - Sound

Link to "Five Editing Techniques With Sound": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuCh3oDa_mU

1.) The first clip (symbolism) included post synchronization dubbing, which is a form of non-digetic sound. Post synchronization dubbing is sound that is added to a scene after the filming was done, meaning that the sound is not natural to the scene. In this case, the clip included non-digetic sounds of birds chirping that were not actually present in the clip naturally, as a means of making the scene more authentic and "nature" based, which was the goal of the clip. This increased authenticity of the clip help to give viewers a feeling of just how beautiful and important the environment is, shown by the life provided by the birds chirping sound.

2.) The second clip (contrast) included a voice-over, which is non-digetic sound. A voice-over is when someone is speaking in a clip, but the speaker is not present in the clip. In this case, the clip shows girls writing and typing to contrast the two forms of conveying information, where a voice-over is present and the girls are discussing the stress of getting their work done. The girls are not actually speaking in the clip, but rather the editing included the voices that were recorded separately from the clip and then placed in the scene to make it seem like there was speaking happening. This use of voice-over helps to give viewers a sense of urgency that the girls are facing as they struggle to submit an assignment, as the voice-over includes the girls with a clear sense of panic in their voices.

3.) The third clip (parallelism) included music, which is a form of non-digetic sound. Music is simply a use of theme music, where the music was not originally in the clip, but rather added in later through editing. In this case, the girls feet walking are accompanied by music with lyrics of "I would walk 500 miles, and I would walk 500 more" to help convey the idea that the girls are walking on and on in a variety of paralleling scenes. This use of music, specifically through the lyrics, help to show viewers just how far the girls are walking, evoking a sense of length and time for the viewer.

4.) The fourth clip (simultaneity) included digetic sound, which is sound that can be originally found in the clip. In this case, the original clip included a girl talking about a murder, accompanied by a clip with a murder. The original sounds of the girl talking and the sounds of the murder (ex: falling to the ground loudly) were natural to the shot, thus they are digetic sound. This digetic sound is important as it helps viewers understand the severity of the murder by getting context.

5.) The fifth clip (leitmotif) included non-digetic sound through music. Music is simply a use of theme music, where the music was not originally in the clip, but rather added in later through editing. In this case, the scary and loud music was added as the time went on to give viewers a sense of panic and urgency as the due time for the assignment came nearer.

Five Editing Techniques in the Movie "Lion"

Five Editing Techniques Found in "Lion"

Director: Garth Davis

Symbolism: A symbolism shot moves from one scene to the next where there is a symbolic connection between the shots. In this case, the symbolic transition lies between the bright sun which changes to the dark tunnel. The boys are travelling toward, what would soon become the poor fate of Saroo. Thus, the symbolism of the sun turning to darkness upon the boys' journey represents the darkness and pain that would come upon Saroo's future disappearance.

Parallelism: A parallelism shot brings two different scenes together by highlighting both their differences and the similarities between them. In this case, the parallelism comes between a shot of the boy screaming and the train, where both of the subjects are expressing sound through the train horn. The shots are paralleled through the horn, showing the urgency of the trains approach and the boy's urgency as he realizes he is completely alone, but separated as viewers see a shot of the boy and the train, showing their differences and the scope of the problem the boy is stuck in.

Contrast: A contrast shot includes two differing shots to make the difference between them clearer. In this case, the contrast is between one shot of the young boy, surrounded by butterflies and smiling, where the other shot is of his older brother, much higher up and less entertained. This contrast highlights their age difference due to the innocence the younger brother feels, shown through his joy at the butterflies while his brother, less innocent to the trials of the world stands higher, not surrounded by butterflies or smiling.

Leitmotif: A leitmotif shot includes a recurring theme, where in this case the theme was a repeated scene of the boy approaching strangers, asking each time for "Genestalay". The repetition of "Genestalay" and repetition of asking helps to convey helplessness and the ultimate fate of Saroo, as each time he approaches someone new (leitmotif), Saroo has the same failed outcome.

Simultaneity: A simultaneity shot uses two scenes that occur at the same period of time in an attempt to build suspense. In this case, viewers see the parents of the man listening to his voicemail at the same time as he is far away from home, independent. This simultaneity builds up feelings as it shows how his parents still feel love and concern for him while he is alone, so far away.

Five Editing Techniques

Link to "5 Editing Shots" video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M89KQPmdd0o

1. Symbolism: The first shot that Erin and I made was the symbolism shot. A symbolism shot moves from one scene to the next where there is a symbolic connection between the shots. In the case of this video, the two shots film both a reusable water bottle and a tree coming up from the grassy ground. This is symbolic of the importance of recycling through reusable water bottles, as recycling allows for the Earth to flourish and grow without as much trash.
2. Contrast: The second shot that Erin and I made was the contrast shot. A contrast shot includes two differing shots to make the difference between them clearer. In this case, the separate shots highlight the difference between typing a piece of work and writing a piece of work. The close-ups of the typing and writing allow viewers to see how, between the two types of conveying information, differences in appearance, sound, and time spent writing are present.
3. Parallelism: The third shot that Erin and I made was the parallelism shot. A parallelism shot brings two different scenes together by highlighting both their differences and the similarities between them. In this case, Erin and I are walking on two different green surfaces which is a similarity between them, however one is artificial and one is natural. Thus, viewers can see the comparison and contrast between the two scenes that both bring a sense of uniqueness and commonality. 
4. Simultaneity: The fourth shot that Erin and I made was the simultaneity shot. A simultaneity shot uses two scenes that occur at the same period of time in an attempt to build suspense. In this case, Erin and I used a scene of a subject being murdered while a news broadcast was reporting about a murderer on the loose. This sense of panic, fear, and the unknown drives up suspense as we see that not only has a murder occurred, but the murderer is still on the loose and killing others as the events occurred simultaneously. 
5. Leitmotif: The fifth and final shot that Erin and I made was the leitmotif shot. A leitmotif shot includes a recurring theme, where in this case the theme was a musical concept. The clip encompassed the idea that stress is high as the time an assignment is due approaches, thus the use of gradually yet steadily occurring suspense music helps to create the sense of panic felt by a student.

Week 4 - TV Show Angles

Review of Camera Angles from Season One, Episode One of 3% (2018)

Producer: Pedro Aguilera 

         I chose to do my camera angle assignment on this television show based on the understanding that this show takes place in a future society, thus I hoped to see interesting camera angles used in an attempt to convey the way society works for this time period. Luckily, I was not disappointed by this, as there were many different camera angles applied in this show that showed the viewer how this society functioned, which in turn created emotions for the viewer on the new, foreign world.

The first camera angle that I chose was a full shot, showing the leader of "The Process" standing among a large screen that shows him how the participants of The Process are getting along in their testing. Full shots show the subject's whole body, and in this scene it is very symbolic that the leader's full body is so minute compared to the large screen, showing how his world has become consumed by The Process and how for many in the society, The Process is a very big deal. Thus, this scene conveys a sense of severity for viewers in terms of The Process for the members of society.

     This is both an over-the-shoulder shot and a high angle shot. A high angle shot films subjects from high above, where in this case the subjects are being spoken to by the leader of The Process. Thus, compared to the largeness of the leader developed through the over-the-shoulder shot, the subjects appear very small as they are so far away. The leader ultimately has control over the destiny of these individuals, thus his largeness and highness compared to the small subjects gives him a sense of superiority and control to viewers, whereas the subjects appear vulnerable and insignificant as they have little to no control over their lives.

This is a cameo shot, meaning that the scene was shot using a neutral background. In this case, the background is pure white, where it should be recognized that white symbolizes purity, and in the case of these individuals, they are on their way to begin intense training to see if they qualify to be in the 3%. This training will likely be psychologically and physically draining, and many will be rejected from the opportunity to join the 3%. Thus, through seeing the individuals pass through the white corridor on their way to begin The Process, it is symbolic of the current state of their innocence which may soon be ripped from them.

This is a two-shot, meaning that it is a close shot for two people. In this case, the woman is confronting the man about him cheating the system of The Process. Due to this shot showing the two on an equal level, viewers see the woman's attempts to become mentally level with the man after he tried to show dominance in the group of people. Thus, the comparison of the two in size helps show the woman's strength and the man's submission to her, which helps us see into the characters more.

Assignment Week 3 - Classmate Commentary

   For this assignment, I commented on two blog posts that were composed by my classmates regarding four out of twelve of their shots that impacted me emotionally. I chose to comment on Josh's and Laura's blogs.
   On Josh's blog post, I chose to comment on the extreme close-up shot, the eye level shot, the flash shot, and the POV shot.
1.) I first enjoyed the extreme close-up shot, which, in this case was of a subject's eye up close. According to filmmakingpro.com, close-up shots "help you feel whatever they [the subject] are feeling". I certainly feel that this was applicable to this shot, as they say that the "eyes are the windows to the soul", thus the clear, close video of the eye helped me to see into the subject and their emotions.
2.) Furthermore, I enjoyed the eye level shot which captured the subject at eye level, saying "hi" and smiling. According to filmmakingpro.com, eye level shots make the audience feel like "they are included in the scene". I truly felt that this was true, as the eye level shot gives a feeling of staring directly at the subject as though you were talking to them, which makes you, as the viewer, feel included and connected with the subject.
3.) Moreover, I enjoyed the flash shot, which included a relatively neutral background that is suddenly disturbed by a jumping subject. As a viewer, I was not expecting the neutral view to be obstructed as there was no sign of the subject before the jump, thus I was left quite startled and frightened!
4.) Finally, I enjoyed the POV shot which included the director's hand causing the subject to go flying. According to filmmakingpro.com, POV shots "make you feel like you were placed inside the person's eyes", which is supposed to make you "feel creepy". This can certainly be said for this clip, as it felt like I, as the viewer, was sending the subject flying because my sight was the exact sight level from the director who was controlling the actions. However, in reality I did nothing!

   On Laura's blog, I commented on the choker shot, the dolly shot, the extreme long shot, and the high angle shot.
1.) I first enjoyed the choker shot, which was a close up, all encompassing shot of a subject who appears very confused. Due to the closeness and use of spacing to only show the subject, I truly got to see how the subject was feeling in facial language such as eye movements and mouth movements. Thus, I was able to feel confusion as the subject's clarity in emotion due to the shot was able to relay to me.
2.) Next, I enjoyed the dolly shot which was filmed as the director was heading up a bridge. I enjoyed this shot, because it mimicked the feeling of walking up a bridge myself due to the moving action as if the camera were moving up the bridge on a dolly.
3.) Furthermore, I enjoyed the extreme long shot which showed a large view of a sunset from a high point. According to filmmakingpro.com, extreme long shots give a feeling of being "less significant compared to the world around them". In this case, the intensity and broadness of the view is consuming for a viewer, showing how big the world really is. Thus, watching this did give me a feeling of inferiority compared to the world, yet the beauty of the shot due to the time of day and establishment of the shot on a nice body of water was enjoyable.
4.) Finally, I enjoyed the high angle shot which filmed a subject dancing from very high above the subject. According to filmmakingpro.com, high angle shots "make you feel like the character is less significant", which is completely true. The subject is so small in this clip that one cannot help but feel as though the subject is inferior and vulnerable.

Assignment Week 2-Different Shots

This is a "close-up shot", showing a subject's hands on a close level while using a cell phone. This shot was relatively easy to take, however, due to the closeness of the shot, I had to ensure that the camera was focused to make the clip clear.

This is a "reaction shot", characterized by the fact that the subject is "reacting to something off camera", where in this case the subject appears to be startled by something. There were no complications in making this shot other than ensuring that the camera was still and that the timing was right for the shock.

This is a "tilt shot", characterized by the fact that the camera is moving "up a vertical axis". This shot was simple to make, but the shot just took a long time to create as I wanted to clearly show the entire subject without going too quick.

This is an "over-the-shoulder" shot, characterized by the fact that viewers are able to see a "character's point of view" that includes "part of that character's shoulder". This shot was slightly trickier to make than others, as I had to maintain a steady shot so as to show the shoulder and focus on the content of the cell phone at the same time.

This is a "high angle shot" as characterized by the fact that the subject is "filmed from a high above". This filming process was tricky as I had to stand on a chair to film the subject from the high angle.

This is a "head- on shot" characterized by the fact that the action is coming "directly at the camera". While filming this shot, I just had to perfect the timing so that the subject would run toward the camera right when I began recording as the action was so fast.

This is a "full shot", characterized by the fact that I "captured the subject's entire body" in the clip. While making this shot, I had to ensure that my subject knew the boundaries of the camera so that I did not have to move the camera while she was moving.

This is a "follow shot", characterized by the fact that the "camera follows the subject". Due to the fact that I was walking in this, I had to ensure that the camera was steady throughout which was a challenging task as walking can get bumpy.

This is a "flash shot", characterized by the fact that there is a "shock effect". The only challenging thing about this shot was ensuring that the camera was steady so as not to give away the subject waiting below to jump.

This is a "cameo shot" characterized by the fact that the subject is being "filmed against a neutral background". This shot was easy to make as the only thing I needed to do was find a neutral background and film my subject.

This is a "close shot" characterized by the fact that the subject is filmed from "the top of the head to mid-waist". This clip was easy to make as nothing went into it other than placing the subject correctly and holding the camera still.

This is a "point-of-view" shot as characterized by the fact that the clip was shot from my point-of-view. This clip was challenging to create from my perspective as I had to both film and take part in the clip which made keeping the camera steady and focused difficult.

(All definitions come from AFI Screen Education)

Why am I Taking AICE Media Studies?

I am taking AICE Media Studies to gain a better understanding of an industry I have never been too familiar with. While I recognize how much work and consideration goes into the production of films both large and small, I have never witnessed exactly what happens "behind the scenes". I enjoy broadening my horizons to learn about topics that I am unfamiliar with, and I believe taking AICE Media Studies will allow me to see into a whole new and interesting world. I also look forward to not only learning about filmmaking, but also applying what I learn to make my own production for the AICE exam.