Levels

I will analyse 4 opening title sequences created by students and give hem a level between 1 and 4, with level 4 being the best and level 1 being the worst.




I would level this opening title sequence as a level 1 piece of work. I have given it this level because the editing has huge black gaps at certain points, which should not even be there. then after 30 seconds there are no more credits, leaving out who directed the film. This leads to a Furthermore, the camera used to film the entire piece is hand held. This leads to a lack of atmosphere and the camera being shaken when it should be still. Also the camera has a very limited style of shots, usually long shots, with a medium close up shot at the very end. The long shot gives a good representation of the setting used to in seqeunce, however it creates a lack of atmosphere. The camera also does not move throughout a shot. An example in this piece is a (0:29), where the camera does not move, even when the door has shut, and the character is difficult to see, at (0:39), the same problem occurs, where the same shot continues for 11 seconds, while he character gets harder and harder to see.


Gender - This opening title sequence clearly shows that this film is not gender orientated as there is a lack of clues to suggest what gender this sequence is aimed at.

Setting - setting is shown through a sequence of long shots heavily, throughout the sequence. In the first scene, we see a shot of a street, suggesting that this is the characters home town, where she would leave later on in the sequence.

Atmosphere - The sound creates an atmosphere of tension, but this tension is then partially eradicated by the sound cutting out, a long time before another piece of music starts to play, which creates an atmosphere of sadness and unease, when she returns. The credits at the start also suggest that this sequence has a feeling of horror and death that his eluded to by the black and red text and font. The clothes that she is wearing also tell us something about the atmosphere in the sequence. At the start she is wearing white dress that connotes innocence, while towards the end of the film, we see her wearing as black top and trousers to connote death or violence.

Character - We are only introduced to one character throughout the entire sequence. What we can tell about this character is that she starts the sequence as an innocent girl running away,we know through her white top. When she returns, we see her wearing black clothing, which could suggest that she is a much more violent character, and is associated with dark topics more then at the start of the sequence.

Narrative (enigma) - The narrative in this sequence is present at the start of the sequence as it got the audience thinking, why is she running? who from? what has she done? But at (1:21), we see her 5 years later, which kills off the enigma that was created before.



I would rate this opening sequence a level 4 piece of work. I would rate this a level 4 because there is a variety of edits used, such as fades, blurred dissolves and cuts.  There is an element of Foley used, when he smashes the bottle, which gains then a lot of marks and the other sound used in the sequence is really effective in creating an atmosphere and enigma. The font used, along with the colors of red and black create a strong feeling of horror and death, that is present towards the end of the sequence. The range of camera shots also connote who is in power, and who has authority and create a sense of character and gender. For a level 4, students must show:

. material appropriate for the target audience and task;

• using titles appropriately according to institutional conventions;

• using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set;

• shooting material appropriate to the task set;, including controlled use of the camera, attention to framing, variety of shot distance and close attention to mise-en-scene;
• using editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer and making selective and appropriate use of shot transitions and other effects

Gender - This opening sequence starts with a boy walking off, wanting to be independent, which is a stereotypical representation of men in a film and TV drama. We then see a boy dancing with a women, which once again is a stereotypical representation of both men and women. Also the camera is filming a from a high shot, which portrays young men and women as vulnerable and submissive. Then, we see a male villain abduct the character that walked off from the rest of the group. This is stereotypical as most villains in movies are men, as they seen as being powerful, and independent.

Character - We first see a character, walk away form the rest of the group. This could be because he is frustrated at the fact that his friends have old him he should not drink any more, suggesting that he has a drinking problem, and wants to be alone, where he later finishes the drink. This could tell us that he does not like being told what to do or that he prefers to be alone. We are then introduced to his friends who are clearing concerned about where they friend has gone a decide to track him down, eventually to a school where they meet then antagonist.

Atmosphere  - We are first introduced to a party atmosphere in this sequence. this is a very social atmosphere with everyone having a good time and at this particular party, they are having a drink with each other. Then we see one character walk away into a dark, poorly lit wood. This creates an atmosphere of uncertainty, and a mystery, as we do not know what is lurking out in the woods, and judging by the dark lighting, there is also an element of danger about where the character is heading, which is shown later on in the sequence. Another atmosphere is created when the two friends go an investigate where their friend has disappeared to. This atmosphere is one of unease and urgency, as they realize that he could be heading into trouble, which is also demonstrated through the mise en scene of the forest. This same sense of urgency and shock is also carried forward to the next scene, which shows their friend being abducted by what seems to be a psycho killer. Then, a feeling of desperation is apparent, when the two friends run away from the crazy killer, who has just killed their friend.

Setting - There are three settings used for this opening title sequence, the party venue, the forest, and the school. The party venue is represented as being a place where most teenagers in the sequence go, and it is a very social place, where teenagers go to have fun. The forest is very dark, and poorly lit. This gives the impression that this is not a safe place to be and is surrounded by danger, which is connoted through the dark lighting a silhouettes of tree branches in the foreground of the camera.

Narrative (enigma) - Enigma is present throughout the sequence. The first question we are faced with is, why are the characters in the party area? We think this because we are placed into the party with no clues of how the characters got there. We are then left to wonder what the killer is doing in the school. we think this because we had not seen this character previously in the sequence. The final enigma the audience is faced with is, do the two friends escape? They think this because the sequence ends with the two friends trying to escape from the killer, but run into a locked door.