Opening sequence- Description of target audience.

As a group we have written a description on what our target audience will be for our own opening sequence. This involves the age, gender, social demographic, hobbies/interests/style/personality and audience theory.

Opening Sequence- Description of Target Audience

Our opening sequence must have a target audience so that it attracts specific people that will gain something from the sequence. This post will be discussing our decided target audience in detail.

Age:

•   15-30


•   If the film was to be completed and shown in cinemas we would give it a certificate rating of 15 because it would be a horror film containing some graphic images but not as bad as the likes of Hostel for example, therefore we've started the age range at 15 as this is the age where groups of friends can go to the cinema by themselves and watch films of a 15 rating- boys an girls tend to go out as a large group to watch horror films thus by starting our age at 15, we are more likely to reach out to a younger target audience who can relate to the characters In our opening sequence. 


•   We finished the age range at 30 because we felt that at this age people might start to grow out of 'going to the cinema to be scared'- at this age people tend to start getting married, settling down and having children therefore their more likely to go to the cinema to see a family friendly film or might prefer to buy a DVD and sit in and watch it rather than go out.    


Gender:

•   We decided to target the film at both boys and girls. We don't feel that it's necessary to target one gender group because horror films can be open to anyone who likes to watch them


•   Some people might say horror films are mainly aimed at boys due to the violent, dark nature that occurs within horror films however we're using a female actor in our opening sequence which could appeal more to a female audience than male.


Social Demographic:

•   The audience demographic for our opening sequence is mainly working class male and females of a White British ethnicity aged 15-30. This demographic is open to interpretation as the character possibly starring in our opening sequence is of an Afro-Caribbean origin therefore people of this ethnicity are likely to watch the film too due to familiarity. 


•   The socio-economic status of the target audience for our opening sequence is E, D, C1, C2. 


•   The type of occupation our audience could have is likely to be low-skilled jobs such as admin or supervisory jobs because these people are more likely to have the time to go out to the cinema or sit indoors and watch a film.


•   We chose to aim the film at a White British audience because the film will be produced by us and we are British and will also contain British actors therefore could appeal more to this group of people. On the other hand, British people often watch films made by American institutions and featuring American actors therefore this film can be targeted at a western audience. 


Hobbies/Interests/Style/Personality:

•   The people who will come to watch our opening sequence are likely to be thrill-seekers and people who get a buzz when watching a horror film- they enjoy being scared or find it entertaining when other people get scared.


•   They either become intrigued in the horror film or use the horror film as a source of entertainment because what they are witnessing doesn't scare them. 


•   They would have an interest in horror films/horror and paranormal documentaries/ TV dramas with sinister plots. 


•   The younger audience would engage in typical teenage activities such as partying, going out with friends, sleeping, shopping and watching TV. 


•   The people that would watch our opening sequence are likely to be of a mainstream style or potentially the other end of the scale: punk/rock/gothic style. 


Audience Theory:

•   Young and Rubicam created a table to help them categorise audiences based on their personalities. For our target audience we have chose 'The Mainstream' because lots of people enjoy horror films (it's a popular genre choice if you're sitting in with your mates and no ones home or snuggled up on the sofa with a boyfriend/girlfriend) and these people will go regardless of how they feel so that they feel like they fit in and  are able keep up with what everyone else is doing. The Mainstreamers respond to big established brands therefore if a new horror film comes out made by a well known film company/director with famous actors in it, they're likely to go and see this film.


•   We also suggested that our audience are part of 'The Struggler' category. It's typical of people to lounge about watching films, particularly horror films because they allow people to escape from ordinary life.


Following on from this, looking at the Uses and Gratifications theory, horror films suggest that our audience enjoy products which offer them opportunities to escape; our opening sequence will do this by allowing the audience to watch something that doesn't come normal to them, it is unordinary and fictional therefore they forget about their everyday lives.
Additionally people might watch horror films as a form of entertainment. If people don't get emotionally affected by a horror film they might find it amusing and funny instead, therefore people who are seeking entertainment would go to see our film. 

By Chelsie, bethanie, Alix and rebecca

Ideas/notes for my groups preliminary task.

In class we carried out the planning to our preliminary task to show the examiners what we can do before we start our opening sequence for our course work and skills we have. Today we came up with some ideas as to what we are going to do for this task. These being the story line, the script, the location and characters.

Some ideas we had to start: 

• Set in a dark room.
• Use of a lamp to resemble we are doing an interview. Lamp will be facing upward so the audience can see the characters faces. 
• Characters involved: Police officer, Chief inspector and Steven Smith (crime suspect)
• Two people sitting opposite each other on a table. 

The story line to our preliminary material: 

A suspect is brought in the station by a police officer to be interviewed by the Chief inspector. The suspect is already sitting in the interviewing room. Before the Chief inspector enters the room the Police officer hands the files (which contains information on the suspect) to him. The Chief inspector then looks at the files and realises it is his friend sitting in the room waiting to be interviewed. After sitting down he tries to help his friend and turns off the recorder so that the interview is not recorded. (from doing this he could lose his job). Steven Smith (the suspect) then pleads innocent to his friend and tries to convince him it wasn't him this time. 

Script:

Chief inspector and police officer standing out side interview room. Police officer hands over a file that contains suspects information. 

Police officer: Here are Steven Smiths files. Good luck. (Police officer walks off)

Chief inspector: (Looks at files, says name under his breath to himself, looks up in realisation and enters room) Steven Smith.

Chief inspector: (Stands and stares at Steven and then sits down opposite him. Chief inspector pulls out recorder from him pocket and switches it off. And puts it back in its pocket.) I told you last time, I can't cover up for you any more. Whats this the third time now?  I'm gonna lose my job if i carry on.

Steven Smith: Its different this time, I swear i didn't do it.

Chief inspector:  No Stevie, iv got you out of your own shit since we were 15. I'm not doing it any more. 

Steven Smith:  You've got to believe me this time.  Paul set me up.  It shouldn't be me sitting in this poxy room it should be 'im (him). 

Setting:
We have decided to set this in the drama room because it will allow us to close all the curtains and get the lighting we would like using the lamp. We have chosen to just use a lamp because we think it will be more effective as you will just be able to see the facial expressions of the characters. We will put a table and two chairs in the middle of the room so that it looks like a interview in process.

Props:

• 1x table
• 2x chairs 
• 1x lamp
• 1x Tape recorder
• Files

Characters: 

• Chief inspector
• Police man
• Steven Smith (suspect)

As this is just our preliminary material we will not be concentrating on details like age appropriate characters or costumes. But more so our editing skills, what camera shots we use, the 180 degree rule. 

By Chelsie.

Script writing

When writing a script you should come up with the title first this is so that the audience know what the film is about and for you to not lose track of your ideas. Then you should write a short paragraph about what your script is going to be about. This should include: where it is located, who is going to be in it, the base line of the story and who the main character is.  You should also make sure that you up date your script if you make any changes or adjustments this is so that you know what is going on and other people.  After you have written your script you should add stage directions so the actors know when to come in and what they should be doing when they say there lines.

In class we studied the script of 'pulp fiction' and annotated around it.  We done this because it will be useful when we write our script.  When reading this script we could see where they was trying to create enigma, the use of language they was using and where they was building tension. 

I also wrote some notes on Pulp fiction before watching the opening sequence and just reading the script. These were:

How well did the directors/characters translated the script? Before watching the opening sequence I thought the young woman would be more mature, wearing more upper class clothing e.g. A suit instead she is more childlike.  I think she is childlike because of the clothes she is wearing (she looks scruffy), her hair is scruffy and her body language is very relaxed she is slouched over the table. 

I also thought the young man would also be wearing a more upperclass style of clothing instead he is wearing a Hawaiian shirt. His body language is also very informal and open(he has his foot up on the chair) this could connote that he is relaxed in front of the young lady. This opening sequence makes me question if they are just friends or a couple where as when reading the script I thought they was a couple. The pair where also talking out day jobs as if they wasn't normal this could connote they are criminals and lazy. 

       

As well as studying a script I also made my own script using two different opening sequences and putting them together to make one script. To do this I printed off the opening sequence to 'The great gatsby' and 'great expectations both if these films are of the same genre. I then had to make sentences up by cutting and reconstructing sentences so that my own script would make sence. I done this so that when I come to making my own scrip I will have to think about what key information i will want to put in and how I will construct my own script. 

By Chelsie.

Story board

As part of making our opening sequence we have to create a story board. This is not our final idea but something i thought would make a good opening sequence. This story board is an opening sequence to a horror film although it make not be your typical start. In this story board a girl is leaving her house to go out for a run (for exercise) with her friend in the woods. But ends up waiting for her friend and tries texting her so walks more deeper into the woods to see if her friend was there. But falls over a stick and comes across and shoe dug in the ground and later discovers a hand dug into the ground. She falls backwards out of shock and gets up and starts running towards home.

The long shot of the house is so that the audience know it is just a normal house on a average road. I have chosen not to have any noise so that the audience would feel unsure and create enigma as to why there is just a house. I would also start the opening sequence in the day time because the audience would least expect anything to happen.
Then a girl comes on still taken as a long shot so the audience can recognize that she is coming out of the same house that was just shown. She also shouts to her mother "Bye mum will be back in half hour" this is also to connote that she lives at home with her mother just like normal.
She then starts running down the road this would also be a long shot to show that the woods are not that far from her house and make the audience feel like it is a regular thing that she does. I would also have her music from her earphones playing to signify what she is listening to was a happy song rather then a low pitch song which on a horror film you would expect.
Long shot from the girl behind running. I would do this so that the audience can also see whats in front of the girl and do not suspect that any thing is going to happen yet.
I have chosen to do the next shot as a mid shot as i would want the audience to recognize that she is looking around and wondering where her friend was. By this point the girl is no longer listening to music i have done this so the audience might expect something to happen and create enigma.

Then she trips over a stick i have done this so that the audience also recognize that it is just a stick that she has tripped over.
But then she sees a shoe sticking out of the mud. This would create enigma for the audience this shoes would also be a child's shoe (5-10).
She later then finds that there is also a child's hand dug under the ground. She then falls back and when she falls back it is a close up of her so that audience can detect that she is in shock and worried. I have then chosen a long shot to signify that she is now out of the woods and back on her road.
Though out these 5 shots i will have no music just natural back ground noise to create tension for the audience.

By Chelsie.

Analysis on Sweeny Todd opening film sequence

Powerpoint presentation on Sweeny Todd

In pairs we made a powerpoint presentation on the opening sequence of Sweeny Todd. This is useful because when we make our own opening sequence we will have to analyse it to make sure we haven't missed any details out. We also looked at Sweeny Todd because the genre of our opening sequence is horror and we could use some of the ideas that they used and make sure we don't make the mistakes that we think they made. 

By Chelsie 

Analysing a Film Opening Sequence.pptx Elle and Chels

Practice on using cameras and using final cut express

Today in class we was practicing using the cameras and using final cut express. We done this by videoing a low shot of someone running over the camera, a birds eye view of me walking and then looking up, a side profile/close up of someone in my groups face. We then went into class and practiced some basic editing skills. We learnt how to upload our footage and use different effects and cutting our clips.

I learnt how to make a new project on final cut express. These are the instructions i made:

1. You have to check the settings then go to final and then easy set up and make sure it is on AVCHD APPLE INTERMEDIATE CODEC 1920 x 1080i50 
2. Then go to file and go on to log transfer.
3. Thirdly you have to flip the camera open and on the camera press USB connect.
4. Finally high light the clips you would like to upload and click add selection to Q. 

Tips on using final cut express:

• If you click (i) and (o) it will cut the clip. 
• Keep curser on arrow unless you want to cut clips into two then you would use the razor blade tool.
• If you clip the effects tab (which is under final cut express on the tool bar at the top) then click video transaction. Final cut express will underline the one that they think is most suited for our sequence. Then drag on to the clips. If needed you can trim clips to make it work. 
• If you have made a mistake you can just click edit then undo.
• To speed up your clip you can go to modify and then speed. 

By Chelsie.

Mood board

In class we created a mood board which had where we might set our opening sequence, what props we might have and what costumes we might have.

• The shoes that are represented on the mood board are childrens shoes because we had an idea that we would have a childs shoe sticking out from the ground covered in mud to signify that someone is buried under the ground for a long time and we was also going to have childs fingers sticking out of the ground.
• We also thought that we might set our opening sequence in the woods in the day time and have a girl (16-20) running through the woods and falls over a stick and falls on to where someone is burried. 
• The costume that the girl is wearing in bottom left is a gym outfit this is to signify that she is going for a run in the woods (for exercise). 
• There are also some weapons. Both being knifes with blood on them to connote that some one could of been killed and to create enigma as to why there is a knife in the forest. We had an idea of it being found along with the body burried under the ground. 
• There is also an empty room with a number of doors open we thought this might also be another location as it has an eery effect to if and creates enigma to the audience.

We done this so that we could gather together our ideas and decide which one was best. By having a mood board it is useful because you can elaborate on an idea and test it before.

By Chelsie.

What makes a good opening sequence.

What makes a good opening sequence.

What makes a good opening sequence:
To make a good opening sequence there are a list elements that you need to cover. These being:

• lighting
• Camera shots
• Editing
• Sound
• Titles
• Characters/ acting
• Costumes
• Props
• Scripts
• location

Lighting
When making an opening sequence you have to think about what scene you want to set for your audience and how you would like them to feel when the film first starts. Lighting is important because it set the scene straight away. For example if we wanted the audience to feel happy we would use a bright lighting (daylight). Where as if we wanted them to feel more isolated we would have a dark lighting. We would do this because in daylight or a brighter light you can see what is going on around you but if it was a more darker light or night time you cant see as much. Dark lighting also connotes danger and fear.


Camera Shots
Camera shots are important to making a good opening sequence because you want to capture the right shots to signify what genre the film would be. We will need to make sure that the camera shots that we are taking are relevant to the genre of our film.  We would also need to make sure that we make the right decision in what camera shot and angle we use. Camera angles we could use are:

• Low
• High
• Eye level
• Worms eye
• Canted
• Bird eye

Camera shots we could use are:

• Very long shot
• Long shot
• Medium long shot
• Medium shot
• Close up
• Big close up
• Extreme close up

We will also need to make sure that the size of our shots capture every thing we want the audience to see. This is because they might not understand if we miss out a vital part of the scene. We will also need to make sure we have a steady shot and not shaky because it may not look professional.


Editing and Sound
When editing we will need to make sure that our opening sequence runs smoothly and not miss out big chunks of filming. When editiing we could also edit the sound. For example we could add relevent sound effects such as rain or an eery sound effect or even music that would build tention or set the scene. Music is a good way to start an opening sequence because it makes the genre very recognisable to the audience. For example the film Sweeney Todd the music starts off very deep and gloomy which signifies the film is going to be a horror where as a film that starts with a happy upbeat rythem would connote that it would be a romance or comedy. But sometimes a opening sequence sounds alot better with just a natural suroundings (but if it is to noisey you may not be able to hear the actors when they are speaking) depending on what genre your film will be. You can also edit the lighting or colour of the background to signify the genre of your film. For example a faded red to signify a romance film or a black shaddow to represent fear. You can edit things into your scenes aswell if they are important to your opening sequence.

Titles and Credits
The font of the title will depend on what the genre the film. For example a more swerly and delect front would signify that the film would be a romance, a horror film may have a more thick, bold font, a comedy would have more of a basic font. The colour of the title will also depend on the genre of the film aswell. For example if the film was a romance it would be a red or pink to signify love and hearts, if it was a horror it would either be a black or a red to signify blook and black to signify death and fear and a comedy may be yellow.

Characters/actors
It is important that the actors are right for the genre of the film and what we would like them to act. Which is why we would have to trial the actors and reherse because we would want it to look as natural as possible. For example if we wanted someone to fall over we wouldnt want it to look fake or if we wanted someone to be in love we wouldnt want it to look unrealistic.

Costumes
Costumes need to fit the charater and the genre of the film. For example if some one was acting as a murderer or a stalker we wouldnt want them to be in a school uniform because it wouldnt support who they are where as if they was dressed in all black and couldnt see there face that would signify who the character was.

Props
Props depened on what the genre is. For example in Annabelle the main prop is the doll Annabelle by having the doll it makes it clear to the audience what is going on and how it it relevent in the film. Without the doll there would be something missing in the storyline because she is the one that is possesed. But small props are also very important for example a picture could play a very big role in a film or a bit of paper because they may hold some information. In a whole props represent/supports what is going on in a scene or help the actors to represent something. 

Script
It is a good idea to make a script rather then making it up on the day. This is because we would need to know when the actor will be saying something and what they would need to be doing what they are saying that line. We would also have to know how they are going to say that specific line. When they will start talking and how.

Location
The location of a opening sequence should signify what the genre of the film is. For example if the opening sequence was set in a old warehouse i would instandly think it was a horror where as if it was set in a new house i would think that it could be a romance. It is important that we get the right location when making our opening sequence because it might not look as effective as it should or signify our genre. For example if our genre was horror and we filmed everything in school it wouldnt be very effective but if we set it in a old damp room it would.

To conclude there are many aspects that make up a good opening sequence and many details that you need to think about from what angle to hold the camera to what facial expressing the actor should be making. Theses all need to fit together and flow. For example you wouldnt have a happy upbeat song on a horror film because they wouldnt be representing the same genre.

By Chelsie.

In class i watched two trailers. One being Annabelle and the other being Dead silence. I had chosen these two trailers because they are both horror films and the genre of my opening sequence will be horror. This task will give me ideas on how much information i should give out to the audience, what emotion i have towards the characters with in the first two minutes, what main props i should have that link to what is going on in the film and how the characters relate to the audience. In these two trailers the lighting is always a lot darker when most of the action is taking place. This could be because it creates more tension and darker colours/ lighting connotes danger and fear. The audience might expect the action to be at night because more danger occurs at night rather then the day.

This task has helped me understand that the opening sequence should create enigma so the audience will want to carry on watching the film. Horror opening sequence can either have slow or fast pace. Fast creating enigma and suggest that something is about to happen but slow creating tension and a eery affect. Props are very important in the first two minuets because the audience will want to know why its so important and why was it there in the first place. (creating enigma again)

By Chelsie.