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.

Case Study 2

Case Study 2


Napoleon Dynamite opening sequence:

The piece of media text, I have chosen to discuss is Napoleon Dynamite I will be looking into how the micro features like:  camera choices, sound and mise en scene, fit into the generic conventions of film. I will also explore editing; and how it is cut with, credits. Plus in what aspect does sound play a key role? Especially the uses of diegetic and non-diegetic sound, and how I can use these methods in my own title sequence. The differences I have made on this case study, from my first is that in this  sequence I am focusing more on, the timings of the titles to prepare me for when I began my en media product.






 The tile is simple but it’s clear the sequence is introduced with “MTV”, 0.03 second in then it stays on our screen for 0.04 seconds. Sound is non diegetic and the song is introduced 0.01 seconds in, the music has been chosen appropriately. I like the timings of this and would like to incorporate this into my own title sequence, by following some of the timings.

Then the next two credits “Fox and Paramount” fade in for 0.05, after that the titles fade away; and for 0.03 seconds stars pop up on the screen then the title of the film is introduced and stays on screen for 0.07 seconds. Some of the credits have the speed adjusted and increased so that the credits appear at correct times, I would also try this in my edit for my tile sequence.

 After that more titles are introduced the first is the “director Jared Hess” which stays on the screen for 0.05 seconds. Then the next tile is introduced and its very clever how there is a series of names introduced. They are cut to the beat of the song and pop up in sync; every 0.01 seconds so four names pop up in 0.04 second and stay on screen for 0.03 seconds before going away in consecutive order.

They do the same thing for the next title sequence where title pop up for each second. And as its two names it lasts for 0.05 seconds. After that there is series of titles with just names on their own and last for 0.05 seconds.   The cuts and the edit in this is perfect the all the titles link in with each other as the makers have, thought carefully about what to do.

 

Case Study 1

Case Study 1

“District 9” opening sequence

The piece of media text, I have chosen to analyse  is ‘District 9’ I will be looking into how the micro features such as 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. I will analyse how this can and can not be relevant, to what I would want to achieve in my end media product.

The credits begin in a basic layout with a black background and clear white font. This has been done on purpose, to establish the main contributions to the film; plus the main action takes place later on, when we are introduced to the main character; this is something I can do in my own title sequence . The first credit is presented of the director and creator (Peter Jackson) this is generic in film, that the director gets the main acknowledgement. Plus there is no sound when his name is introduced; it lasts on the screen for exactly 0.06 seconds, where next title (Tristar Pictures and block Hanson) it along with (Wingnut Films)lasts for 0.05 seconds however is introduced with non-diegetic sound, of a corporate environment, putting the viewer in a spectators position.

The Mise en scene: lighting in the office is dull and there is mainly ambient lighting, from the window. Wikus is dressed in quite a plain way wearing a shirt & tie with a sweater vest.  The room has been designed similar way a corporate office looks: desks, computers and paper work.

The scene begins with an almost amateur shot and quickly zooms into Wikus, who conveys an unprofessional persona about him. This is also reflected in the editing which is cut in a harsh way to represent the character (as he tries to figure out how to use his microphone). The camera is also at a slightly low angled shot, when first shooting this to me conveys he has some power. (Which we later find out he does)

Each shot a director chooses to put into the scene has some meaning, especially when making a combination of shots, I will be able to replicate something like this, however this is not suited to what i want to do in my title sequence.  In this first scene we see a mid shot of Wikus who briefly outlines his work environment, then a close up as he tells us what he does the editing is still sharply cut which brings our attention to the camera work.  These camera choices are typical in film. They attract the audience who are now curious in what; the character is about to say next, so in this case Wikus is introducing what he does.

Mid shot                                                                              Close up

After Wikus establishes what he does, the scene cuts abruptly to a city location.  This has been done on purpose to provide a demographic for the area; we can see it is a hot place, that it is a city that it’s poor due to the slums, and we can most defiantly see the huge alien space ship flying over it!
I want to establish my own title sequence similar to this however not on such a large scale. 

The camera work displays all of this, with a wide shot which pans out, establishing the surroundings

by using a high master angle; giving a viewer pleasure in understanding; the setting for the rest of

the film. 

The sound has been used in a very cleaver way.  When the slum is introduced the sound is completely non diagetic with eerie music and a man talking we can not see him yet, the film makers have been consistent with the sound;  because if you remember at the start of the film non diagetic sound was also used to introduce Wikus’s work environment. Again this puts a view in a spectator’s position.

After that the camera goes into a series of master shots which tell a story, the director has been clever in showing off a variety of skill and depth in each shot. The shots are narrated by a man we will soon see as the film makers have used a sound bridge. The editing is slow cut when filming the people, however is more sharply cut when we are presented with scenes of Johannesburg.   I like the use of editing in this, however my title sequence will not have sharp cuts as I will not flow.                         

 There is then a series of master shots.  The mise en scene in these is extremely well thought out the lighting is ambient and bright so there is nowhere to hide; the city is busy however has a massive ship above it, the people are dressed in a basic common style.

While these Master shots are presented there is non-diegetic sound of a man talking, again the audience is placed in an outsiders position as we do not know who this man is a match cut is also used as the viewer wants to see something they can’t. Although I do not want to create a title sequence like this, I like the use of diegetic and non diegetic sound and want to do something similar in my title sequence.

Then it cuts to him and we are then displayed with a mid-shot of him: the film makers have established to us that he is some kind of chief correspondent. By cutting from the correspondent back to the master shots of Johannesburg a sound bridge of the man, who carries on talking? The film maker’s have been clever as this automatically conveys a documentary type style to an audience and it shows prowess because in real life this is no documentary, which is the main attraction for watching the film. 

 As Grey the correspondent carries on talking, the camera dictates what he says,  I like the idea of the camera dictating and want use this technique in my title sequence.
By showing a series of mater and wide shots, of how a space craft hovers over the city; and how the government took disciplinary action, by cutting into it.There is a mid shot of Grey and his scene lasts for 0.05 seconds so does the credit at the bottom which introduces him.

The footage has been cut quickly to show all the action. The camera first zooms into the ship in a amateur style: the point of this is to create a documentary type feel, as if someone where to capture this on a camera phone ect… so as the camera zooms in it changes to footage of a hand held camera which shows men cutting, into the ship and close ups of objects found in the ship this creates a sense of urgency. This scene is has been filmed well, however in my title sequence I do not want to create the same type of urgency in my title, however I like how they have close ups of objects to create a mood and want to do something similar in my title sequence.

 

Again fitting with the documentary feel the film has now established it self as the camera now turns to a mid shot of a woman called Sarah who is a sociologist, her scene lasts for 0.06 seconds including the tile which introduces her role. They have shown her at this particular part of her speech as the director feels it is most important to show her face so the viewer takes interest, she is dressed in a plan way in navy colours the room is the same or similar to Greys, looks like an empty room of an old office.  

The camera then goes back to the hand held footage of what is inside the space craft, there is a low angle shot of the military recruits, this shows they are powerful compared to what they are looking down at. The lighting is low-key and there is high contrast between the black space and bright flash lights, the mise en scene is used well to create atmosphere the area id dark dingy depressing, the men are dressed as if the where going into a nuclear blast. The alien species on the floor look malnourished and gruesome. Are the aliens, we see in a low angle shot that creates a feel of urgency. The camera then pans out into a long shot of the malnourished species, all the trough this cutting is medium paced matched cuts are used. Then back to a mid shot of Grey who talks about this.    

Low angle shot                                                             High angle shot

Then the camera cuts to shots of what happens after the aliens get out, again by using these shots the director tells a story… the editing uses medium paced cutting rates.

Then after a man talks about how there are a lot of secrets in district 9. The camera cuts straight away; into a bird’s eye view shot of the slums. This has been done on purpose so that the titles correspond with what the man says. Where the title is introduced for 0.08 seconds and fades out, then the camera zooms out to show more slums. This is not very common in film as usually the title and credits are presented at the start where as here it is shown later on.  

A woman talks she is introduced for 0.07 seconds including her title which establishes her as an aid worker. There is then a angled wide shot of a solider, the mise en scene establish this in his uniform, the area is full of barbed wiring, the day light suggests it is early morning. This shot is the connected to a sound bridge of a woman who is concerned with the military involvement, in protecting the aliens and not the people, the film makers have done this to make the scenario more realistic.

                                                                                    

The camera then shows a series of shots where it quickly zooms-in and pans to different cuts of signs in the city showing how the aliens are not welcome. This is used to create a setting and an understanding for the audience that aliens are not welcomed by the humans. 

 The camera is then hand held from the inside of someone’s car, this creates another amateur feel to fit with the documentary style as the camera presents a long shot of the surroundings, then pans out to a mirror shot of the car window the lighting is ambient in this scene to make it look as realistic as possible.