Editing.

Ive been looking at some editing techniques to aid the development of the idea of our opening and to help with the editing.

Cross-cutting - This is where you criss-cross between 2 separate scenes. This implies that both are happening at the same time. It helps to build tension.

Transitions - Cut, Dissolve, Fade in/ Fade out

Editing techniques - Montage, Cross-cutting, Long take, Cut aways

Framing - In visual arts and particularly cinematography, framing is the presentation of visual elements in an image, especially the placement of the subject in relation to other objects. Framing can make an image more aesthetically pleasing and keep the viewer's focus on the framed objects. It can also be used as a repoussoir, to direct attention back into the scene. It can add depth to an image, and can add interest to the picture when the frame is thematically related to the object being framed. This is something I want to reflect in my opening.

Treatment for Opening.

We've decided on the idea for our opening in which a young adolescent boy, obviously from a rough background, enters his bedroom and through a series of montage shots dresses up as a girl. We chose this as a way to captivate the audiences attention and thought it was a good way of introducing character and creating enigma. We want to shoot it on a wide angle lens and create a very stylistic opening, by framing each shot carefully and taking time to focus on the colours in the frame we wish to create a polished and aesthetically pleasing final product.

Fantastic Voyage Opening Analysis.

Fantastic Voyage(1966), directed by Richard Fleischer 

Genre: Fantastic voyage strays from the conventions of the previous comedy/quirky genre I had previously been looking at. Although not directly related tot the genre I plan to use for my opening it is an opening I think I can take a lot of inspiration from. The opening displays short videos in a montage sequence of men and equipment in a laboratory which immediately points to the Sci-Fi genre. The sound effect reflect a scientific world and clearly display elements of a science fiction film.

Narrative(enigma): We don't find out much in this opening but we do get introduced to a character right at the beginning and at the end who seems to be undergoing some sort of medical procedure. By not revealing too much in the opening sequence it captures the attention of the audience and encourages the to keep watching.

Atmosphere: The atmosphere in this opening is very serious, which contrasts highly to the last two I was looking at. There is no backing music which leads the audience to believe that this could be more of a realist approach to cinema.

Titles: Typewriter font suggests a serious film covering serious matters.

Click on the link to be redirected to the video: https://vimeo.com/94892854

Juno Opening Analysis.

Juno (2007) directed by Jason Reitman

Genre: This opening is another one that comes under the genre of the Nacho Libre opening that I analysed. This is the genre I am planning to use for my own opening as I like the cinematic elements it displays and how each one really plays with colour, framing and each one is always very different. You can gather that it is a comedy film by the music that they use and the way it is animated.

Narrative(enigma): It opens with the main character drinking from a bottle of orange juice in a quirky style that reflects the rest of the film and then transforms into an animated sequence of her walking around what seems to be her neighbourhood.

Atmosphere: Based on the music and animation it creates a merry, nonchalant atmosphere which contrasts to the serious subject matter which we later find out once the narrative of the film is uncovered.

Titles: Once again a sketch font is used and names and texts are hand-drawn and are mixed up into the sequence. Background loses its depth and becomes flat as it transitions.

Nacho Libre Opening Analysis.

This film opening I chose to analyse is from Nacho Libre (2006), directed by Jared Hess.

Genre: Simply by the opening the genre is very very clear. It follows the 'geek-comedy' genre which is seen in such films as Little Miss Sunshine and Napoleon Dynamite. We see that this is a comedy by the way the character is introduced, we see him stealing random items in a comedic manner and we find out that he is obsessed with wrestling. He is introduced as a quirky character and the music helps us to identify that this is a quirky comedy. The font is also gives us a clear indication to the type of film we are about to watch.

Narrative (enigma): The opening introduces us to a character who is obviously wanting and trying to be something that is unattainable to him, we see a short insight into his life as a child as at the end of the opening it transitions into present day.

Atmosphere: Based on the colour and the cheery music one can gather that the atmosphere is overall very light hearted and that this is going to be an upbeat film.

Titles: The titles are done in a sketch-like handwriting font in blue which adds a personal touch and allows the audience to relate to this unfortunate character right from the very beginning.

The Breakfast Club opening analysis

Genre 

The genre of the breakfast club is a coming of age movie. You can tell this in the opening by the setting being at a high school so you know the characters will be around that age. The voice over that is going on in the background is discussing about the angst of being a teenager at school and how it is very hard to fit into a group and find your place. It also agrees with the typical convention that it is about kids that have a problem, by introducing us to all of their parents and seeing how each is treated it sets up the film nicely to represent the genre specified. 

Narrative

The opening starts with a montage of different parts of the school and a voice that introduces us to where we are and what the date is. It is a foreshadowing moment of the letter that they have to write during the film, however we don't know that yet. This is a useful technique as it is enticing us to find out who this letter is for and why it is written. "we think its crazy that your making us write an essay telling you who we think we are" this is symbolic of the genre and how it is going to be a film about kids discovering themselves in the difficult time of adolescence. We are then introduced to each individual character. 

Character
After being generally introduced to the characters during their speech, we are then introduced to each one and they individual family dynamic.
First we are introduced to 'The Princess' who drives up in a flash car with her dad wearing a Burberry scarf which shows her wealth. "I can't believe you can't get me out of this" shows that she is used to getting her own way and her dad spoiling her. She sounds whiney and posh in her dialogue. She is dressed very presentably and her make up is very clean. By her dad saying he will make it up to her and giving her a present and saying she can go shopping shows that she really is spoilt.
Next we are introduced to the 'geek' who is in a crowded car with his mum and his sister. His mother is berating him and saying that he should study. His reluctancy shows that he always follows the rules and that he is not used to disobeying. He is also used to being bullied because even when his little sister taunts him he doesn't rise and his mother is barking orders at him. He is wearing very practical clothes; a very bright coloured hat and not fashionable clothes at all.
Then the 'jock' is evidently bullied by his father because of the way that they seem to have a very macho relationship. His parents are divorced and it seems that his father is really pushing him to play football without any regard for what he might want. You can tell they aren't very close because they don't have a relaxed and comfortable relationship.
Then we see the misfit who comes on his own, no parents that seem to care about him. He is wearing mysterious clothes looking quite cool and nonchalant. He doesn't even look when crossing the road which just shows that he doesn't care about anything.
The basket case 

Dazed and Confused opening analysis

Genre 

The genre here is coming of age/comedy. 

Through the opening it shows all the classic conventions of a coming of age film, and the target audience seems to be teenagers because it looks as though it is aiming to be relatable. 

Narrative 

In this opening we see a variety of different teenagers doing typical activities. We aren't introduced to who the main characters immediately but we can see the groups that we will be focused on. It is the last day of summer so it means that they are all getting ready to party and we can assume that the film will be based on that last day. 

Characters

Different groups; stoners, geeks, popular girls are all shows and this leads to the idea that they are going to be the people we are following. The effect of cross cutting is very effective because it means we get to see all of them in the same environment and what they are all doing at the same time. 

Atmosphere

A sound bridge is used to add to the atmosphere and so that we are aware of the surroundings. We have a variety of different shots which keeps the opening interesting and the music is very relatable to that summer feeling. Which is effective.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3I5K8L0rbo