Porcelain



This is a thriller opening produced by students in Long Road sixth form college

Steady Camera Shots: 2
Framing: 4
Mise-en-scene: 4
Meaning Is Apparent: 2
Varied Shot Transition: 3
Sound with Images and Editing: 4
Clearly a film opening: 4
Codes and Conventions of a thriller: 4
Creating Tension and suspense: 3

Overall: 4

I gave this production a 2 for the abilty to hold a steady camera shot where appropriate because although the shakey, unsteadyness of the camera was intentional and intended to create instablity and tension there were no steady camera shots. This lacked the necessary evidence needed for a higher mark to show the ability of holding a shot steady.

I gave this production a 4 for framing a shot because there were no inapproriate props in the background and showed consistant abilty to include and exclude elements where appropriate.

I gave this production a 4 for Mise-en-scene because all aspects of the production were considered and appropriate including lighting, sound, figure, object, object positioning, movement of actors, props and casting.

I gave this production a 2 for Meaning Is Apparent because the meaning was not clear and there was no clear plot or storyline. There was not much way of telling what the thriller would have been about by watching this opening.

I gave this production a 3 for varied shot transition becasue although there were some transition, there was a limited variation.

I gave this production a 4 for sound with images and editing because the sound was clearly imported to play in time with the image. The soundrtrack was used to create an eerie tension in conjunction with the flickering effects.

I gave this production a 4 for clearly being a film opening because the viewer is left with unresolved questions.

Opening Title Sequence

Se7en Opening Credits

What Makes This A Good Opening Sequence?

Micro Elements

The opening sequence for Se7en is a good and gripping opening sequence because it clearly shows the audience that this is a thriller by having the conventional font of text, a stark writing style which looked like crudely written words, they faded in while often flickering. They show how attributes such as music, colour and typography can create a mood for a film.

There was dim lighting and everything seemed to be moving in slow motion with a series of montage shots of disturbing images appear quickly and briefly on the screen.

Macro Elements

The audience cannot tell clearly the plot of the film from the sequence, it does not give away too much information but leaves the audience curious with questions. This would make them continue to watch it.

Done Deal

Evaluation


Our aim was to create an opening to a thriller from scrath including thinking of an idea, creating a story board, finding a cast (if needed), filming and editing.
Our opening had the conventions of a thriller with the sub genre of crime and our antagonists had a mindset. We had a stalker following behind a girl on her way to an interview in the first scene.
The conventions of a thriller used in this sequence were the isolation in the first frame where a girl is shown walking on her own in a big empty place. Her phone then rings and the camera switches to a voyerism over the shoulder shot of our antagonist standing behind the girl. We had an eerie breeze playing when the antagonist stalker was on camera which is also a convention of a thriller. This was also an enigma code as it would make the spectators question who it is following this girl and why their doing it. It is also simulatious action as the camera switches between the conversation the girl is having on the phone stating she is on her way and the stalker watching and waiting for her.
The simultanious action continues as the girl finishes her phone conversation and begins to walk. The camera switches back to the stalker that starts to walk as she does. This is a conventional narrative devices often used in thrillers.
The antagonist proceeds to follow the girl and pulls her back as she turns a corner. He throws her on the floor as her body appears to be lifeless. This is theatre of the mind as the spectators are left to use their imagination as to why she's not moving. He then steals her belongings and a point of view shot is used to show him going through her purse to get her personal details from her credit card.

He then takes some of her accessories and gives them to someone whose gender can't clearly be specified (This person will be reffered to as the accomplace). He then walks in an opposite direction looking criminal. This shows the spectators that he was probably working for the accomplace he handed the clothes to. The person then puts on the clothes and walks into a building and states that they are "Ms Chang" when asked. The spectators know from the first scene that this person is not Ms Chang because the girl in the beginning said the was Ms Chang. The interviewer then passes the accomplace a package which is passed across a table. As this is done the accomplace looks up at the interviewer in an evil way. The scene ends and fades out. This transition is conventional in thrillers as it shows that time has passed and it leaves our scene on a cliff-hanger with an open narrative which is when the story is left open for the plot to continue.

Phonecall Project

Evaluation

The task we had to do is create a phonecall situation using different camera techniques such as match on action, which is making two seperate scences look as though they are happening at the same time. I also had to use shot/ reverse shot which is when during a conversation there are different camera shots while maintaining continuity. I had to do the shot/ reverse shot while following the 180 degrees rule which is when you change the camera shot you stay on one side of 180 degrees.

I was working with Sin U Chang. Our filming stage in our production went well as out locations were quiet and empty with the exception of the library, which is ironic.

The planning stage in our production went well because we had a set storyboard idea. It would have been better if we were working in a smaller group to make the storyboard because there were too many people to rely on to deliver work on time.