pitch presentation

this is our final pitch presentation to our opening title sequence. we are now ready to go and take our recce of our location.

creating our pitch

representations and enigmas

in the opening of our film we are planning to use specific representations and enigmas to drive the narrative and draw the audience in to the film.

representations in our opening

• hoodies
• graffiti on walls 
• tower blocks
• dialect from main characters

enigmas we plan to set in our opening

• who are they on the phone to ?
• who is watching them in the ending of the sequence?
• where are they going

We chose to use these representations to show the divide in society and more social issues to come later on in the narrative. We decided to do this as title sequences often start with an action scene to draw the audience in to the feeling of the movie.

We were influenced by the opening of Harry Brown's various cinematography techniques through there point of view shots so we will use this in parts of our filming to make it more dramatic.

production schedule

This the schedule that my group currently have for our timing and what days we will be using to film the parts that will be necessary for each day. These are now the complete and updated notes in regards to what days we will be filming. we have also included what days we will use for reshooting and editing are title sequence according to work schedules and lessons in school.

feed backs from pitch

after these first feed backs we decided that we will make the opening sequence more visually clear by adding in stars we plan to portray and enigmas and representations we will include in the opening of our movie.

2nd feed backs after improvements




after our second feedbacks we decided as a group we were ready to go and take a recce of our film location we plan to film in as there was no planning permission needed in order to film in the location that we are intending to use.

recce

group recce

This is our opening shot. We decided to use it to show the urban area, as we can see tower blocks in the background. We will show two of our protagonists planning to meet in this scene.

this is a shot we took where we will show Daniel Fincher spying on the boys. This will create an enigma which will later be revealed in the plot.










this shot will be used to show conventions of our genre. The graffiti on the cage will show rebellious behavior and potential social issues later to come in the movie.

titles designer - Saul bass

Saul Bass

Saul Bass graduated from James Monroe high school in the Bronx and studied part-time at the Art students league in Manhattan until attending night classes with Gyorgy Kepes at Brooklyn College. He began his career in Hollywood in the 1940's making print advertisements for films directed by Otto Preminger. his next step was to start designing film posters for the company. They became so impressed he was asked to design a title sequence. this is when he first saw the potential in a title sequence and closing credits to relate to the themes and key messages in relation to the film.

here are a few title sequences he created.

Bass became widely recognised in the film industry after creating the title sequence for Otto Preminger's 'The man with the golden arm'.




The man with the golden arm focuses on a man with a heroin addiction. The narrative depicts  a jazz musician addicted to  heroin the non diegetic sound used in this opening title sequence shows this jazz music and helps to develop the representation without the visual of the man actually on the screen.

Saul Bass was the first person to decide to pull back the curtains  in 'The man with the golden arm' before the opening credits of a movie. This allowed the fusion of pop art to be introduced into title sequences.

The titles open with white lines crossing the screen this could be significant to injections or needles.when the title of the film is revealed the 'needles' surround the title. The fact the title has arm it could show the main character will be addicted to heroin. This could link to a key message that will be presented later in the film. The strong contrast between black and white makes the titles more dramatic and  entice the audience to want to carry on watching. When the white beams turn vertically it makes them look pointy representing a needle. When these needles go in to the shape of a deformed arm reinforces that representation of a heroin addict as it is meant to'destroy' veins in your arms. The music at the end of the scene has increased in depth and dynamics which allows the context of the 1950's to be heard through the instrumental used for the soundtrack in this opening.

Another film that he designed the titles to was Alfred Hitchcock's  Vertigo


As the opening starts the music signals the genre of thriller through the use off low pitch notes the loops in the score of the music can signal repetition and psychological struggles in the narrative of the film. When we see the side of Madeleine face  played by Kim Novak we are introduced to the theme of beauty as it focuses on the appearance of her as the James Stewarts character in the movie becomes obsessive of the image of her.

Although the title sequence played a central role in establishing the visual style of Vertigo its use in the marketing of Hitchcock's film was limited and the appearance of the hollywood stars was favoured throughout the opening title sequence. The face of Kim Novak can also introduce the theme of anxiety as we see a close up of her lips as they twich showing her to be unsettled. This helps to construct the personnel

Urban British crime genre conventions

urban british crime


urban crime was founded as a sub genre of crime in the late 1980's to the early 1990's and is still a great seller in modern day society.they tend to depict urban black culture; hoodies, bikes, drugs, gangs & money.

The main protagonist in these movies tend to reflect the area in which the film is set in. A few films that portray these aspects are;
Ill Manors & kidulthood.


urban crime in media

mis en scene

• dark colours and setting
• masks, guns, drugs, money, tracksuits
• graffiti, tower blocks, cameras, police

cinematography

• quick snappy shots - make the action faster in scene of high tension
• establishing shot - shows the audience the area and possible social issues
• point of view shot - makes the audience feel the adrenaline that one of the gang members are feeling. this is shown well in the opening of Harry Brown when the boy is riding the motorbike.

pitch

shank analysis

the titles opening begins by showing us the film is distributed by revolver this could connote the genre being crime as they have distributed films like Ill Manors, Anuvahood and offender. revolver tends to mainly focus on distributing films based around crime. we then see the production company Gunslinger a film production that linked with Revolver to create Anuvahood and Sket. we then see another production company gateway films. gateway films also helped to create Anuvahood and Sket with Revolver showing that this will be another classic Urban British crime.

we then see an old news report of a violent rebelling attack against police showing the theme of violent social issues straight away. the police van within the mis en scene shows this incident took place in England as it is a British police van. it then cuts to show us the film is in association with molinare studio and gateway films.

it then cuts again to reveal the title of  the film 'Shank'. the word Shank is originated from British slang meaning 'stab' this could show the film will be based on crime at several points in the narrative and can be used as a catalyst to drive the narrative forward.

we then see an animation of Adam Deacon. He is best known for his work in urban British Crime films. Anuvahood and the sequel Adulthood. 

it then shows us Ashley Thomas an actor who worked alongside Adam Deacon in the creating of Anuvahood and  the Adulthood sequal. in his animatic he is holding a knife which could show he is going to be the main antagonist of the film.

we then actor, Michael Socha best known for his role in this is England.

it then cuts to show Kaya Scodelario another actor known forher work in The maze runner and is yet to star in the new Pirates of the Caribean and the new Maze runner.

Jan Uddin then  shows up he is only know for his work in tv soap opera Eastenders.

it then show Jennie Jacques who played a lead role in Truth or death and a significant role in Desperate Romantics, a tv drama serial.

we then see a new actor Kedar Williams this excite an audience as they will want to see how he acts.

it then shows the production designer Rob Nicholls. the mis en scene in this animatic show conventions of Urban Crime which will later portray key themes in the film this is shown through the flats in the background and the barbed wire could represent a prison as it is placed around the outside of the jail.

it then gives us the title designer James Taylor. I like his strong contrast in black and white as it gives a sinister look to his titles in the opening of this film.

it then cuts to show the editor of the film, Jullian Tranquille. the mis en scene in this shot shows potential social issues that may reoccur later in the film due to a car that looks like it has been hit with an explosive substance.

we then see the director of photography. the use of the camera in the mis en scene could show a political issue or people being watched.

it then goes on to show  a few more animatics showing semi important roles in the production of this film.

the film centres on a young male running away from someone on a motorbike. the soundtrack in the background helps add to the chase and makes it more dramatic. the setting looks like an abandoned estate.this is shown by rubbish everywhere aswell as graffiti on the walls.

when they turn the corner the text 'London 2015' gives us an idea of setting. at this time crime rates were extremely high this could show crime issues later in the film. the two boys act rebellious towards others as we see them speed past a woman. this could also show the clear divide in society in their neighbourhood. the constant quick shots build up the tension in the scene and entice the audience to carry on watching.

 when the boy jumps off the bridge the sound used makes it more dramatic and gives an impression that his fate is undetermined. as he lands the antagonist is revealed to be the boy on the bike as his facial expressions show he is angry. his performance in the scene makes him seem like he knows the boy he is chasing.

when the boy is walking around we see the area from his point of view. the area is shown and run down and full of gangs this is shown through smashed windows graffiti and rubbish bags placed everywhere. the dog barking gives a sense of the neighbourhood being empty as their is no one around. as the boy enters the parking lot under the block the dark lighting could connote danger that is about to occur. the use of pleonastic sound for his footsteps dramatises the scene and adds tension to what is about to come.

when we hear the sound of the door opening the boy freezes un a panic to what is about to happen. as an audience would suspect these are the gang members who were just chasing him. when the gang surround him we are aware he is about to be attacked as they are holding weapons. the boys facial expressions show that he is scared at this moment in time.

when the boy is attacked the use of slang is used to show the area of London and represent crime as a normal thing to occur. when the main antagonist reveals the knife he smiles this visual gives a disturbing attribute to the scene.

the boy is stabbed through the hand. the bass of the music at this point sounds like a heart beat showing he is inferior in the ending of the titles.

it then cuts to show '6 hours earlier' showing there will be a flashback.

individual story idea

equilibrium: there are 4 boys are in a urban environment and they are just hanging out on the streets of London and just lurking around their neighbourhood. just going through their everyday routine. 

Disrupted: then they see an older group of boys which motivate them as the older group have money and everything the 4 boys want so they approach them.and the older group encourage them into bad things such as dealing drugs and they persuaded them to go to a big drug deal and intercept it and collect the drugs.

resolution:  they go to the drug deal and one of the 4 members died. so the other 3 boys run away and go back to the older group and explain what happens.

repair the disruption: they get told by the older's that they don't care and they want the money. So they find a way of making the money and give it to the older group.

New Equilibrium: All 3 of them decide that they are better off living how they used to live so they go back to their old days when they use to jus hang out and chill and play football at the local cage.

contemporary vs older

contemporary vs. older

The film begins with a close up of the side of her face. Then it cuts to a pan shot showing the rest of her lip. Then there is a close up of her full lip. Then it zooms in to the lips. The edit puts a name on top of her lip. This show back in 1950s they could do basic editing. Then a pan movement that goes up to show her facial expression. Then another animation is used when the name is animated into the scene. Then it goes closer to the eye and another credit is animated to the scene. Then it changes colour to show her facial expression. 

This title sequence is from the modern day and have more graphics as there are more graphics in this one. the graphics makes the words more clearer as its flashes. this makes the words stuck in the audience heads. This makes the credits seem more exciting than the old one as there are more graphics which gets the audience more engaged into the film. also the sound in this one make the movie sound much better and exciting as its like a party beat and how the pace of the beat increases which shows the energy of the movie

Planning - Shot list

Shots in opening scene:

1. A long shot of the main protagonist and his friend walking towards the camera.
2. The camera then cuts to the other friend riding the bike around the corner, using a medium close up (Wipe Transition)
3. (Wipe Transition) An establishing shot of the area that they live in. 
4.  Long shot of the two protagonist 
5. Cuts to a medium close up of the protagonist 
6. Shot reverse shot of the two characters having a conversation (x5)
7. Low angle shot of two protagonists entering the staircase  
8. Pan shot from the two protagonist then to the bus
9. Long shot of the protagonist   
10. Establishing shot of bridge 
11. Medium shot of two protagonist 
12. Medium shot of the other two protagonist
13. Wide shot of either protagonists walking towards each other on a bridge 
14. Over the shoulder shot behind the main two protagonists 
15. A shot reverse shot of the conversation (x5)
16. Wide shot of the characters leaving the bridge
17. Dolly back as characters walk down the staircase to the bus stop
18. Close up of the protagonist checking the bus times on his phone
19. Long shot of the bus coming
20. Steadi cam of them going upstairs and to the back of the bus

harry brown opening analysis

Harry Brown opening 

the titles begins out of focus zoomed out. we then begin to hear a voice of a male character muted. his use of language clearly shows he is from London due to his use of slang. He begins to talk about drugs showing that this film will be based on criminal activity based around gang related actions.

as we get our first visual we here a young male say ' are you ready to become a man'. this stereotypical behaviour could show how Londoners are seen in society. they are represented as a gang straight away through the mis en scene presented to us. for example, everybody in the scene has their hood up showing they are a gang as they are peer pressuring a male youth to 'become a man'.

the idea of a phone filming the scene gives us a perspective of their age and shows that these boys are late teens. The graffiti on the wall as it means 'gang members are making their mark'(Joshua Teanow). This could show the social issues in and around the area. 

when the man goes to take the drug being given to him his use of vocabulary seems more formal showing he is not use to this type of lifestyle buts he says ' he knows what it is'. as he is taking the substance another member says ' light him up' meaning to light the substance.after he has taken the drug the gang member says ' lets talk about faze two' at this point the audience are aware this is some type of initiation.

we then see the gang member handing over a gun to the boy ' you're a member  for life now ' this underlines the fact that this group of boys is a fact and shows this theme of crime will run throughout the movie. as he takes the gun the rest of the boys begin to celebrate.

shortly after this the scene cuts to a young male riding a dirt bike driving extremely fast swearing. this could show the young man in the last seen reacting to these drugs through the camera technique could be connoting dizziness as it is shaking. the area being presented is a typical gang area as we see a tower block and graffiti everywhere. the bike suddenly haults by a women he then begins to shoot at the women as she trys to escape with her baby but is tragically shot. 

the bike then skids off again and is hit by a van and we notice there was two people on the bike. at this point all the audience here is the impact of the van and the engine after they have fallen.

   

film idea

todorovs five stages

equilibrium- young boy called James is living on an estate which is best known for its violence in and amongst gangs in the local area which he is starting to adapt to due to peer pressure within his social group.

disruption- James is placed under arrest for a local robbery in his area. after he is released the next day on bail. he is welcomed out by a man smartly dressed claiming to know him. he enters the vehicle with the man unaware of what is about to happen.

recognition-the man, Daniel Fincher tells James that he is a computer hacker. at this point James does not want to be sharing his company with Daniel. he is placed on to a drug job involving a local gang that he does not want to be involved in at this point in the film. he still goes on to complete the job without knowing that the gang is waiting for him.

attempt to repair- James arrives at the house and is safe as he is leaving with the package he is confronted by four of the gangsters who are also trying to get hold the drugs they are not giving in to just walking away fromthe fight.

new equilibrium- final fight gang members are killed and Daniel Fincher is arrested and James returns to school life and returns home to a happy life but he will always be around a gang related area

Art of the title research

Words and lettering played an enormous role in films of the silent era. Film titles made their appearance in the earliest silent films, along with letter cards (or inter-titles), which provided context. using the information from the article i learned about how dialogue on screen was used frequently to set a tone to the audience and create a better understanding of the context at the time the movie was set.

 White lettering on a black background is another characteristic of this era, because titles simply looked better this way when projected with live-action B&W film. i found this interesting as i wasn't aware this effect interested audience members. the writer then goes on to mention how it simply looks better than other silent movie openings  when projected with live-action B&W.

“Humorous Phases of Funny Faces” (1906)  was directed by J. Stuart Blackton, who many consider to be the father of American animation. i found this very interesting as i went on to do further research about him and found out he is among the first few people to direct a film with an animated title opening.

Breakthrough ideas in titling, such as timing the typography to interact with metaphorical imagery or to create its own world, were largely innovations that came from outsiders to the Hollywood studio system. i found this part of the article appealing as i discovered where the main breakthroughs came from and how they were using them in their films.

continuity sequence

in our continuity sequence we focused on camera techniques, match on action, shot reverse shot and the 180 degree rule.