Script

"DOUBLE OR DIE" Final Title Sequence

Evaluation Question 7

Looking back at your Preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to your final product?

For this question I am going to compare shots from my preliminary exercise to shots from my final title sequence.


This is a shot from my preliminary, we decided to film this as a close up shot so as to capture the anger and seriousness of the characters face.

We then found that we had almost replicated the same shot within our title sequence. This close up we used to show the characters expressions, intriguing the audience.

Evaluation Question 6

What I have learnt about technologies while constructing the product


When researching the genre of film I decided to look at techniques used by other directors in films similar to the one we were planning on making. For the film "Children of Men" I looked at the work of the cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki. He talks about things he did to create a more realistic effect on the film, such as taking on the project as a documentary so that he created a more realistic atmosphere. Looking at the work of others helped me in choosing techniques I was going to take on myself and helped me in gathering together an idea of the image I needed to create.

For a majority of our filming (filming outside of the TV Studio) we used a camcorder similar to this one. Using this we we're able to become more imaginative with some of the shots, this is because of the camera having increased mobility compared to some of the larger cameras that are used within the TV Studio. Using a tripod we were able to get steady shots from a variety of angles. I had previously used a similar camera before however I feel that the experience has furthered my technological knowledge and I feel far more confident in that field now.

One technique we thought would be unique was to create a homemade camera dolly. We wanted to use a skateboard, however, we instead made an attempt of using a metal TV stand on wheels. We wanted this piece of equipment for a tracking shot of the footsteps walking, however after making several recordings we found that the footage was too jumpy and unsteady. 

The camera we used in the TV Studio is a lot more complex and so I am glad I had the opportunity to become more accustom with how it functions. Having this more advanced camera in the secluded area of TV Studio we were able to manipulate the lighting fully and so giving us more control over how the whole shot looked. We used a TV monitor connected to the camera to give us an instant vision on what we were filming. 

When it came to editing we did all this in the editing suite. Previously I had been familiar with using the video editing programme Final Cut, however we used a programme called Adobe Premiere Pro which I found to be just as effective in creating the right effects and techniques. Once it had come down to editing we discovered that the audio in some of the takes was distorted and too overpowered by the excessive background noise. Therefore we had to re-record the audio only and then add it over the video. We then had the job of getting the audio in sync with the video, this i found to be challenging in places however we managed to piece it together well and I feel like I have learnt further on how to go about it for next time.

For this blog I used the mac suite in college as well as using my own at home, as by doing this I could ensure that I could do additional work on the project outside of college. I used wikipedia and other resources several times to research further into some of the elements required. Blogger was the most appropriate blog publishing website as we are able to easily upload different kinds of media to it, as well as it having a clear and simple layout. I have definitely learnt about a wider variety of technologies and had the chance to explore them in depth.

Evaluation Question 5

We showed our title sequence to numerous members of the class and then afterwards got their opinions on it. We also used this method of getting feedback from an audience throughout the process of production so that we could make improvements where necessary. At the end of production we then interviewed a random class member for their opinions on our final, finished title sequence. Here is that interview,

Evaluation Question 4

Creating a Typical Audience Profile

I thought a good way to identify a typical target audience for my title sequence would be to broaden my use of medias and create an artificial Facebook profile to demonstrate a typical audience profile. I manipulated a screenshot of the popular social networking site using Photoshop to create a fake profile example that demonstrated some of the elements a typical audience member of my title sequence would have.

I wanted to give a vague description in this case because I feel my target audience would vary in different fields, however I have also created a portfolio below of an ideal target audience. One of the reasons I wanted to involve Facebook in my Typical Audience Profile was so that I could also demonstrate how these social groups and general persona's bring in further audiences, via word of mouth and social networking sites. Facebook is a great utility for viral marketing and so I thought it important to include. I included films they're likely to watch, age margin and some examples of how they would express they're interest in films.

A Specific Audience Profile


The closest contextual reference to my title sequence "Double or Die" is "James Bond, and so for that reason I think the audience profile would also be very similar. However the age rating to my title sequence would most likely be a 12A, and so my audience would be 12-38 year olds. Mainly a male audience as they will desire to be the character, however females will also make up a percentage of the audience as they will desire to be the character of the femme fatale. A typical audience member would most likely live in somewhere moderately urban, so that they can relate to the character and the locations the character is in better. They would enjoy an array of hobbies, such as going to the cinema with friends, listening to a fast paced variety of music, but would generally be a sociable character. I specified above some of the films they may be interested in. Johnny English I thought was necessary to mention as this audience member still enjoys a bit of comedy while experiencing the nail biting action.

Evaluation Question 3

Media Institution Distribution Ideas


What is a production company? 
A director or producer usually run a production company. The production company is responsible in funding and helps to facilitate the making of, and distributing of films or television programmes. Actors, directories, film editors and cameramen can sometimes came attached with the production company especially when owned by a major studio. 


A good example of a production company is "20th Century Fox". They have been responsible for films such as Star Wars, Alien and Planet of the Apes. Shirley Temple and other famous names took their place as some of "Fox's" actors.


We decided on the name "Nameless Pictures" for our production company as we thought it then stood as no limit to the audience we attracted and can be applied to almost anything. This is because some production companies are renowned for a certain nature, e.g. commonly linked with horror movies.




What is a Distribution Company?
Film distribution is usually a company that is responsible for releasing the film to the public. This can be done either by theatrical, where they then organise for a trailer to be made, and decide what cinemas and where its distributed. This can also be straight to DVD releases though, in which case they take on more roles in doing things such as being responsible for dubbing or subtitling foreign films.


I would choose to distribute our film to Sony Pictures Entertainment, as they were responsible for the distribution of the James Bond films. Also it's a large company, as I think our title sequence would work well in mainstream cinema.




What existing films are similar to yours?
I would definitely say that the closest contextual reference to our film if the "James Bond" franchise. This is because of the secretive spy themes running throughout. Other films that could be compared are "The Bourne" franchise again for the same reasons. Another idea is that I think our title sequence "Double or Die" could work well as a franchise film. 




Where would the money come from to fund your film?
To finance the film I would first approach a production company, or failing that, I would contact potential investors and propose to them my pitch.




Roles
Our first title to appear on screen is our production company name;

Next is series of names of our actors, 

We then have our film title;

Followed by our list of crew;

Jae Jones was mainly the one responsible for editing.

The sound was recorded and adjusted/edited accordingly by Sophie Bill.

Sian Mitchell was responsible for cinematography and the overall miss en scene.

I was responsible for the developing the narrative along with producing a script.

Jae Jones was also responsible as the producer and so was required to supervise the co-ordination of everything.

Myself and Sian Mitchell were co-directors and so it was our job to direct the actors on what to do and make sure filming was going as desired.

Evaluation Question 2

Social Group Represented

I think the social group best represented in our title sequence are criminals. This is because we were able to show the different criminals that walk amongst us in society. Criminals are usually seen to be of the lower class, however we thought we would depict this social group differently and show them as having the potential to be individuals who are usually shown more respect in society and carry a status of being respectable gentlemen.

It was vital that the mise-en-scene clearly identified the social group our title sequence represented. For this we used props such as fake money, whiskey tumblers and cigarettes. We also used a nameplate on the desk in the office scene to establish with the audience that that character is Mr Moore, as well as the audience being able to see his position within his company. Mr Moore's desk also consists of paperwork and a few personal items. We thought it important to make it clear that he had a cellular office as this also helps in establishing Mr Moore's status within the company.

For the private poker game scene, we wanted to create the idea of an abandoned warehouse, so that the audience is again reminded of the secrecy of the events. We used a

Evaluation Question 1

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

The Film Title
We chose the title "Double or Die" as the title for our title sequence because we found it most suiting to the genre we had chosen. Not only does it indicate a level of violence and life risking action but there is a small indication of a small play on words. A commonly heard phrase in poker is "double or nothing", thus  telling the audience from this small pun that gambling will be a feature within the film. These factors help broaden the audience as not only will this appeal to similar audiences to that of the James Bond collection (the cognoscenti), but also to those that are seeking a non exploited action drama.

Font and Styles Used
We wanted to use bold dramatic font for the title of the film. We used warm yet aggressive colours to contrast with the cooler filter we used in the title sequence itself.

Location and Setting
The locations we chose were crucial to the creating the atmosphere we desired. In total we used 4 different locations, all of which were chosen to serve a different purpose. For the shots of the footsteps walking we used two different locations. This is because one of the main features we were seeking in this setting was a very urban pavement in the background, as by doing this we were actually showing the characters progression of gradually entering a more built up area.

Camera Angles

We used a variety of camera angles many of which we use to emphasise the frame and personalities of the characters;

This shot I liked in particular. We took a continuous shot of  the main action with the title sequence, we thought this was a good idea so that the audience was able to take into perspective how quick the action happens. Also with this shot we were also able to have the titles come up as the doors closed and then when the camera cute back, its to when the doors are reopening. 

A reason this shot worked well was because we wanted to keep the age rating to a 12A, therefore as the doors close the violence of the attack is hidden, preventing the film from seeming too graphic. 

Costume and Props

This is the desk we created for  Mr Moore to sit at. We added several personal items like a mug, pens, paperwork and a magazine, and then had his name plate in the front to clearly identify him. 

Organising shooting

We devised this shooting schedule so we were able to see what days we were all free for filming. After exchanging numbers we could easily contact each other and with us all having a copy of the schedule we could arrange when was best to film.

We then decided that we wanted to be more organised and create a timetable so that we could arrange when we would film certain shots. I decided to put together this shot list/timetable on the computer so that I had a clearer and more detailed format to refer back to when needing to know what days we were doing what.

Choosing the Locations

Locations

We had to evaluate several locations to see if they were suitable before filming. When we came to the conclusion that we wanted a lift in some shots we set about finding the appropriate one. For this we had to look at both the interior and exterior of the lift as both environments would be required in the title sequence. 

This is the first lift we looked at. We decided that it wouldn't fit the part as it wasn't wide enough and didn't look like it would be found in an upperclass office building. 

We then looked at another elevator however we found that it was too obvious that the lift was outside and so looked again.

Finally we found a lift that looked the part and so decided we would film there. Below is a picture of the inside of the lift along with a picture of the lift doors closed.

  

For the location of the poker scene, we used a storage room within college. It looked the part and allowed us to create brilliant shadows, however we had some trouble with the background noise and so this location led us to having to delete a lot of the audio and replace it.

Finally we decided on using the TV Studio for the shots of the office scene. This was so that we had complete control over the lighting to show that the real Mr Moore himself has devious ways.

Props

Props provide action, and scenery. Therefore it was vital we got hold of the correct pros to  help crete a realistic effect and draw the audience in. As its a crime film the main props we needed was a gun, cigarettes and a whiskey tumbler.


We used a similar plastic gun to this one;

We used cigarettes;

We used a whiskey tumbler similar to this one to add to the authenticity  of the gamblers high authority/position;

This is the desk Mr Moore sits at;

Costume

For the costume of our protagonist it was impotent that we dressed him in a sophisticated outfit. We decided that a black blazer would make him too average and so wanted a different colour blazer so that he would stand out from other characters. We eventually chose a grey blazer with black trousers. This created the look of a typical business man with a unique twist.

For outfit ideas we looked at James Bond costumes. We saw that previously 'Bond' was famously known for wearing a black dickie bow, however we wanted our protagonist to fit the role of a typical businessman and so decided that a long black tie would be more appropriate and also would better fit the costume style for the year in which our title sequence was set.

Media Institutions Research

A media institution is an established, often-profit based organization, that deal in the creation and distribution of advertising, entertainment and information services.


A famous name in regards to UK films companies is Momentum Pictures. Recently it won awards for "The Kings Speech" and so when choosing a British media institution, Momentum Pictures is a good one to go with.

The British Board of Film Censors (BBFC) are responsibly for choosing the age restrictions for different medias. Here is a list of their current ratings as seen on their website;

Storyboard

We produced a storyboard to both help us in knowing what shots we were aiming to achieve as well as providing a clear plan of what we were doing next.

Why a Storyboard is needed;
A storyboard is actually economic, it can save you time. If you have a well worked out storyboard, it can save time in editing later. If you know exactly how many shots and what the shots are meant to look like, you won't have to add anything last minute.

It prepares you for exactly what your film is going to look like. In that sense it can save you from disappointment. With your storyboard you will know what each scene will look like and it will give you a clear idea of how it's all going to work out. You can practically see your film just by looking at your storyboard.

We drew out each of the shots and for long continuous shots of action we added arrows between the frames, joining them together. We also wrote on camera directions, angles and shots, such as CU for close up and WS for wide shot, so that when we came down to filming we could recreate what we had originally envisioned. We also decided to aid us with time management that we would include an estimate above the sketch of the duration of each shot. This will also help when we come down to editing, in knowing how long each shot should be shown for.

Our storyboard shows the cut between shots that we were hoping to achieve. First we begin by seeing footsteps walking along without being shown the rest of the identity of that person. This then cuts to Mr Moore (name made clear by his nameplate on his desk) who is sitting at a desk in a darkened room that is his office. We then cut back to the shots of the footsteps walking along a street. This juxtaposition continues for a few more shots until we are then greeted with the shot of Mr Moore walking towards an elevator. In one continuous shot we then see Mr Moore enter the lift, and then is soon joined by another man, who as the metallic doors close, assaults Mr Moore, pulling him to the floor. When the lift door reopen we are first presented with a shot of someone feet stepping out of the elevator along with Mr Moore clearly unconscious in the background of the lift. The shot begins low at the mans feet to help the audience establish it to be the same man from earlier, an then slowly the camera pans upwards to reveal his identity. The storyboard then shows this man walking away with Mr Moore's identity card (hence stealing his identity). The storyboard then proceeds onto a private poker game in which we see our protagonist (who's true identity is still a mystery) pull out a gun on a fellow poker player and then the credits are shown. 

Famous storyboard examples

The example of a storyboard I have given is from the Disney animation Tarzan. For an animation it is crucially important that the storyboard is well constructed as this is what is used to show the desired end result. As you can see in the image, every shot is constructed and the action within the image is so clear that the storyboards narrative is clear and even reflects as a comic book. Ideally storyboards should show a clear direction for the narrative, a technique Hitchcock is famous for doing.

Audience Research

To get an idea of what people look for in a film we conducted a series of surveys. Firstly we held a survey for the genre of film people prefer. Then, through our results we could get an idea of where to go next with our title sequence.

From these results we saw that the most popular genre's are crime and action. We then decided to conduct another survey to find out what age groups what these films so that we new who our target audience was. We set about this by asking friends, family members and colleagues whether they liked action/crime films. It was important we got a variety of answers and so we surveyed people of a variety of age groups and put all our finding together.

Our results showed us that a vast majority of people under 18 enjoy watching action/crime films, however, we were then aware that a lot of films available of this genre, are certificate 18 and so would be unavailable to a majority of our target audience. Therefore we made the decision to make a film that used minimum graphic nature and didn't show explicit violence to get a lower age rating on our film.

Moodboard

For our Moodboard we decided that we would gather together a collection of images from other crime films so that we could identify the main features and conventions that we would need to include.

We decided to name our production company "Nameless Pictures" as we thought it not only adds elements of mystery but also gives our production company unlimited boundaries to the content we produce. Also through questionnaires and surveys we carried out, this proved to be an effective title for our target audience.

We saw that gambling was a common feature in crime films and so decided that we would include this in our film/title sequence. On the Moodboard we included images of people gambling, all of which are dressed to satisfy the genres costume requirements.

Our mood board contains; Production company name, costume ideas, contextual references, props that would be needed, as well as locations that would be needed.

Analysis of Titles

This is the title sequence to the the 2006 James Bond: Casino Royale, which marked as the first appearance of a whole new Bond. The fonts and transitions used in these titles are modern, sleek and sophisticated. The audiences eyes are focused on a montage of casino related objects, the patterns and symbols provide the perfect backdrop. When James Bond finally appears, that in itself was the perfect visual anecdote for the new actor playing Bond and through an array of colours and intrigue the audience is hooked.

An idea that we decided we would take on board was the theme of gambling. James Bond is commonly associated with the suave setting of a casino in which hands are dealt and money is made. We decided that one of the locations we would use in our title sequence would be in an old warehouse, in which a private poker game would be held. As much as we liked the idea of using a roulette table as seen in Casino Royale, we found this too hard to acquire.

The colours begin romantic, yet also deviant, and a kaleidoscope effect is used. Many of the colours used in the opening sequence to this James Bond film contrast and so highlight the different roles each character will take on. For example, James Bond's character is shown in black, making the protagonist defined and stand out and also the femme fatal's face is revealed behind the queen card however only briefly.

Conventions of a Crime Film

The conventions of a film usually reflect on the genre it is categorised as being. Crime films are famously know to contain corruption, deceit and usually follow a narrative of good versus bad. However there are many more conventions commonly linked to crime films that are developed in a way to ensure the genre requirements are met. The codes and conventions of a film are used to address the viewer on what the film will contain, and in crime sequences this can be demonstrated by using particular shots, cuts, music and characters. The pace between shots is usually a lot faster to speed up the action in the narrative making it more intense.

Avid crime film fans are not shocked to see bloodshed and bank robberies, and it is considered a common feature for the audience themselves to establish a connection with the protagonist, before seeing them cunningly betrayed. 

A character structure regularly seen supports Vladimir Propps theory of the roles in which each character plays. He states that there are seven characters that play a role in maintaining the desired narrative of a story. These seven characters can easily be identified in common crime films.

Props are also needed to represent the genre, and what is a crime film without a handgun or a facial disguise? These not only indicate to the audience the intensity and drama of the scene but add a sinister layer to the action taking place. This makes the audience want to watch contently so as not to miss anything, however some audiences find material of this sort too much and so that is when the conventions have to be regulated to suit the certificate rating.

Other conventions that can be recognised as being in a crime film can even be the motifs of certain characters. A common plot for a crime story is when an outsider dislikes his low status in life and so strives for more. We often measure the success of a character in a crime genre film by material goods. However, say we were to be watching a romance, then the wealth of a person may be measured through his relationships and the success of them. Often in a crime film we can also identify society as being the protagonists, antagonist.

Lighting is usually left at natural lighting, perhaps using a blue filter, except when wealth is being shown when a much warmer filter is used, making it almost desirable.

As you can see from this video of IGN's top five crime films, many of them share very common running themes such as guns, violence and secretive deals.

The Preliminary Exercise

For the Preliminary exercise we were given the following brief:

Continuity task involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180-degree rule.

From this we were very aware that we had to film a short piece of footage to a high standard as well as neatly editing the footage afterwards.

We decided that we would go about this by using a variety of cleverly angled shots as well as some wide and pan shots. We also wanted to make sure we were aware that everything we needed was in the shot frame.








After doing this were we able to get some practice at using the camera and other equipment. Also it helped us in forming an idea for the development of our title sequence. From this we learnt on how to create a better setting, in creating shadows where needed. We took on a very Film Noir style cinematography, however the script was far more modern.

Before the Preliminary...

To gather abit of knowledge into what was required and essential in the Preliminary exercise I conducted some research beforehand.

A website I found very helpful was http://www.mediacollege.com/video/shots/. I was able to grasp a clear understanding of the shots that we would require including.

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog!
On here you will find a chronoligically ordered analysis on the work I have produced and what I have learnt along the way. I will include evidence of my research and also show a clear understanding towards my work, as well as the work of others that I will be including in my research.

Here is the brief we were given for creating the blog:

The blog will chart your progress from your Research and Planning, the Construction of your Main Task, through to the Evaluation of your final product.   This is a creative task and your writing must be supported by evidence which incorporates the use of images, audio, video and links to online resources.

I hope you enjoy viewing my work!