RESEARCH - setting

setting

• the place or type of surroundings where something is positioned or where an event takes place.

comedy: typically a comedy will include a happy setting with a comedic scene. the setting will be somewhere that could become very accident prone. for example in the film "super bad"  it is set in the school and parties of young American boys, this is perfect for a comedy as it can mean that the scene is relatable to the audience making it funnier or extremely unrelatable adding shock factor and more humour.
horror: the conventional setting for a horror is somewhere that a lot of people would feel scared. a lot of the time film industries play on a humans natural fears for example the dark or somewhere they're unfamiliar with. majority of horror film settings include someone being lost or somewhere out of their comfort zone. they're also usually very dark and gloomy which the audience automatically links to death thus scaring them.
action: majority of action movies are set in a big city where there can be a lot of chaos and destruction. if they are set in a big city it means that when the action takes place there will be more chaos which is the aim of an action film as the film will constantly have something going on. action films aim to constantly keep the audience in shock which wouldn't happen if it was set somewhere quiet and boring.
drama: the typical setting of a drama can vary as a drama can include anything. depending on the mood of the drama the setting will change. if the drama has some elements of sadness the setting will link to that and include a dark scary place backed up by the backing track. controversial to that if the drama includes a lot of action and anger the setting will include lots of warm colours and business to represent the feelings of the characters involved for example a place with fire or blood.
romance: usually a romance is a film about happy love and relationships in which case the setting will reflect that. for example in "50 first dates" it is set in sunny Hawaii which creates a happy atmosphere for the audience to link the love to. however, in some cases of a romance there is heartache of which case the setting changes to somewhere that reflects the emotions being felt. for example if sadness is involved there may be scenes in the rain or night.

the importance of setting:
setting is extremely important when it comes to mise-en-scene. mise-en-scene is the arrangement of scenery and stage properties in a play, therefore without the setting there could be no mise-en-scene. mise-en-scene can also be described as the setting or surroundings of an event, which entirely links setting to the construction of mise-en-scene. for example if a scene was shot on the set of a train station without mise-en-scene things would get in the way and the order of people and objects would mess with the scene. setting is also very important when it comes to creating an understanding for a viewer. a lot can be revealed from the setting. for example if the setting didn't reflect the mood of the scene the audience wouldn't be able to judge the emotion of the character and predict what could be happening next. without the setting the audience also wouldn't be able to determine the genre of the film and would disclude the audience from the film as they wouldn't be able to relate to the character.

RESEARCH - conventions

Conventions
Horror: the typical conventions of a horror would be what the audience is expecting to see. for example the audience will be expecting to be scared so therefore expecting to see ghosts or gore. throughout the film the audience will be on the edge of the seat waiting to be scared so the film will also have to make the audience jump. the target audience for horrors is quite large because as long as you're over 16 or in some cases 18 anyone can like them. if u like horrors the film industry will use the scare factors in order to attract an audience or slogans which cause the viewer to think.

nightmare on elm street: during the opening two minutes of nightmare on elm street it gives literally nothing away to the audience. the opening scene is of a dirty hand creating a type of knife glove which already makes the audience think this is a weapon he'll use. the next scene in the two minutes is of a young girl running down a hallway in her nightie which allows the audience to link it to sleep as its like she just woke up. throughout the entire opening two minutes there is a heavy breathing going on in the background which creates suspense and fear for the audience as its almost like its in their own ear.

Sci-fi: the typical conventions of a sci-fi film are to do with science and mythical creations. for example usually they will include aliens, rockets and outer space. because the audience are waiting to see something fictional it means that there is an element of shock involved which therefore intrigues the viewer. the target audience for sci-fi movies is also quite broad however i think it targets people more into fictional things and therefore people maybe of a younger age. the film industry will therefore use graphics and computers to create realistic fictional things to draw  the viewer in.
Star Wars: Threads of Destiny: the opening two minutes of star wars gave a lot away about the story line but not about the current occurrences in the movie. the two minutes include the film title and a story giving the audience an insight. the whole this is set in and amongst the stars which links us back to the sci-fi genre. this almost puts the viewer into the sci-fi state of mind and prepares them for the fiction they will most probably see helping them to really embrace it. 

Comedy: the typical conventions of s comedy are jokes or seeing someone fall over. usually it includes elements that will make people laugh which will also put the audience in a better mood. sometimes comedy's includes things that shock the audience into laughing whereas sometimes they include relatable mistakes which means the audience links it to their own life and experiences making it funnier. i don't think there is a particular audience for comedies as everyone loves to laugh, unless the film is rude funny then the target audience is much older. the film industry will use funny snip-its from the movie to incise the viewers as it gives the audience an insight to the humour in the movie.

dead pool; the opening two minutes of dead pool are almost what should be the middle of the film, throughout the film their are flashbacks from previous occurrences which lead up to the start of the film. during the opening two minutes dead pool it is very much like an action film, however over the top of the film is dead pool narrating whats happening and its him doing that which makes the film funny. because of this it gives the audience an insight into the witty humour in store. the opening two minutes also include many different camera shots and angles which gives the audience an insight to their surrounding helping them relate to dead pool.

Romance: a romance will always include love or relationships of some sort. romances usually have a happy ending between two people being happy with each other. they can also sometimes include other genres to make them more interesting or light-hearted. by watching a romance it can mean that it gives the audience hope in love or makes them happy watching it. i think the target audience for a romance is much older as some parts become boring to younger people as they aren't as relatable. also older people can watch the films and really relate due to personal experience or want to relate so watch them. the film industry will usually use film trailers to attract viewers or produce the movies near valentines day when romance is on more of a hype.

the holiday: the opening tow minutes of the holiday include the main character narrating about love over the top of different relationships. however at this point we have no idea who the voice is or the relevance of the characters. by seeing the different relationships at the beginning it allows the audience to begin to feel compassion toward the characters not so lucky looking in love. because of this it makes the audience want the characters to find love for themselves and be happy thus giving hope the the audience awaiting the love story.

Teen: teen films usually include the lives of a teenager as their target audience is aimed at 13-18 year old. they also can include other genres like comedies in order to give them something to base it around. mainly they tend to include the school or home life of a teenager making it very relatable to the target audience. the film industry will promote teen movies on the adverts of children's TV programmes, social networking and in magazines as it allows the teen to easily access them

10 things i hate about you: the opening two minutes of this movies gives very little about the movie itself away. to begin with it is listing off the actors involved in the movie, however the names are written in a very young, colourful way. the music in the background is also very young, american schoolchild which already targets the perfect audience. however as the scene changes so does the music. the shot is of a beaten up car with a very moody young girl in it with the lyrics "i don't give a damn about my reputation" playing. this change of music allows the audience to assume the importance of the character and question her attitude.

Action: action films typically include lots of drama and chaos. lots of them include explosions and law breaking which is to keep the audiences attention. most of them are very intense to give the
audience a lot of shock factor and keep them on the edge of their seat. majority of the time action films are also very unrealistic and over the top however this keeps the audience intrigued. the target audience for action movies is very stereo-typically males of all ages as women are less likely to enjoy all of the violence. therefore the film industry would put the trailer on the adverts of mainly male programmes e.g. sports.

the fast and the furious: after watching the whole film the opening two minutes give us nothing away about the rest of the movie. the first scene is of some transporting docks and a big crate which is then transported but lorry. however because we know so little and are left guessing it leaves the audience guessing and speculating. this then puts the audience in the exciteful mood which the perfect for the genre of an action film therefore this opening is very good despite how little it gives away.

Crime: crime genres live completely up to their name as the main basis of the films are centered around crime and law breaking. usually they include murders, kidnappings, robberies and drug smuggling. they also usually give you the option of guessing the ending but twist it which gives the audience the element of shock at the end. crime films have an older target audience due to the chance of there being disturbing scenes in the films. film industries will target this specific audience with things less likely to interest a child for example newspaper articles.

snatch: the opening two minutes of snatch are narrated by one of the main characters he is used to introduce characters and give the audience an insight to their situation. already the audience grows fond of "Turkish" as hes shows wittiness and love toward "Tommy". in the first bit of speech from Turkish he mentions diamonds which gives the audience an idea that the film may be based around diamonds or a diamond in particular. the next scene in the two minutes is of three stereo-typically Jewish looking men walking into a high security place. because of this it automatically makes the audience question them putting the audience into the right frame of mind for the film.

RESEARCH - Camera shots and angles

Camera Shots and AnglesMy two minute film opening
During filming we used many different camera shots and angles. we used a long shot during the film to give the audience a sense of surrounding it also meant the audience got a sense of directions to where Amelia was going. on top of this we also used close up shots to create tension in the opening. other than this the majority of her film was set with a medium to long shot as the scene was of constant movement and those we the best shots to use to get the film we wanted. the different angles we used were also to give the audience a sense of surrounding. the 180 degree angle meant that the audience knew what around Amelia and could see her reactions to all things around her.
CAPTIVE - AS Media Film Opening  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93fH1fUQ-Lw: during this media opening it used many different camera shots and angles. because it is based around someone in a bad way being tied up against their will, it shows us many different camera shots to represent what he is seeing and the fear he has thus creating suspense. the different angles used give the audience a good idea of the surroundings which helps the audience to relate to the captive and relate to his fear.

The Edge - AS Level Media Studies Opening Sequence by Rory Campbell  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24nQdBL8M3w: during this media opening the camera shots are almost from the perspective of someone observing the action which allows the audience to acknowledge the importance of the young boy as a character. it also allows the audience to relate to his escape as they're aware of what is around them.

Shorter Shots
The effect that shorter shots have on the audience is it allows them to see the facial expressions of the actor or give them information they will need to know. if the shot is of someone's face it allows the audience to recognise how the actor is feeling at that time. this means the audience will feel cathartic toward the actor as they naturally feel compassion toward their emotion. however, if the shorter shot is of something other than a face it could be of something to read or point out that is relevant to the film. this means the shorter shot gives the audience an insight to what is going on and to help let them know of its importance. in contrast it could also be to cause shock factor because of its link to the film especially if it is at the end of the film.

longer shots
 The effect that longer shots have on the audience is they allow them to grasp and insight  to the surroundings of the scene and link them to what is happening in the film. if the shot is of something in the distance moving closer it can cause suspense for the audience depending on the relevance of the thing moving closer. if the long shot is of a scene it can give the audience an insight on the emotion to feel at that particular time for example if it is of something calming like a sunset they know the next scene is of something nice or romantic but if it is of something instance like a thunder storm they know that something with action or anger is about to take place this is also helped by the soundtrack added to the film.

RESEARCH - Attracting your target audience

ATTRACTING YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE

What ways would you go about attracting your target audience to come and see this film?

Advertising:  Advertising is an audio or visual form of marketing communication that employs an openly sponsored, non-personal message to promote or sell a product, service or idea. This would help attract the target audience of a film by advertising the age the film is for, the outline of what the film is about, including a trailer.

Marketing:  Marketing the action or business of promoting and selling products or services, including market research and advertising.

RESEARCH - Character

Characters

How important are characters particularly in the opening 2 minutes of a film?
Movies tell stories about people. In every script, the writer has to create one character (or a set of characters) that the audience will root for or hate. This special character is known as the main character, often referred to as the protagonist. He or she will be the character with most obstacles and normally the one with most screen time.
Creating interesting, realistic characters is an art in itself. To find the right dose of believability and novelty to mix together and form an exciting, plausible character ranks as one of the hardest tasks in screenwriting. However characters in the first 2 minutes of a film are not too important as you could get a film opening of a setting, so overall characters are important for the film however are not essential in the first two minutes.  

 3 existing character profiles 
Mia Wallace (Pulp Fiction)
Before we even see her, Mia Wallace is the most talked about character in the film.

We know she's the big man's new wife, a "don't touch" person if there ever was one. But she's also beautiful and bored. So when Jules, and later the bartender, learn that Vincent has to "take her out" and "show her a good time," they think it's hilarious. She's the most dangerous character in the movie. Vincent needs to get high on heroin in order to go through with it.

Heath Ledger as The Joker (The dark knight) 

 Appearing to be the most evil, deranged, and flat out psychotic killer of all comic book villains, The Joker is the primary antagonist of Batman. He is the complete opposite of Batman, in everything from appearance (Batman tends to be a rather large and muscular man, while The Joker is typically a man of average height or even taller possessing a skinny frame), to ideals. The Joker views murder as sport, and will not hesitate to toy with his food before he eats it, even if said food are the men he has hired to work for him. As intimidating as he is psychotic, he still manages to recruit hordes of henchmen despite his maniacal insanity."The Joker's physical appearance is a polar opposite of that of Batman. Batman uses dark colours such as grey and black to intimidate criminals, while The Joker relies on bright colours, such as purple, green, and sometimes orange to do his bidding. The Joker also has a melted cliché clown face, the origins of which differ depending on the continuity he is used in. Some incarnations of The Joker see him wearing actual make up (such as in the film "The Dark Knight"), while others show his skin actually having been bleached (as in the 1989 "Batman"). He also traditionally has green hair and red lips, to complete the look of the psycho clown.

His methods are unpredictable and incalculable. He does things according to his own twisted sense of logic, and does not desire money. If there was one thing that he did desire, it would be the power to instil anarchy into Gotham by any means necessary, proving that organization is meaningless and futile. He is an exceptionally intelligent man, and this tends to be his greatest weapon against Batman, the police, and the District Attorney's office. He is often confronted by the authorities, but easily evades capture due to sick and twisted mind games he plays on them, all full of mystery. While Batman prefers to stay in the shadows, The Joker basks in the spotlight, often broadcasting himself to the public and media outlets."

 Renton - Ewan McGregor (trainspotting)

 

The main protagonist in Trainspotting, Mark Renton is the Scottish anti-hero who struggles with drug addiction in memorable scenes beginning with a scene in which he fishes a suppository from a blocked toilet to feed his habit. Later he overdoses on heroin and is subsequently held captive by his parents in an intervention where he experiences withdrawal hallucinations. Despite this, throughout the movie Renton remains the most sympathetic character as we occasionally hear his voiceover in the first person. Escaping to London Renton's old life catches up to him as "friends" get back in touch. The movie closes with Renton departing after stealing the proceeds of a drug deal from his associates.

All of the characters above are iconic because they are memorable characters from legendary films that everyone knows because of their clever ways of acting and the fact that each of these characters creates a relationship with the viewer even if they are a 'villain'.  They add excitement and the thrill factor to each film bringing emotions and feeling between the characters and the audience.

RESEARCH - Dialogue

WHAT IS DIALOGUE?
Dialogue is a conversation between two or more people as a feature of a book, play, or film. In a way, it is any form of speech. Possibly in order to solve a problem. 

IS DIALOGUE NECESSARY IN THE OPENING TWO MINUTES OF A FILM?
In my opinion, i believe that dialogue is not necessary in the two minute opening scene of a movie as it could be seen to be too overpowering and can distract the audience into understanding what genre it is. I think the simple use of music is much more effective, as it can give the audience an opportunity to understand what is going on, rather that jumping straight into characterization. However, others may disagree because a film cannot be ruined if there is dialogue involved. For example in 'Like Crazy' which is a romance film, the opening scene consists of the characters sitting in a class room or lecture room, which involves the teacher 'teaching' them. This doesn't make the movie a bad one, it just may have the power to distract the audience. 

A comedy where dialogue is not used in the opening scene: AIRPLANE
The opening scene of this movie is where the airplane is in the clouds remaking the scene of jaws swimming in the sea. The opening scene of this consists of the jaws theme tune and doesn't involve any speech. This keeps it nice and simple and doesn't over complicate. 

A comedy where dialogue is used in the opening scene: TED 
Ted's opening scene consists of the two main characters sitting on the sofa in front of the telly sitting and talking to each other. In a way, this helps tell the audience that it is a comedy as they are talking about funny things etc. It may confuse the audience however as they will not know why they are talking about the specific conversation they are having. This would lead to confusion. 


A horror where dialogue is not used in the opening scene: The Women in Black
The opening scene of this film involves no dialogue, just music, which insinuates on the spookiness as it just concentrates on the dark, gloomy music. This will help develop the audience to consider how scary the film is going to be and how serious it portrays in the opening scene. 

A horror where dialogue is used in the opening scene: Blare witch Project
The opening scene of this film consists of the characters recording themselves, therefore opening the film with dialogue. The use of dialogue insinuates on the idea of how the characters are filming it themselves as the whole film is based on them going on a trip into the woods, not knowing that something is following/ haunting them.