task 4- Questions and answers for the documentary "Watching".

How can a film opening attract an audience?

• What does Thomas Sutcliffe mean when he say's "Films need to seduce their audience into long term commitment. while there are many types of seduction, the temptation to go for instant is almost irresistible "

: To me what Thomas Sutcliffe means is that the opening scene must catch the targeted audiences attention so much as they have put all their trust in you to give them an opening that lure's you in to keep you on your toes right from the start to be interested in the rest of the film.

• According to Director Jean Jacques Beineix, what are  the risks of 'instant arousal'?

: Once you have aroused the audience you have to answer the questions, and this risk of that it never answering the questions.

• Explain why " A good beginning must make the audience feel that it doesn't know nearly enough yet, and at the same time makes sure that it doesn't know too little"? 

: In my opinion what it means it that the film opening should allow the audience to know what their about to watch and what their in for however also leave them wondering at the same time on what could happen and what not. Just like a trailer give them the climax as an eye opener which it leaves them unsatisfied and makes them want to watch the whole film. 

• What does critic Stanley Kauffmann describe as the classic opening? 

: Critic Stanley Kauffmann describes a classic opening as having 

1. An established shot at the beginning of New York City commonly on the Eastside
2. Then a close up of a building, 
3. Followed by a camera going up a building into a window passing a reception's desk to a private office introducing us to the main character.

• Why does this work?

: You are told

1. Where it is taking place
2. What occupation hero is/was
3. And told the organisation of the world- Everything was in place, rational and expected.

• Why is Kyle Cooper's title sequence to the film 'Seven' so effective?

: The title sequence became the first scene in the movie in many ways, it told a story, introduced you to the obsessive nature of the films main character, for shadows a lot of things that was going to happen. He did it do well that the psychotic energy of the title was proved more influential then the film itself.

Task 5 - What Makes a Good Title Sequence?

What makes a good title sequence? - An interview with Kyle Cooper 

What is Kyle Cooper credited with?

• Kyle Cooper is credited with being the only person who single-handedly revitalised the main title sequence as an art form. His work was seen as "important design innovations of the 1990s" by the New York Times Magazine. 

What does he think makes a good title sequence?

Three things Kyle Cooper believes makes a good title sequence are:

1. Sequences which make their way into the film seamlessly
2. Title sequences which set an expectation
3. Sequences which make you want to carry on watching the film

What is important about the font used in the film "Seven"?

Two things that was important about the font in the film "Seven" are:

1. It gives us an insight of the plot of the film - this is done by the use of the font that is similar to handwriting which is linked with the serial killer in the film keeping journals 
2. Due to the fact that it gives us an insight into the plot of the film it also sets the tone and scene for which the audience can now - after the title sequence - be aware of what to expect

What reasons does he give for liking the following title sequences?

The Dead Zone (1983)	To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
He liked the simple typography used and the music which he found “great” – this played out overtime      He liked the mystery behind the title sequence of this film	He liked the obsessions in the film itself being portrayed in its title sequence. For example, the treasure box      In the title sequence he really liked the “beautifully photographed marbles”      The forms of horizontal line used in the title sequence with, for example, the balls – which he believes created a good contrast      He liked the integration of typography used in the title sequence

What does he mean by "story based" main title sequence? 

• Kyle Cooper means that the title sequence should have a specific back story when it is 'story based' and it should possess a clear metaphor for the audience to understand and make assumptions from this about the film.

What problems might a studio face after an audience test screening?

• The problems a studio may face after an audience test screening are not having an enough budget to re-do another shoot or another scene but also the audience not understanding particular aspects of the sequence. 

Why do the 2 ½ minutes of the title sequence become important for the studio?

• There are three ways in which this is important:

1. So the audience can understand better the title sequence better
2. For it to potentially become another scene or a prologue for the film
3. To help put in some extra information into the title sequence that was left out

What do the title sequence to "Dawn of the Dead" try to do?

• The title sequence for this film tries to set the movie and the scene up so the title sequence essentially becomes a part of the film itself and to also advance the plot.

Why does Cooper think titles are so important to a film?

• Cooper believes titles are so important to a film because they help the movie by telling a back story of the plot to put the audience in their place in which they are supposed to be at the head of the film. In addition, he also thinks that designers can tell a story through title sequences which helps them express their creation of the content.

Task 4 - An Intro To The Unit & Film Openings

What is the purpose of a film opening? What makes a good film opening? 

'Watching Documentary'

1. What does Thomas Sutcliffe mean when he says "films need to seduce their audience into long term commitment. While there are many types of seduction, the temptation to go for instant arousal is almost irresistible"

From the quote provided, Thomas Sutcliffe means that the opening scenes of films need to attract the target audience’s attention and make them want to carry on watching with all their trust that the film will be a success and reflect on what is shown in the opening scene.

2. According to director Jean Jacques Beineix, what are the risks of 'instant arousal'?

According to Jean Jacques Beineix the risks of instant arousal is not answering the questions that the audience come up with during the opening scene.

3. Explain why "a good beginning must be make the audience feel that it doesn't know nearly enough yet, and at the same time make sure that it doesn't know too little"?

In my opinion a good beginning needs to possess these features in order to grab the audience’s attention and make them carry on watching the film because they are brought into a little insight of the film but not everything – and the only way to find out will be to carry on watching the film to the end.

4. What does critic Stanley Kauffmann describe as the classic opening? Why does this work? 

Stanley Kauffmann’s description of a classic opening is a fade into the Eastern view of New York City with a long shot of a building which develops into a close up of the building then of a specific window. This then leads to a receptionist desk which introduces us to the main character of the film and the plot.

This works because you are given small details such as the setting and location so we know where the film is being set which can sometimes be quite significant. Another reason why it is important is because we are given an insight into the occupation of the main character/hero. Finally, this works because everything is in place, rational and expected.

5. Why is Kyle Cooper's title sequence to the film 'Seven' so effective? 

Kyle Cooper’s title sequence to the film ‘Seven’ is very effective because it tunes the viewer to the right dissonant of pitch. This means they are being tuned into what they would expect to come up or happen in the film purely based on its title sequence. The title sequence is also effective because it is essentially seen as the first scene of the movie because of the way it fits in very well and the way it tells a story through the title sequence. 

Task 3 - Purpose of a Title Sequence and Film Opening.

What is the purpose of a title sequence and film opening?

We have researched and found that having credits at the beginning of a film engages the audience as title sequences have become a short film in itself as actors and company names started making appearances at the beginning. The use of computer graphics and animation helps designers and directors to visualise their opening titles on the screen for example the first digitally generated opening title sequence was Superman in 1978. This left the audience fascinated because it was multi - dimensional and moves in ways that before it seemed impossible. Over time opening sequences became more similar as it designed to become the part of the cinematic state which created a upcoming setting.



The film opening is very important as it sets the scene and shows the audience where it is located and parts of what is going on. In some films, for example, you are first given an established shot of where

the setting is e.g in the film 'The Shining', we are given an establishing shot of a lake then followed by trees and mountains. This method is used to show the audience and give them an insight and understanding of where they are so they are not left confused.

task 2 -Evaluation of Prelim film,

Evaluation of Prelim film.

Which Skills do you think you were particularly good and less good at?

• Myself and Ryanna took parts in directing and as cinematographer and then my group and I worked on the editing together.  I think I was particularly good at the match cut editing with the use of shot types, however I need to go over the shot type names and what effect's it has on the film and audience to be able to remember them to know in my final film opening I can see which on works well or not.

What changes would you make if you were to complete the project again?

• The ending, as I don't think we planned it very well. We didn't have a structured conversation going on and with bumping head, the actors were a bit to scared in case it hurts, so maybe having that as the ending made it a bit to messy.

Which aspects of the completed film you think worked well and which were less successful?

• Certain parts of our film that I think worked well was the doorway shot and how we used match cut when editing it and our range of shot types while shooting. The ending was less successful as we didn't have a structured conversation going on. 

What have you learned about the importance of storyboarding and shots-lists that you can use when you plan your big production piece?

• Storyboarding is crucial as it makes production easier, you have your shot types written down so you wont forget them, also when your editing so you know what scenes goes where and also what is happening in that particularly scene and what do you need for it.

17. PRELIM Selin Ryanna Can Morgan from 283goswell on Vimeo.

Task 2 - Prelim Evaluation

Prelim Evaluation

What went well and how we can improve...

• Which skills do you think you were particularly good at and which you were less good at?

The skills I think I was good at during the prelim process was the editing part of it - mainly the part where as a group we were taking turns with the match cut editing to ensure the prelim film matched well and went by swiftly. The part I feel like I was less good at was with the actual filming process - especially with the fig rig. This is because I haven't got steady hands therefore, when I held the fig rig with the camera on it to film a perspective shot it didn't go as well as we wanted it to so we cancelled that part out and thought of another way we can do the perspective shot. 

• Which aspects of the completed film do you think worked well and which were less successful? 

I think the part that we were specifically the best at as a group and which worked out very well visually once we watched over it was the first scene - which was the door scene. In this scene we used a variety of different camera shots which were: back shot, long shot, close up - specifically of the hand on the door handle and we then finished up that scene with another medium back shot. The match cut of this worked really well and was particularly one of my favourite parts of the whole completed prelim film and the process of it. One of the parts that didn't work as well as we wanted it to was probably the conversation scene as we didn't have enough time to have a longer conversation so therefore, the dialogue was quite short but also the camera angle during the conversation scene was at quite an awkward place as a bit of the two people who were talking's - one of them being me - head was cut off a bit. Thus, I think next time we film a scene that has dialogue in it with the actors sitting down, the camera should be placed a little more farther back.

• What changes would you make if you were to complete the project again?

One of the biggest changes I would make is probably the conversation scene as I mentioned above purely due to the fact that that was one scene that we didn't carefully think about and plan therefore, the dialogue was short and also the camera was too close. 

• What have you learned about the importance of storyboarding and shot-lists that you can use when you plan your big production piece?

I have learned that storyboarding is actually a very important step to complete before filming as it provides you with a clear structure using visual images of what you are supposed to do without having to cut filming to think about it - and essentially waste time.

Attached is our completed Prelim film which is what this evaluation is for: 

17. PRELIM Selin Ryanna Can Morgan from 283goswell on Vimeo.

Task 1 - Welcome Note!

Hello from Group 17!

We are Selin, Morgan, Canberk and Ayse.