Through doing this task, we have realised the difficulties in creating an opening sequence. For example, there are many elements you need to consider, such as camera angles and ensuring that they fit with the conventions of the selected genre. It also showed us the steps in which you need to take when producing a storyboard. The first step is to pick a genre and then establish a plot line for your opening. You may find when doing this that you create more of your film. This can be beneficial because it allows you to develop the setting and character(s) which you are going to establish in you opening. However, this may mean that you may reveal more of the plot line within your opening as you have an idea of what you would like to happen. This has shown us that when we create our opening, that we should becareful when developing our plot and to try not to create the enitre film plot. This then allowed us to consider how we would use actors and camera shots and movements that would fit the conventions of the chosen genre.
One difficulty faced was commuication. Members of the group had different ideas of what they would like to do for the genre, which slowed us down when we began the task. However, when we had the plot line established, we found that decisions were passed quicker. Also, another difficulty we found was selecting camera angles and movement which fitted the conventions of a socail realsim film. This was difficult because larger indutstries, such as the Big Six, who produce high concept films do not produce films with this genre, so we have not seen so many films with this genre.
Good communication was key in this task. The first discussion we had as a group was to what genre we should do. We decided on a social realism opening as these are seen less in the media. Then we had to establish a plot line for our film. We all came to the quick, stereotypical story line of a teenage girl form a troubled background getting into trouble. However, we could not reveal too much of the plot in our opening, so showed the female protagonist leaving her house where shouts could be heard. We then showed her walking down a dark street which seems to be deprived. Then, a figure (the antagonist) begins to follow her. We decided to show this because it is a scenario that occurs in everyday life but is not often highlighted in the media other than by social realism films. Violence also occurred in the opening. We showed this because it fits the conventions of the social realism film as it is a problem within society. It also encourages the audience to ask questions such as what was the motive for this violence? How did those people know each other? These questions will encourage the audience to continue to watch.
If this film was being produced by an independent company, they may film it with a hand-held camera. Not only would this be cheaper, but would make it appear that a person form the community is filming the film, allowing the audience to engage with the film more. In the opening, many long shots were used. This allowed the audience to see the setting, which would be a deprived built up area. It would also allow the to see the characters full appearance. The main protagonist would be dressed scruffily, showing a lack of wealth. This fits the conventions of a social realism film because it shows the conditions that some people live in. Many tracking shots were also used for this reason.
These shots are simplistic to follow the conventions of the genre. The following photos show these shots:
This task will help when we come to producing our film as we have considered the the aspects that need to be included in a film opening, and have seen how challenging it can be to get too carried away and reveal a lot of the plot within the opening. It has also made us think about conventions of certain film genres and has enabled us to see the importance of establishing the whole plot line of the film before creating an opening.
This is our full storyboard showing all of the shots:
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