1. Question 1.
Font styles.
I used PATHE! as my distribution/production company, this is mainly because they are involved
in a lot of films of this genre. But I thought I should add my own creation in “HOLDEN
STUDIOS PRODUCTIONS”. I created this short frame for my ident on Sony Vegas. I used
a graffiti type font and a quick spotlight effect moving diagonally on a black surface.
Obviously all film companies use this and so it is not challenging any particular
conventions but it is something every film opening must contain, so I thought best to do my
best in creating a suitable ident. I didn‟t want it to be too complicated, I wanted it to be
simple and fit in with the movie‟s style. But I did not want it to be so simple it looked tacky. I
think the short animated spotlight makes it look a little bit more real.
How characters are introduced.
The main character is called Max, played by Joe. He is first seen answering his phone in bed,
we see he is a stereotypical teenager in a small cramped and messy bedroom. I wanted to
portray him as living in a sort of suburban rough estate. Max is white which I suppose is a
change to most films based upon knife crime, films such as Kidulthood and Boyz „N‟ Da
Hood where the people involved in the crimes are Afro-Caribbean‟s. The whole idea for
this film came purely from a song featured in Boyz „N‟ Da Hood by Stanley Clarke called
„black on black crime‟. So I made a point to make all the characters involved were white to
challenge the idea that it is only Afro-Caribbean‟s who are involved in such crime. I was
going to ask Joe to use a sort of accent like they do in Kidulthood but I don‟t think it would
have sounded realistic at all so I said to use his normal accent.
Genre/Props
This shot contains the most props, some liquor bottles and tissues etc covered in blood.
I didn‟t want to over do it but this shot had to be busy, messy and quite shocking.
Obviously most teenagers don‟t drink whisky but its intentional to show that there has
been something stressful and the voice we here before this is obviously under stress to
drink this stuff. All the blood and alcohol suggests already this is about crime. This
movie genre is sort of a “murder thriller” crossed with “social realism”. It is intended to
be quite striking and real. A lot of scenes like this look fake but I kept it busy and short.
2. Story and how the opening sets it up/ Use of costume
We see max ready in the next scene, because I didn‟t want to waste time on him getting ready
because this would bore viewers so tried to skip as much of the getting ready part to about 15
seconds. A lot of films open with people waking up in bed and then getting ready and it gets
boring I must admit. But one of the films I took inspiration from was “Friday” with ice cube. This
film takes place in a single day, so does my film and that opens with people waking up in bed.
The idea is that we follow max from the moment he wakes up right until the end of that day. So I
think it was essential we included at least a little bit of him getting up and being on his own
getting ready, showing he is the main character. I decided it would be best if he wore a hoody as
well because that the item of clothing most typically associated with teenagers and help identify
this is what he is. This goes along with media stereotypes.
Camera work and editing
I like how I edited this part; it looks completely continuous from the last angle and flows. This is the
part I am most happy with out of the entire film opening. I shot the entire scene from each angle
so that I could choose which point to connect them later on during editing. This was a good
decision as it made it incredibly easy during the editing to but the two shots together and make it
seem seamless. I wanted the hand motion put in to show it was all one shot and then for him to
walk down the stairs and to switch to another shot from the bottom. Of course there were some
simpler ways to shoot it and better techniques to use but I thought this one was perfect for the
quick and simple style I was aiming for in this movie.
Editing/Font&Style/Effects
Throughout the opening I put it in different sections of “credits” separated by the story and during the
story. First at the start with the ident‟s then at this point. None of the films I analysed used this
idea, but I thought it was the best way to do it instead of all the credits in one block and the
opening after or before. I tied in the music with this point to emphasise this was the main section
of credits and I wanted something to separate the moment of him leaving the door and the
moment where he begins walking down the street. This idea was just a fitting solution. I want this
film to be simplistic and not excessive. So all the text I use is either black on a coloured
background, or in this case white on black. I used the most basic font I could think of, because I
didn‟t want this to stand out as it‟s not part of the story. I wanted I to be as plain as it could
without being boring up until the shocking last scene.
3. Setting
The idea is that they live in „the suburbs‟ unlike a lot of the films of this genre that are set in city
centres. Obviously this is a lot easier for me to film as the houses I wanted to use were all
situated in the suburbs but its also the idea that its not just people in city centres who commit
crimes, this attitude is also present in people everywhere. The theme is that it does not matter
where you‟re from, the capacity to do good or bad is present throughout society.
Special Effects
I flashed up this image and 2 others on each of the three steps taken up the stairs. This effect was
intended to be a little bit „spooky‟ and give an idea of what happened to the girl (Grettel) we see a
few seconds later. I turned it black and white and made it a lot darker in the actual video to give
the idea it‟s in the past as this is used in a lot of films. I also purposely only flashed the image
shortly but let the sound of the scream continue for the whole course, I cannot honestly say there
was a particular reason. When I played the full image with the sound it just didn‟t seem creepy
enough, it seemed tacky and fake. I also put an echo on the last scream so it rang out and faded
until his hand was put on the door and I put a drum noise on this bit.
Title of film/Costumes and props.
This is the end of my opening sequence. I wanted the ending to be vivid and shocking, the part that
viewers would remember the most. So I included the title in this part as well. I used a print-style black
font, I sampled a few in this shot but this one looked the most authentic for this genre. I like that it‟s sort
of a photograph on its own and I use it as a still image and run it for about five seconds so viewers have
enough time to take everything in. I wanted this image to look as disturbing as possible really. I looked
up how to make fake blood on the internet and improvised as to how I thought it looked best (cherry koo
aid, black treacle and water). I put blood on mikeys hands and went through each stain carefully to
make it look real. Then I got grace to cover herself in it and lay in the bath, she borrowed one of my old
football shirts but the what I wanted was to draw the viewers gaze to the stain on her neck than up the
wall and down towards the title in the bottom corner.
4. Question 2
My character is based on Cook from Skins. Cook is supposed to
be a rough teenager who gets into fights etc. He is the typical
“rude” teenager. He has never been afraid of getting into trouble
yet he is extremely loyal and likeable to the audience, he does
what he thinks right no matter what trouble he gets into. The idea
behind Max is that he stands by Sid right through until the end
but he has a guilty conscience about it and in the end turns Sid in
thinking its for his own good, in my opening we see Max is not
okay with this whole idea. We do not see him staying loyal but I
think the audience know he will stay with Sid in the end. I could
also make a comparison to Freddy because of the way Max
dresses. Freddy will steer away from trouble when it gets too
much or too serious which is what Max does in this movie, but
then Freddy is not as head strong or loyal as Cook or Max.
Obviously they are involved in smoking or are friends with people
who smoke drugs as most teenagers are. A difference between
both characters is where they come from.
5. Question 3
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
What does a production company do
Shepherds the films production from concept to completion, they hold the entire legal rights to the movie
and are solely responsible for its completion. They are the ones who own the film and make money from it.
A good comparison would be Topshop and kate moss. Kate moss designs the products for them but they
are the ones putting it out there and taking responsibility for it and making the money. There also the ones
who take the hit if the product isn‟t up to scratch. They make the pitch to the studio‟s and the
distributors‟, they appoint directors, writers and are involved in every appointment of personnel during the
film making process.
The films distributor?
A distributor is a company that is the link between the complete production company and the cinema‟s or
theatres. The go and pitch to theatre companies to persuade them to „book‟ the film for showings.
Fortunately a lot of production companies self distribute or always use the same distribution company and
are co-existent. I want PATHE! Studio‟s to be involved in the production process and therefore also be
involved in distributing the movie to audiences.
Where the money might have come from for a film such as yours? Why the various people are
named in the titles- which jobs appear in titles and in what order and how have you reflected this?
The money would hopefully come from involvement with PATHE! Productions as well as perhaps the UK
film council who hand out grants for films. Only PATHE!, my own fictional production company HOLDEN
STUDIOS PRODUCTIONS and then myself as the director and the actors in the film Because these were
the only people involved in the movie. First I used the production company cause there most important
(they are where the money is coming from) and then I stated myself as director and the actors followed
suite.
What your film is similar to 'institutionally' (name some films which would be released in a similar
way)
Films that are similar to mine as far as institutions go are things like “This Is
England, KiDULTHOOD, Football Factory and Harry Brown” low budget releases that produce a young „cult‟
following who buy on DVD.
7. Question 5
CAMERA AND TRIPOD - This is the only equipment I used whilst shooting the film
opening. A standard extendable tripod and a Sony camera. This camera has the
ability to alter the iris to allow different levels of light in. This meant when I was in a
dark room I could let more in and when in light I could make it darker so that the
view was visible and the lighting was the same as and when I wanted it I took a
lesson with the technician who taught me clever ways to use it. They also told me the
right times to use and the wrong times. I‟d never used a tripod before but I learnt how to
use it with the required effect in my movie. Keeping shots level it also made me think
about what camera angles to use.
FIREWIRE – this was used to transfer data from my camera and straight onto
the computer easily
SONY VEGAS 8 – This was the editing program I used, it allowed me to create
my own ident and edit the movie a lot better than any of the software school
has to offer. It allowed me to synchronize the music and each change of angle
relatively easily.
LOGIC PRO STUDIO- The background music and all the sound was edited on apple‟s
logic studios. I used Aphex Twin as the inspiration for the soundtrack, because some of the
ideas I has about the film came from one of his music
BLOGGER - I used this website to blog all my research and planning for the movie.
8. USB – I used this when switching my video from the PC at home to
the macbook to put it on DVD.
LAPTOP – This dell is the laptop I did my editing on shortly after the shooting
process
IMOVIE –I used this to burn the movie onto DVD.
MACBOOK – This is used for iMovie and logic pro to work.
PHOTOSHOP – I used photo when editing picture throughout the
planning progress
9. Links to similar films and use of music – The film that inspired me the most was Boyz n tha hood.
There was a piece of music on that film called black on black crime, by Stanley Clark. This made me
think that the idea that blacks are all involved in crime is false and I wanted to change that idea and
make all the people white. Other musicians such as Aphex Twin inspired me and the part of the
screaming girl came from a famous scene off of one of his music video‟s. Adulthood is another film
that mine is linked to as one of the characters in mine is similar to the Jay character from that movie.
That was one of the first movies I saw about teenage life. I more or less planned the whole movie and
one scene I had planned was to be the moment before “Sid” is arrested and in this scene I would play
music inspired by the Stanley Clarke song like it is used in Boyz n tha hood. The music I used as the
credits played was made by me and a friend who is very talented. We took inspiration from Aphex
Twin‟s music. We wanted it to be sort of a sleepy, misty song that had a lot of low bass. We timed it so
that the beat kicked in and the song changed with the scenery. This is a subtle effect but if it hadn‟t
been done the movie would not have looked authentic. The other music I used is the point where Max
walks up the stairs, this is very strange music we used. I integrated the screams into the build up as
well, on each step and echoed each one out. The start of the sound sort of sounds like water dripping
but the sound distorted and it has a spooky effect on the viewer. We then built it up and ended with a
single drum as the door opens.
Genre conventions -My idea is that knife crime is a big problem and the need to address the
destructiveness of it is huge. Social realism films are often successful and can have a huge target
audience, from people who are merely interested to people who are involved in a similar situation or
people of that age.
Unique selling point – For me the main selling point is that nobody has really ever done a film on
knife crime. This film displays how loyalty and friendship can get you through almost anything but the
that a persons will to do good will always override any other feelings. It is also a thriller in which the
two companions are constantly being chased down. The pitch would be a “a thrilling tale of loyalty and
friendship, that ends in disaster and highlights the dangers of a growing problem”
10. Question 6
What have I learnt… When I first played through the scene of the character
Since I started the media course at my school, I have learnt many Max walking up the stairs and the flashes of Grettel
things but during my coursework my skills using a camera and shooting screaming it just didn‟t look right as the footage let you
a film have developed incredibly and I have learnt to do things that I see her face for too long. I cut it down but left the sound
have always took for granted when watching movies. My editing skills of her scream running on, this effect looks a lot better
have also not just developed but I have learnt a completely new skill. than the actual footage and sound played together.
Before I would have never had a clue how to put two clips together but
after research, watching movies and thinking about how each shot is One of the massive things I learnt is how to make
filmed and the angles they used I started to understand how it works. music. I had a friend help me step by step make the
The technician taught me how to do the basics and then using soundtrack, he put in the different sounds as I
YOUTUBE I managed to learn how SONY VEGAS works and so then I described them. I think the idea oh creating your own
could use the better applications they have on my movie. music to fit in with the changes happening on screen
Some aspects I learnt were things like the 180 degree such as a door closing or changes to the credits and
rule, which implies the camera man should never have to rotate his then synchronizing it with when the beat comes in and different instruments
camera more than 180 degrees. Basically the camera man should begin to be heard is the most fascinating and interesting skill I have come
never have to film behind the point he has started shooting. Another away with from this experience.
point I learned to counter this is the shot reverse shot, instead of
rotating round you just film it one person at a time from the opposite I wanted the ending to be shocking and to
persons point of view and then cut and edit the two different shots produce a sort of image, a picture that would last
together to make it seem continuous. in the viewers memory. I wanted it to be as gory
as possible and this took a lot of planning and
Using the IRIS aspect on the camera was the effort to get just perfect. After shooting this I
most useful tip I received, it meant that when decided to put the title in this shot as well. Doing
the bedroom scene which was incredibly dark that raises the danger of this opening being too
I was able to lighten it so it was a lot clearer similar to a trailer but I want my film name to be known as well as the thought
to see. Later on in the editing process I was process it took is quite a complicated one. So what better shot to put it in than
able to add contrast etc. the most vivid one. To explain where this title comes from I have to mention
one of my chief inspirations is Aphex Twin and one
of his videos. The music is also inspired by one of
Here is a good
example of camera
his songs. He has an EP called „Xylem Tube‟.
work in my movie, I Considering this is set in suburbs I was thinking of Essex which has access
film Joe walking up to the tube. In a flower there are two tubes that provide it nutrients, the Xylem
to the mirror from and the Phloem tube. I just made the link and the name stuck. This
an angle then as he experience gave me the idea of how to take inspiration from something and
approaches the shot flicks to the actual mirror as he is looking into it. This apply it in a completely different way to your own creation.
is a pretty basic editing skill but the effect is nice and I think I used it
well, its my personal favorite shot in the opening sequence.
