Case Study 3

Case Study 3     Almost Famous




The piece of media text, I have chosen and am most influenced by is “Almost Famous”. I'll be looking into how the camera choices, sound and  mise en scene,  fit into the generic conventions of film; and why they are used to provide information instead of others. I will also explore editing; and how it is cut with, credits.  Plus in what aspect does sound play a key role?  Especially the contrasts between the uses of diegetic and non-diegetic sound; and how I can relate this to what I want to achieve in my end media product (my title sequence.) 

The first title introduced is “Columbia & Dream Works pictures” it lasts on screen for 0.04 seconds; there is then a black screen and non-diegetic sound of typing, this is also something I will implement into my own title sequence.

The sound then becomes diegetic when we see a close up of some paper, and the sound of pen on paper, writing “A film vinyl production” lasting on screen for 0.07 seconds; this is something I want to achieve in my own title sequence, and will do it by overlapping sound in my editing stages. Then there is a cut away shot of the desks drawer, and the camera pans across as the drawer slides open.  (The drawer is quite messy, full of old posters) this cut lasts for 0.05 seconds i also want to re-create a similar shot in my own title sequence.   Each cut and length of each shot has been thought about; this is something I will think about when filming and editing. As it is better to have too much footage then too little and be stuck at the edit!!!!!!

Then the a matched cut is used back of the hand writing “A Cameron Crow” lasting for 0.03 seconds, also In the edit the written tittles have been slightly increased in speed,  so that the timing are correct. This is also something I will incorporate into my opening title sequence.

Then  for 0.05 seconds the camera cuts away then cuts again for 0.05 seconds both similar shots of: old magazines and posters on a table.  The mise en scene has been brilliantly thought about, as the colour of the room is a dark daylight, and scattered music magazines, festival tickets, badges, have all been selected and planned. 

Then it cuts back to the hand which is writing the next title called “untitled” this lasts for 0,05 seconds, again it cuts away to desk shot of old magazines then back to the hand writing on the titles. I want to achieve a similar shot by using a old desk drawer I have in my room. This similar format carries on for 1.30 minutes, a few second on the film makers; mildly change some things.  Making the film look more alternative and quirky  one of the titles lasting 0.07 seconds of a name being written, then a letter being rubbed out due to spelling. This is something I would incorporate into my title sequence ..So after 2.00 minutes of a similar format. The camera then cuts to the a 0.03 second shot of a key with a ring with  the plaza hotel written on it. 

 Then the camera shot cuts to a complete different location  with the complete opposite music. There is a low angled slightly tilted shot, of  bright blue sky with the tops of palm trees, the light is high key and ambient, and the lighting and palms suggest this is going to be a hot sunny location...

0,02 seconds in the next title’s introduced for 0.04 seconds, but  this time not written by hand. The film editors have thought carefully  about how to place the credits and the one of “casting by Gail” has Not been put at an angle like the shot of the palm trees, but completely level, this is something I will bare in mind when editing, my title sequence. 

As the camera pans down on a dolly or in a car, still at  a  low tilted angle of the palms. The next title is introduced, & cut to the beat of the song, this time in the the bottom right corner, lasting again for 0.04 seconds. After the“music supervisor’s” title has faded away, then there’s a continuity cut, slightly  panning down into focus, the mise en scene displays a quite American street, on a hill, well kept, on a hot day, with palms along side the road.

The next title is presented of “Score by Nancy”  this comes up 0.02 seconds in as the camera pans down with a down hill view of the street, and lasts on screen again for 0.04 seconds; there is a pattern emerging, on the times which the titles appear on screen, which I will need to consider when filming my final sequence.

There is then a series of cuts of the town, and in each shot a title comes up. All the shots have been smoothly filmed and we imagine in a car. The mise en scene is of a hot location, bright ambient lighting, people are dressed in bright summer clothing which looks a bit late 60’s, and seem happy which establish time. And the title of “costume designer” is introduced for 0.04 sec.

The sound in contrast to the first part, is completely non diegetic the only sound you can hear is the Alvin & the Chipmunks music... So after the series of tracking shot cuts... of people on the street having fun, good looking people sunbathing. A man putting surf board in his struck with the (title “co-producer Lisa” lasting 0.04 seconds,)the surf boards in his truck, suggest that they are near a beach. And to back up this thought the camera cuts to a beach and pans right, from the board walk on the harbour, to seagulls and the sea, with the next title of the two people in “ production” on screen for 0.04 seconds.

There are then a shots of the busy town people seem happy in the hot weather, there is a man painting merry Christmas on his shop window, this shows the viewer that their Christmas is slightly different to the one we have. There is then a long shot of a man dressed up as Santa Clause however a Santa Clause wearing summery yellow shorts! And the title of the “Writer & Director  of the film is introduced, on screen for 0.05 seconds; slightly longer then the other titles, however this ones more important.

There is then a continuity cut and we hear diegetic sound of people, chimes, and a medium shot of a what looks like a mother and her son having a conversion  finally we are introduced to the location we were suspecting, and the time period “San Diego 1969” there are also people walking in the shot and past the main two characters which we are still focused on this has been done on purpose as it makes the scene seem more realistic.