Audience research into age rating

In this powerpoint, I have done research into the various age ratings available for cienmas, films and videos etc... Further research into what would a video contain in order to reach a certain age rating.

http://www.slideshare.net/ohitstamsin/audience-research-29383933

Saw 1- thriller opening analysis

Saw is an American independent horror filmed released in 2004.

In this shot, the audience are introduced to a main character, Billy (a puppet). It creates a sense of unusual horror as he appears to be a sinister puppet.

In this shot, the main character (Jigsaw) is introduced to the audience. More contextual information is given in the subheading of the newspaper. This immediately suggests to the audience that the film involves people being murdered.

In this shot featuring 'it's his game' creates a sense of mystery and thrill to the opening sequence for the audience.

This long shot introduces the audience to an important character in the film. It also allows the audience to see the location of the shot and it acts like an establishing shot, which allows the audience to form an opinion of the set.

Another title used to personalise the opening sequence, which would be used to interact with the audience and make them think how they would react to being in the situation that the two characters are placed into.

In this medium close up, it introduces one of the characters playing the game. However it shows one of the torture devices which can kill. This adds a sense of horror and thriller to the scene and will interest the audience and they will wonder whether she makes it out in time.

In this long shot, it shows the location of the film. The lighting creates the idea that something bad is going to happen because the area is not well lit and there appears to be smoke/fog on the ground with a green tint.

In this medium close up of a man in a pig mask, in a bath tub. This adds a sense of fear and thrill to the opening as they may be portrayed as a kind of monster to the audience. The lighting is high key and unnatural to distort the shot and add to the sense of fear and draw the audiences attention to the pig mask.

This is the final shot of the opening sequence. It is very simplistic and is only introducing the name of the film to the audience. The colour green is featured to add to the tension and make the shot feel unrealistic and creepy.

Black Swan- thriller opening analysis

Black Swan is an American psychological thriller horror film released in 2010.

This screenshot shows what company produced the film to the audience.

In this screenshot it immediately shows the audience what the film involves and what its about. It also shows the main character (Nina), under a spotlight. This reinforces the idea that she is the main character to the audience. The long shot shows the audience a key location of where the film is set (on stage). Any of the audience who may be aware that the black swan is a famous dance involving a main female dancer as the white swan and the black swan.

An establishing shot used to show the audience a key location to where the film is set. The long shot allows for many characters to be shown in the scene.

A medium shot is used to introduce one of the main characters. This suggests to the audience that he has an important role in the film as the shot allows them to take note of his key facial features to remember what he looks like. The shot also is over the shoulder and from a different characters point of view (a dancer). This shows that he is the teacher from the costume used. Furthermore the shot allows various other dancers to be captured in the scene, which shows the location thus reinforcing the idea that he is the teacher. 

The first medium close up used which introduces the audience to the main character (Nina). However it still allows for one dancer to be shown in the shot, showing that she is in the dance studio. Her expression is focused to what she is doing (dancing) which connotes that she is determined as a character.

Another medium close up to introduce another main character. Mila Kunis (Lily) who is shown as the competition/ love interest almost in the film. 

Medium shot is used to allow Nina's facial expressions to be captured. However her reflection is also shown turning to look at her in the mirror. This is where the trailer begins to take a turn, similarly in the film. Nina's facial expressions are showing signs of extreme stress, however the reflection is looking sinister. 

This shot shows that Nina goes insane (reinforced by her facial expressions and gestures). The pace quickens in the trailer and screen time between each shot becomes faster creating a sense of urgency to the audience. 

This extreme close up of Nina creates the theme of horror and thriller due to her facial expressions and her bloodshot eyes suggest insanity. She is focused on the feather which she just pulled out of her skin, which may be distressing for some of the audience. The feather is a significant prop and focus in the shot as in links in with the title (Black Swan) which literally suggests that what she becomes.

Capturing emotions

In these photos I have experimented with capturing different emotions.
1-Sadness
2- Exhausted
3- Happy

In the first photo, I edited the colour of the photo to make it appear more dramatic and remove colours that may connote the idea of happiness, e.g. blue or green.

In the second photo I also edited the photo to black and white. I did this as the removal of colour removes energy from the photo which helps represents exhaustion.

In this photo I aimed for Nicola's smile to be the focus point of the shot as it helps to capture the true emotions and what I was aiming for when I took the photograph.

Light experimentation

In these four photos I have experimented with different levels of light to give different effects.

 

 

In this shot, taken at a Paramore concert, the stage lighting used allows for the members to stand out against the black background. 

 

 

In the second shot myself and Matt used natural lighting to add to the realism of the shot and make it appear mundane.

In this shot, taken at a Paramore concert, a spotlight is used to draw attention to the three band members playing the left side of the stage and allows for anything in the background of the shot to be blackened out, which helps draw focus of the audience.

 

 

 

In this final shot I used a worm's eye view and purposefully only had the light coming from the candles in the pumpkins to give a spooky effect to the shot, and also to draw all attention to the pumpkins carved faces.

The Walking Dead title analysis

For more research, I have analysed the opening sequence for AMC's The Walking Dead.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_wbbn-00c0OTVh2dHNUc0ZfY1E/edit?usp=sharing

Catching Fire title analysis

Here is a link to an analyis I produced of Catching Fire's titles:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_wbbn-00c0OMER5RjFqVDd0TXc/edit?usp=sharing

Preliminary piece- moving titles

In this video, myself and my partner Matt created moving titles for our completed preliminary piece.

Practice titles

In the video I began practicing with creating and using titles over a selection of still images.