Juno Task

This task was to recreate the opening title sequence from Juno. We filmed this in the area around the school building after making a storyboard that would let us keep very close to the original in terms of the timing of the shots and the angles. 

Making the storyboard was fairly straight forward if not a time consuming process. We had to watch the original video over and over again, pausing it at the start and end of each shot to record the timings and lengths of each shot, at well as to sketch down what the actual shot would look like.

Actually filming the task went fairly well. We got all of the footage that we needed to get but we could have had a little more on our storyboards as we found that there were certain shots that we had overlooked when putting it together.

Narrative

Torodov's Theory

Torodov devised a theory that he believed could be applied to any film. The theory is basically a pattern that he believes all films follow. The pattern that all films supposedly follow is that they go through theses stages, equilibrium, disruption, recognition of disruption, attempt to repair and reinstatement of the equilibrium.

The Equilibrium is the state of the narrative where everything is normal and how it should be. The plot is the advanced by the equilibrium being disturbed and progresses from there on until the disturbance has been solved and the equilibrium has been restored.

Vladimir Propp

Vladimir Propp had a different theory about film's narratives. His theory revolved around characters being the most important factor in creating a narrative. He said that all narratives should have various specific archetypes in order to function. Theses are the types of characters that he said should be included in a narrative.

The Hero: Seeks something and needs the help of someone else to achieve this.

Herioine/Princess: Is who the hero falls for and tries to help.

Princesses Father: Father of the Heroine and dislikes the the Hero, may give a task to him.

The Villain: He gets in the way of the Hero and will fight him.

The Mentor/Donor: Someone who helps the hero and maybe gives him something to assist him.

The Helper: Someone who helps the hero in his task.

Editing Practice

The Tea Chronicles - Short Film Analysis

Equalibrium-

Charlie working on his computer in his flat.



Disruption-

His new roommate, Khyan, makes him tea, with old sugar and charlie finds it disgusting.



Recognition-

Charlie starts to have hallucinations from the tea but Khyan keeps making more cups.



Repair-

Eventually he comforts Khyan about making so much tea and they discover that the sugar was just out of date.



Resinstaitment of Equalibrium-

Charlie is able to return to his work and make his own tea.

Genre Picture Task

Romantic Comedy

 For our romantic comedy picture, we took a decided that someone on the phone, while laughing would be a good representation of the genre. The laughter helps imply the comedic elements of the genre and the phone is there to symbolize the relationship. The main idea is that she is on the phone to someone she is in a relationship and laughing about something.

Action

 For the action picture, we decided that an image of something happening in a dramatic fashion would be appropriate. Action movies tend to have stunts and things over the like done in an over the top manner and so our picture is of a set of doors being opening in an over the top manner. 

Horror

 Horror films are often dark and used low contrast lighting. For this reason we chose an unsettling sight with lots of dark in it. The composition of the shot, by only showing half the image of the person, is meant to give the audience an unsettled feel. By keeping the whole face hidden, and by showing half, the viewer of the picture is kept somewhat in the dark and should feel as though there is more to the picture than they can see.

Sci-fi

 Sci-fi films are usually futuristic and rely heavily on fancy, or advanced technology. Because of this our sci-fi image is of wires. These show the technology aspect of the genre and the silver foil can be seen as part of the technology as well. The lack of any organic elements to this picture represent the coldness of the genre, and how sci-fi uses things other than people or animals to tell a story.

Comedy

Our comedy picture is supposed to show an accident taking place. This is supposed to represent the more slapstick elements of comedy. As this is the main focus of the picture it should be clear that the image is from a comedy genre.

Genre

Genre is the name for what kind of film, a particular film is. Each category of film has a set of conventions that the majority of the movies in that genre follow. These conventions help the audience decide what films they enjoy, and can have expectation of what should be in a film.

Sometimes a film will not fit into a specific genre. These types of films are called hybrids. This is because they are a combination of two, or more, different genres. 

Different Genres-

• Action
• Adventure
• Comedy
• Drama
• Thriller
• Sci-fi
• Fantasy
• Epic Fantasy
• Historical
• Childrens
• Adult
• Horror
• Romance
• Animation

Breaking Bad image connotations

Breaking Bad Promo

This image is used to show all the main characters for a season of breaking bad. The blue lighting from the interior of the truck is used as a back drop for the two main characters. While they are not placed in the middle of the image, and are instead positioned further to the left, this blue light serves to highlight their silhouettes and draws the eye to them, showing their importance in the show. Every other character is positioned with a different, less vibrant background, showing that while they are important enough to be featured here, they are not necessarily the main focal point of the show. 

The way the characters are position also are used to show what their roles are in the show. Bryan Cranston, the main actor in the show, is positioned closer to the middle than any other character on screen, signifying his importance. Every other character is positioned to either the left, or the right of him. All the characters in the shot, that are to the right of him, are from his family, they are part of the good world in the show, they are the "good" characters. Everyone on the left is part of the darker and illicit part of the show. The fact that they are positioned on either side of the main character, shows that there is a theme of conflict surrounding him has he toes the line between good and bad.

A symbol in this image is the yellow warning sign on the chemical barrel to the left of the image. The presence of this in the image presents themes of danger to the audience and makes the association of yellow and danger obvious. This association helps highlight the main villain for the season. The only character in this shot wearing yellow, is the main antagonist. This character is also positioned the furthest to the left, as far into the bad side as he can be.

Another symbol in this image shows the relationship between two of the characters. On the floor is a bag of money, spilling over to the floor. The positioning of this money back is between the main character and his wife. This shows that the money is an issue that stands between them, showing a conflict without having the characters look at each other in any way. Further evidence of this separation is the way the two characters are standing, each with their back to the other.

Title Sequence of a film

The film's opening starts mid conversation. The setting is the interior of a restaurant. The time is not specified but the two characters on screen are eating breakfast so the audience can tell that the scene is some time in the morning. The two main characters are not wearing any sort of fancy clothing and this shows that the two aren't wealthy characters. This factors into the conversation they're having and this opening scene is very dialogue heavy. The conversation between the two revolves around robbing banks and stores and how banks are easier to rob than the latter. The subject matter of the conversation suggests that the film will be an action movie, however the length and focus of the dialogue suggests that the action is not the main focal point. 

While the opening scene of the movie only has two actual characters, with the exception of a waitress that has only one line, there is never a suggestion that these two will be the protagonists of the film. The way they speak doesn't make them the most likable of people and the talk of robbing people doesn't portray them as good people. The scene ends with them commencing their robbery and then cuts away. This further gives reason for them not being the main characters as their actions are cut off and the scene ends.