Scheduling my project like a sheeple

 

I made this schedule with my partner/partner in crime/andre/my BFF/frenemy/nemesis 

Film Opening Project Schedule

    

1. Initial Research
◦ Research, analyze, and discuss with my group film openings from my chosen genre.
◦ Analyze and discuss credit sequences from films within my chosen genre with group.

◦  research movie plot examples within my chosen genre.
◦ Research a media theory to integrate into our project.

2. Project Overview & Scheduling
◦ summarize my project idea and major inspirations with group.
◦ Create a project schedule convenient for group, including time for CCR production.
◦ Meet with group about overall project overview

3. Planning & Pre-Production
◦ Develop character for film

◦ Find and cast actors for film

◦ Generate a set location for filming

◦ Develop mise-en-scène elements in film (costume, set, props, lighting, etc.).
◦ Plan/develop use of audio in film (dialogue, sound effects, music).
◦ Generate a storyboard

◦ Generate a script

4. Production
◦ Create a production company logo.
◦ Film scenes
◦ record Foley audio

5. Post-Production

◦ record voice overs over damaged/poor audio
◦ Edit clips together

◦ add title and credits
◦ Add after effects if needed

◦ re-record anything if needed.

6. Critical Creative Reflection (CCR)
◦ Research CCR production ideas.
◦ create CCR
◦ Edit CCR

nks to an external sLinks to an exte Week 2(1/26-2/1)

• Research, analyze, and discuss with my group film openings from my chosen genre.
• Analyze and discuss credit sequences from films within my chosen genre with group.
• research movie plot examples within my chosen genre.
• summarize my project idea and major inspirations with group.
• Create a project schedule convenient for group, including time for CCR production.

Links to an external site.
 
Week Three (2/2-2/8)

• Meet with group about overall project overview
• Research a media theory to integrate into our project.
• Generate a storyboard
• Generate a script

Links to an external site. 
Week Four (2/9-2/15)

• Develop character for film
•  Find and cast actors for film
• Generate a set location for filming

• Develop mise-en-scène elements in film (costume, set, props, lighting, etc.)
• Plan/develop use of audio in film (dialogue, sound effects, music).

Links to an external site. 
Week Five (2/16-2/22)

• Create a production company logo.
• Film scenes
• record Foley audio

Week Six (2/23-3/1)

• record voice overs over damaged/poor audio
• Edit clips together
• add title and credits
• Add after effects if needed
• re-record anything if needed.

Links to an external site.
Week Seven (3/2-3/8)

•  Research CCR production ideas.
• create CCR
• Edit CCR

Links to an external site. 
Week Eight (3/9-3/17)

• Buffer week

• Finalize everything, make sure everything's done

• Post with links to CCR’s and film opening

Final post with project links due by 3/17/26

Film Openings

 NERVE

I choose to discuss this non thriller opening scene because the begging has a lot of interaction with the main character and her computer which is what me and my partner want to do in our opening. I like how she is doing multiple things at once: checking notifications, calling her friend, looking through social media, etc. This is the kind of interaction I want my character to have with her computer to tell us about her and her life in the short amount of time we have. The shots also switch from her physically interacting with the computer to the whole being literally just in the computer screen. I like that its not confined to the computer screen and has little shots of her touching the mouse/keyboard so that the transition to outside her bedroom later will be less drastic. 

ALIEN

This opening this movie give us a "tour" of the ship, the camera slowly gliding through the halls of the spaceship. The sound effects of the electronics, air, and the mechanical "heartbeats" make it seem as if the ship were a living thing. The computers turning on by themselves as we get their reflection add on to this living organism idea- implying that the computers are the mind of the ship. This makes me thing of how I want to depict my evil technology in my opening scene, still but living. Just the sound of the computer working in the dead silent ship with no humans around to control it is unsettling

. 

SCREAM

This movie is famous for its opening. But I wanted to specifically focus on the phone call between the main character and the protagonist. My partner and I were advised to be careful of phone calls because of how boring they can get. But in this opening scene they keep it interesting by having the character walk through the house, lock the doors, and check her surroundings. I will keep this in mind for when my opening scene has the phone call. 

Credits to a Thriller

MEMENTO

As I'm researching the intro to Memento, I'm discovering that Christopher Nolan is way more of a genius than I thought. Its been a while since I watched the movie but I remember being very impressed with how intricate the plot was and wondered what kind of guy could make something like this. Apparently its some very posh British guy with his brother who is obsessed with time. Most of Nolan's movies have some sort of play on time. Memento's play on time is that all the scenes in black and white are chronological and all the colored scenes are reversed in their order of events. 

Credit Sequence 

ANYWAYS, the opening credits to memento perfectly set the tone for the movie and hint at the unique sequence of events in the movie. 

The horrific image is disturbing but also intriguing, we want to know who has been killed, why, and who did it. Its also slowly realized that the photograph is being developed in reverse which finally answers the questions of who has been killed and who killed. The reverse hints at how the rest of the story will be told, which is not completely clear in the beginning of the movie. I think this sequence can help me with my ideas for my project as it shows me that I can include something that makes the audience uncomfortable for a long period of time. Obviously not as long as they did here, but maybe in the background of a skype call we might have while their is dialogue going on. 

SEVEN

When I first saw these opening credits I was unsettled by the electronic music. Its screechy sound sets the tone for the rest of the movie. And it also shows a methodical process in a very messy way,  overlapping shots, sudden cuts, and distorted writing. This is a good way to foreshadow our killer and give us a look into his strange habits that we wouldn't have seen otherwise. This opening gave me some good ideas on how I was my font to look and what tone I want my music to have. 

THE SHINNING

Surprise Surprise I have also seen this movie.  

This opening sequence gives a creepy feeling, like you are stalking whoever might be in the car. The camera flying through the air can be interpreted as a "spirit" following them through the mountains. The aqua font of the credits contrasts the natural background setting. All these details paired with the daunting music tell the audience what kind of movie this will be. 

Ending Comments 

These opening credits have all showed me that the credits can be add to the story in a cool way that the rest of the movie cant do. They force the viewers attention on something that has no dialogue, just visuals.  They are also very hard to do because staring at the same montage for 3-4 minutes straight can get pretty boring. So the challenge is finding a sequence that can relate to your story and be consistently entertaining- while also adding to your story. With Memento I admire how it takes a simple shot of someone holding a polaroid and makes it much more meaningful at the end of the credits.  Seven tells more about a character that doesn't come into the movie until almost the end of the movie. And The Shinning forces you to follow characters your soon to meet through a large landscape that emphasizes how far out into the middle of no where they are. 

Portfolio Project Genre #2

 Film Noir

This is a genre that is known for its cynical and pessimistic narratives which usually comes with gritty setting and crime ridden cities. It peaked in the 1930's-40s but still lives on in different forms today. 

The Typical Audience/Target: 

Film Noir targets adult males that have a keen interest in "serious movies" or as some may call them "cinephiles". Younger audiences are avoided when it comes to targeting audiences for this genre because of its serious issues and graphic scenes. 

Genre Conventions:

-crime driven narratives 

-gloomy atmosphere 

-Anti-hero protagonist  

-"femme fatale" or a seductive dangerous woman 

-dark and gritty city setting 

These conventions all add to the mystery and dark tone of the Film Noir Genre that usually has an unhappy ending that forces the audience to face the tough truth of reality and the unfairness of life. This cynical view reflects the period of time these films were made in. The 30's held the tragic great depression where many suffered. And the 40's were plagued by World War II. 

Techniques of conventions:

Lighting: low key lighting with dark ambiance 

Mi-se-scene: dirty cities and dark outfits. 

Narration: voice over from protagonist to communicate the story 

Institutional Conventions: 

Because of the strict censorship codes during this genre's era, violence and sexual themes could not be explicitly shown, only implied. The criminals also couldn't win as violence was also heavily limited in movies. The marketing usually emphasized the danger of the genre and the femme fatales. Trailers included shadowy visuals and dramatic sound effects. 

This famous Film by Alfred Hitchcock follows an ex-police detective who is afraid of heights. We follow him as he unravels a mystery. 

The sting tells a story about a literal "sting operation" that is known for its intricate plot and renowned performances.  

Portfolio Project Genre #1

 Drama: Coming of Age 

    The genre of Drama has been around for ages, dating back to Ancient Greek times. It has evolved to be a genre that explores emotional growth and social issues in the modern world. Branching out to other genres, it now has the sub-genre called "Coming of Age" where the main focus is the transition from adolescence to adult hood.  

The Typical Audience/Target: 

Ages 13-25 are usually the primary target and viewers of these coming of age dramas. This is because this age group is literally going through the actually transition the movie is usually talking about. New, popular, and attractive actors are typically casted for these movies as they catch younger audience's attention. Exaggerated teen clothing is also included to either start trends or follow them. 

Genre Conventions:

-A young protagonist

-identity crisis 

-conflict with authority 

-loss of innocence

-moving relationships (if the movie does it well) 

These conventions all help the story communicate the scary feeling of letting go of your youth and entering an entirely different world. Their very relatable feelings and situations that remind the young and the old that the scary experience is universal. 

Techniques of conventions:

Music: using nostalgic music that relates to the emotions of the character(s) or whats going on 

Editing: Slower editing for emotional moments and faster for the happier parts like montages. 

Mise-en-scene: trendy outfits, bright colors, messy rooms, etc. 

Institutional Conventions: 

The marketing for the movie usually focuses on the emotional points of the movie with contemporary music. The actors are also portrayed as relatable and funny. When it comes to the age rating, PG-13 is the go-to as it allows for all younger audiences to go see a movie that's basically about them. That reflects the low budget coming of age movies typically have as they want to get every younger audience member possible. 

This movie is famous among younger audiences and focuses on an adolescent boy who explores love and friendship in Highschool 

Juno is a cult classic and follows a young girl figuring out teen pregnancy along with her funny family and friends.