Technology

Things like using cameras and lighting, computer editing programs and adding sound, etc. Again, this can be completed at NAME, so your mark depends on how competently and in depth you used technology. Complete a blog post detailing what technology you used and how. You can include screenshots of the editing program you used to illustrate your competence. Consider & comment on your use of the following:
To create my movie I used only a standard point and shoot camera. As most of my film is done in stop motion, this was the most beneficial for my requirements but it was also satisfactory for my clips of film which i also used the point and shoot camera for becuase I wanted it all to appear of similar quality and so this was the most obvious choice for seamless transitions. My camera was a great asset to use for this purpose as it has a flash burst mode which took lots of pictures per second for me so that I did not have too spend too long being slow at taking lots of photos. It also meant that if I had to reshoot from different angles to get a different view and different lighting or if something went wrong the first time then it wasn't a big issue. I had no problems using my camera. There were no technical malfunctions or loss of material or anything like that. I just had to take photos when there was suitable lighting and so with a little bit of experimenting, that was pretty easy to sort out.

I used pre-existing songs so that was easy to import and add to my movie. I also used my ipod for voice recordings but they did not end up getting used.

 To edit my movie I used adobe cs4 premiere pro which posed many problems for me as often my footage would not import and the computer did not have the memory capacity to cope with the movie and so that made things increasingly difficult and also frustrating. Also, any work I managed to get done often did not save. To move past this I had to edit most of my movie at home. This meant that I used windows media movie maker which was a lot more simplistic. As it was my own computer I was much more familiar with it and it was also able to cope with a lot more footage.

I edited some of my photos to remove me or other people from them so that the subject could be better focused on and established as the centre of attention. I used photo shop version 8 for this. I also touched up the photos and enhanced colours, removed red eye, etc. just normal things like that, also with photoshop. I used the sound of the fire works and they were already recorded with my video footage but i needed to make them the right volume and so I had to adjust that which was pretty simple to on the programme, I just had to remove it from the video footage and then put it in separately. As most of my movie is stop motion, most of my editing was just selecting which photos to include and then fitting them to the movie and the song. This meant that because I did a couple of test shots for each section of my film and so I could then see which was the best angles and lighting to use, the process was fairly simple as I just use the best ones. The only editing of sound I had to do apart from the fire works was to select the section of the song that I wanted to use at the end. This meant i just had to insert at which point in the song I wanted it to come in and what time I wanted it to fade out and then input at what point in the movie I wanted this to happen. This was fairly simple once I figured out what to do as I just had to listen to the song to see what portion of the song I wanted.

I did not use overly sophisticated means to make my movie but as the idea behind the movie was this journey from this person's experience, therefore being seen through their eyes, the authenticity of being shot with an average camera was appropriate and sat well with the movie. There is no dialogue to detract from the visual. The beginning and the end are tied in together with a simple title which would lead on nicely to the rest of the movie and wraps up the beginning effectively. The only break from the soundtrack (which tells a story that is appropriate for what is happening in the film), is at the end of the opening and the end of my film. This is when the fire works go off and it is symbolic as the attention then turns solely to the fire works and the rest is strangely quiet, there is nothing else going on to detract focus and it's symbolising the movie going off with a bang but also that the journey went off with a bang. But fireworks are often used in celebration and are therefore associated with accomplishments and positive things and so if effective to be used in that place.

Production Evaluation

Some positive aspects of the project were that the filming was over and done with in only two weeks. This was because I had to film on location and so I had to get it done within the time restrictions which prevented any lazyness and procrastination. This meant that I had a lot of time to spend on creating the movie which I could just spend on putting it all together and editing the footage. Another positive was fitting my movie to the music I chose. I liked that my footage seemed to go quite nicely with the song, in regards to tempo and length. I was really pleased with the way this turned out, on the whole. I also liked that the song I found best for my movie as it complimented the feel of my movie in both its lyrics and its music. So this was nice that the song could actually relate to the ideas of the movie - the relaxed holiday feel that I felt it conveyed, journeys, adventures and being around the ocean. I thought this was very cool and an added bonus.


I could have managed my editing better as I got quite complacent and the time got away on me slightly. I also forgot about the sheet of directions and steps I needed to follow while I was too busy creating the movie and so at the end I had to go back and go through the book and make sure that I had completed and documented each step which was a pain and created extra pressure as I was not as far finished as I thought I was. This would have actually been quite easy to achieve if I had not just lost the sheet and forgotten about it. I would have just needed to go through the step by step process and make sure that I was not leaving anything out.


This was quite hard though as lots of steps that needed to be documented were about things that were involved in the making of the movie and seeing as mine was kind of a documentary sort of thing with no actors or other people helping me with camera work or editing or anything and my movie also didn't include any props or anything so I did not have anything really to write about and so I got quite confused about what I needed to do. As my film was not a standard one made mainly of video footage and fitting the mold of a standard film opening, some aspects of the process did not make that much sense in relation to my film and so I just had to do my best to provide the desired information and manipulate the paperwork to fit my movie.


I also could have done a better story board and perhaps bettered my artistic handiwork but I did not feel that this was a hugely important area of the project and I had already done it once. This was also done towards the end of the period spent making my movie so I was not concerned with spending too much time on it. All this would have meant was that it would be easier for the marker to follow just by glancing at the pictures.


I could have spent more time trying to work with the flasher movie maker programmes. Again, I'm not sure whether this would have made my movie a whole lot better but it probably would have made it more complex. I did become impatient and frustrated with the programmes and felt that my time would be better spent actually getting some work done that I could rely on and that I would actually know how to work the ins and outs of. Using a flasher programme though may have made my movie look somewhat more professional.


If I had to do it all over again I think that I would realise there are some positive aspects to doing the film with a lot of photos as I did - that it is easier to fit it to the length that you want it to be but any other editing is a lot harder and more time consuming as you have to edit each individual photo and there were several hundred of these used in my movie as well as video. This would mean that if I were to use the same concept and gather footage in the same way that I would start my editing process a lot earlier on and maybe edit more photos than I did to extra enhance the photos just for the effect but maybe it would better enhance my grade. I would definately work through my project by the book and make sure each process was ticked off and completed as I went and so that I did not have to go back and do all the boring and time consuming jobs such as story board (which was more challenging as there was a lot more to do on that as I used photos and so there were more scenes than there would be if I was to film the whole thing) and the production log and schedule etc, at the end. To do better, is the same as anything though really and is something that can always be improved and that is time management. If I had closely followed the book then at the end I would have finished a lot earlier and then so I would have had time to look over my movie and no doubt come up with other things I could have added and then do so just to add more depth to my movie, maybe make it a little clearer and easier to follow that it was only the opening of a movie and make it clear about what the audience would be to expect if the whole movie was to be made. Even though, to me, this is perfectly clear, I was concerned that to others who were not familiar with my movie would find it a little harder to follow. I could have edited more of my photos. I'm not necessarily sure whether that would have been a positive thing or not but it would have added complexity to the movie and would mean that the marker would have more to consider when looking at my work.

Exam Reflection

I think the exams went okay... I find it hard to remember the exams once they are over. I studied the two papers pretty evenly, probably with more focus on the genre paper as we were told that it would be easier to get the better grades as we had completed the whole topic, plus we had already done one practice essay on this and so there was already something to work from. I think I spent more time on the genre essay as well. Maybe getting towards two hours. I spent the whole time just writing down any random thought I could think of and I did read over at the end to see if there was anything I should add or change. I found it hard to remember quotes from the experts and worksheets which is something I'd try to do better in the end of year exams.

Tasks

Task 4: Crew and Talent
I am my own crew as I am doing the filming myself as the movie is shot from the protagonists point of view. This makes me the protagonist I guess, although the protagonist remains annonymous and faceless. This also means I do not require any crew although my film may feature people that I come across on my travels in Thailand. My family will also be featured in the film but only in passing, their faces are often not shown and they to the audience may just appear as any other unrelated member of the public.


Task 5: Production Schedule
As my holiday takes place from the 17th of July until the 2nd of August, that is when my production will take place as that is when my filming will need to be done. Any additional footage or footage that needs to be re-shot will be done during the first two weeks of term, aiming to have all filming done by the 14th of August, if not before.

Task 6: Art Department
I do not require any costumes as the protagonist is not seen and the other people featured in the film are supposed to be seen just as the protagonist sees them and so them dressed in the normal attire is what I am looking for.

Task 7: Locations, Permission
I filmed in Christchurch airport, Changi airport, on the plane and various locations around Thailand. As my film was mainly composed of photos this did not require any permission as it was just like any tourist taking holiday snapshots and I did not have any funny people running around in costumes and being disruptive that I needed to film as I was filming as-is.

Treatment

The present.
Kitchen.
At home.
Time of day irrelevant.


The protagonist (camera P.O.V) is staring at calendar. Shot of calendar is shown. Using flash burst/stop motion, the calendar then shows as days are counted down/crossed out, building up to the date of departure which will be shown in same way eg; circled in red. The shot will then change to showing the suitcases and/or the tickets/passports lying around the house, moving increasingly closer to the front door or out into the car. This will also just be photos/stop motion.


The Present.
Memorial Avenue.
Early Morning.
As they travel down the road (Memorial Avenue) maybe some more photos or very short amounts of film footage. Upon arrival at the airport, shots of the departures board will be shown and perhaps other airportish things, eg; carousel, gates etc. The protagonist walks to get a cup of coffee. High angle shot looks down on the cup of coffee.This will also be shown in the same way that Memorial Ave is shown. All this will lead up to the departure. The purpose of this is to show the anticipation, the boredom as both the audience and the protagonist are really just waiting to leave the airport.


The Present.
On the plane.
Morning.
The protagonist looks out the window. Clouds will be visible. Maybe at some point, some land. The lapse of time will be made evident, as 10 hours have to pass. The arrival at Singapore airport will be shown. The protagonist looks out of the plane window, down on Thailand, approaching Phuket. They walk out of the plane, into the airport.


The present.
Phuket.
Night time.
The protagonist travels to the resort. Snippets will be shown of the journey. The protagonist arrives at the resort. and looks around, taking in the unfamiliar scenery. Inside the lobby. The corridor to the room. Inside the room. Up to now this will have taken about 90 seconds?


The protagonist sees friendly Thai faces in the street. Goes to the beach. Sees amazing views. Goes on an elephant ride - the camera shots will be jerky and all over the place. Film continues with snippets from the holiday, showing Thailand. Total length of film will be around 5 minutes.


Mellow music plays continuously. Perhaps building in volume in places. Matched to the photos.

I changed the start for time restrictions in regard to the length of my movie and this footage was deemed to be the least relevant and therefore best to cut. The drive to the airport was also removed as my dad thought he was funny and pulled faces in my shot and so I used other, better footage.

Instead I included (all things shot in the present) - elephant trek, boat trips, different areas and locations/events in Phuket.

My Film Opening

My film does not fit under one standard genre, but more the travel documentary area of film. The main ideas i wish to explore are a journey to and/or experiences of Thailand. The idea of travel and experiencing a foreign place. It would be nice to attract the audience by causing them to think wistfully of the images they are seeing and make them interested in what I am showing them so that they, too, may be interested in going to Thailand. I am considering doing something along the lines of the house of travel tv add: Powered by the People.

The story would probably not involve any major characters and would be shot from the perspective of the protagonist who is never actually seen. Instead, the audience would see what the protagonist sees and see Thailand through their eyes. It would be set to appropriate (mellow) music, yet to be decided on. It would include snippets of film, perhaps some from the perspective of the protagonist walking, as if the audience too is walking through Thailand and it would be cool to include some stop motion, a lot of photos of beautiful scenery, random people and other up-lifting things.

I would like to include photos of what I am doing and also while I am doing them, for example elephant trekking, so that would include jerky shots if done in stop motion. I would start my film with photos of the lead up to Thailand, to create antiocipation and so that the audience has a clear idea of what is going on. This will probably just include photos of all the luggage, perhaps in stop motion as it moves around the house towards the door. I would also like to include the tickets and the calendar to fully create the atmosphere and then some shots at the airport before I leave, for instance getting coffee, to create the feeling of more anticipation and idle boredom as we are waiting for the real excitement of Thailand. The lead up to leaving would be only a small portion of the movie though as it is not the really interesting part and the audience would likely get bored. After this intro I would perhaps change the soundtrack but this remains unknown as any songs have not been decided on yet.

I did not end up including the lead up as it would have made my movie too long and was kind of irrelevant to the idea that I wanted so I figured the other stuff was more important to include.

Conventions of Horror Films

Choose ONE convention across at least TWO movies. Describe how this convention is used in this film. Use specific examples (textual evidence: techniques, details) and refer to your notes as necessary.

The convention of a female victim is used across the board in horror films. Two such examples are 1960's Psycho and 1996's Scream. In Psycho, Marian Crane is our female victim. Marian, the lead character in the start of the film, ends up dying within the first half hour. This is used to surprise the audience and lead them to believe that anything could happen. Before she died, Marian committed many acts which are known to be fatal acts in horror films as they ultimately lead to death as they are seen as morally wrong. In this film, Marian stole 40,000 dollars from her employer and was also having motel sex out of wedlock. A similar example was used in Scream. Drew Barrymore, one of the film's biggest names, was killed at the very start. Perhaps this was an idea borrowed from Psycho? In Scream, though, we see many more examples of female victims, Tatum is brutally murdered by Ghostface in the garage door and Sidney, the protagonist, is another victim of Ghostface's cruelty. Sidney is taunted by creepy, threatening phone calls from Ghostface who is seemingly stalking her as he always knows where she is and is also attacked by him on numerous occasions.

The female victim was used in Scream as a technique to shock the audience into believing that anything could and would happen in this film. Similar reasons are probably accounted for it being used in Psycho, also. In Psycho, Marian was the lead character and so it was very shocking and unusual for the audience to see the main star die such a short way through the film as it strayed from what traditionally took place in horror films. It reveals that both directors, in particular Alfred Hitchcock as he did this before his time, were ambitious to take such a risk and also that they were motivated and creative thinkers that just wanted to make the best of their films. The way that Hitchcock chose to show the scene of Marian's murder was also very revolutionary and has come to be known as the infamous shower scene. This scene was a classic example of the slasher violence that is very common in horror films. How it is interpreted, whether in a sexual manner or otherwise, is neither here nor there as the scene is one of the most famous in the horror genre and is used to cause the audience to think in a moralistic sense, that Marian is being punnished for her crimes. The audience's expectations in the film would have been very different to what actually took place. The money Marian stole which was the heart of her moral down-fall was killed off with Marian. What had been, up until that point, seemingly the main storyline, went down with Marian's body in her car.

Audiences of Psycho were warned before viewing it that something very shocking happened at the start of the movie. This made the audience a lot more skeptical and caused the mood to be a lot more ominous. Though the fact that such a famous actress' character was killed off so early in the film did not hinder Psycho's reception from the audience. After Psycho, the shower scene was altered slightly and used in countless horror films. In Scream, because another famous actress' character was killed so brutally at the start of the movie, even though she was not the primary character, it made the audience a lot more cautious and suspicious of the events to come in the movie. I think that the directors have used similar techniques because it had found to be a successful one and effectively sets up the rest of the movie. The fact that in both movies the killer goes on to strike down other dominant characters is also an effective technique as it scares the audience. I think that Wes Craven does not kill off Sidney's character as a lot of other characters die and he moulds the film so that the audience grows a strong attachment to Sidney which causes them to fear for her and hope for her survival which keeps them enthralled with the film. Both directors have used the convention of the female victim to reflect the way that audiences and their expectations and so to keep their audiences interested. The effects on society of watching these films is that it can cause them to reflect on the own moralistic actions because the films imply that if you commit sin then you will come to a grim ending, and also to wonder about the people around them and other members of society as in both films the killers are seemingly harmless characters. Experts have hailed Psycho as the first modern horror film and the mother of the 'slasher' sub-genre. Scream was a turning point in terms of casting for the horror genre which had previously involved relatively unknown actors. It was largely accepted with positive critical response as it provided a shift from the teen slasher films of the 1980s. Kevin Thomas of The Los Angeles Times called Scream "a bravura, povocative sendup of horror pictures" and complimented the film for being "scary and gruesome" while avoiding a sense of "morbidity". Which is why these films are both revolutionary and popular. Not because they're original but because they combine the elements of a horror film in an original way.

Animation.

The opening title sequence of the Return of the Pink Panther is done in animation although the rest of the film is not. It shows the main character, the detective, and also the missing diamond he tries to find in the movie, the Pink Panther, shown in the title sequence as the very literal interpretation of an actual panther that is pink.


Most of the opening shows the panther putting on a bit of a spectacle and later involved in a wild goose chase with the detective. Because the opening credits are shown as cartoon characters or in animation, it gives the movie that light-hearted, humorous feel.

Because the opening sequence is done in animation, it is made clear from the very start what kind of movie this is. The audience is aware that it is suitable for the entire family and due to the good use of animation to clearly portray the panthers whimsicality and the detectives daftness, they are made very aware that it is a comedy from very early on.

Examples of the animation having a comedic effect are when the panther leaves a button for the detective to push and when he does, ends up covered in a head of suds. Or even something as simple as just moving the eyebrow of the pink panther in a waggling motion.

Mise-en-scene.

Mise-en-scene. The arrangement of performers and properties on a stage for a theatrical production or before the camera in a film.


The director of the Return of the Pink Panther keeps things simple for most of the opening title sequence, with sometimes the only things in the shot being the cartoon versions of the detective and the pink panther. This helps to emphasise that these are the principle elements to the movie, or the main storyline. Because they are the only subjects on screen, it makes the plot very easy to understand as there are not other objects or elements complicating the scene and distracting the audience.

At other times, the director includes items to accessorise the panther. Examples include, a cowboy hat and a fruit head-piece and other hats which easily hide him from the detective and also tell the audience who the pink panther is acting as (a gangster, Charlie Chaplin, a cowboy etc...) just by adding a simple hat into the scene. This gives the idea that even though the pink panther may be right under the detectives nose, he won't be able to find it.

We are shown the panther cruising across the shot in a pink limousine. The detective follows on a precarious looking scooter. This gives the audience insight into the movie's storyline, giving them the idea that the pink panther is elusive and that the poor old bumbling detective is going to have some bad luck and some troubles along the way.

The fact that there is never too much going on is very effective and to the point and makes the concepts easy to grasp and the mise-en-scene is used to foreshadow the ideas of the movie.

Sound

Sound. Transmitted vibrations of any frequency.


The Return of the Pink Panther's title sequence uses both diegetic and non-diegetic sound to add to the effect of the movie.


The opening sequence of the Return of the Pink Panther has no dialogue. This is an effective technique as the animated characters make sounds which help us to grasp their moods and reactions. It also adds to the effect of the opening sequence as becuase there is no dialogue, we are not distracted by what is actually happening in the scene by trying to listen to what the characters say.

The main element of sound in the opening sequence is the song The Pink Panther which plays continuously in the background. It is a song which is very well recognised and is used in lots of other movies such as Charlie's Angels. But it is iconic to the Pink Panther and so it helps to set the mood. When we hear that song we can just imagine the bad sleuthy skits. The song allows the audience to grasp the tone of the film. That it is light-hearted and fun.

As the music accompanies the actions of the panther, it helps to make the panther the main focus of the audiences attention, again, foreshadowing the movie.

Colour

Colour. The aspect of visual perception by which an observer recognizes this attribute


One of the most effective techniques used in the title sequence is the use of colour. The movie is titled "The PINK Panther" and so the opening sequence is very appropriately rather pink. The pink panther is the title character (although not really a character except in the opening) and so it is expected that he is pink. The accessories the pink panther has eg; the fruit hat, the cowboy hat, the limousine, are all pink. In fact everything that the pink panther has is in different shades of pink! 

The pink pather, though, is not the only thing put into this title sequence that's pink. The lighting on the pink pather is pink, the names of the principle actors and film crew's names appear in different shades of pink lights like those at a movie premiere or on Broadway showing the cartoon panthers effervescence and also it's importance in the movie.

The use of all this pink draws the audience's attention back to the title of the movie, The Return of the Pink Panther. Because everything to do with the cartoon version of the pink panther is some shade of pink, it highlights the importance of the panther and ensures that, even though after the opening title sequence it becomes just an object and no longer a character, the audience still remembers that the pink panther is that the heart of the entire movie.

Also, another use of the colour pink, sets up the movie to be funny and light because it is recognised as a humourous link to the title. The theme of pink is more dominant in the title than in any other part of the story with the only real exhibit of pink in the movie being that of the diamond. But it sets up a nice mood for the movie and importance of the prized pink panther diamond in the future.

Genre/Atmosphere

The pink panthers frivolity in the title sequence is captured through the sound, the lighting and the. The music is important in The Return of the Pink Panther as the theme music is extremely well-known and has been used in the likes of Charlie's Angels. Now-a-days when we hear the music we can just visualise the bad sneaking around impersonations.


The idea of the chase after the pink panther is translated in a rather literal sense. In this opening, we see the detective chasing after an actual pink panther, much like in the film he chases after the jewel named "The Pink Panther". To create the humour and the action, the director uses sound. The tone is created by using the Pink Panther music in the background but we can still hear the tap dancing of the pink panther as he shows off. When peoples names come up the music changes slightly to sound more theatre-ish. It is still the same tune, the sound is just more elaborate.


This is very clearly a comedy film. And that is quickly established in this opening sequence. The pink panter has fun goofing around, including dressing up in numerous get-ups, such as Charlie Chaplin, Mickey Mouse, Frankenstein and A Cowboy. This is effective as the characters he dresses up as are comedic icons. As well as just establishing an amusing feel to the movie, the pink panther dressing as these characters also helps us to understand something else about the movie. We watch the detective brush past these characters numerous times without him even noticing that is it the pink panther. This is humourous to the audience as we are in the know and he is not. It also helps us to understand that the detective may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, without actually meeting the real detective. And we pre-conceive the idea that the detective cannot see what is in front of his nose, foreshadowing what is to come in the film. And we know that he will have trouble in the film to find the pink panther diamond.


The sound also helps to accompany the visuals in creating the comedy effect. This is done in several incidences something as simple as the noise accompanying the pink panther as he tip toes across the screen.


Also as there is no dialogue in the title sequence, there is more focus on what is actually going on and every noise has more effect. We are not distracted by trying to listen to what characters are saying and we can appreciate just how well a mood can be conveyed without anything being said. Even the music that plays during the entire sequence has no lyrics to it.


The atmosphere has also been created through the lighting. All of the lighting is pink, due to the title of the Pink Panther. It helps to establish as it is not a serious tone that the director is aiming for as pink is fun and not used to highlight serious tones but rather a lighter one. As there are a lot of examples when lighting is used there is an excessive amount of pink but it works for this movie as it is the Pink Panther and the movie doesn't take itself too seriously.

Preparation

To analyse the opening title sequence of a movie, I have chosen the Return of the Pink Panther as my subject of choice. This particular opening title sequence starts with a pink panther appearing in the midst of bright pink stage lights. The pink panther then produces a pink cane and a pink top hat and starts a grand charade and performance including provocative and flamboyant dancing. The names of the people involved in the film appear in extravagant lights, not dissimilar from what you might find at a well-hyped Broadway show, further creating the atmosphere of the pink panther, that he is a spectacular, show-offy, arrogant, cool character. The pink panther then gets involved in a chase with a dim-witted detective, leading him on an amusing cat-and-mouse pursuit.

This sequence fits into the film as it shows the character of the pink panther. The pink panther in the title sequence is an actual panther (animal) whereas the one in the movie is a diamond. But the pink panther in the title sequence is like that of the diamond thief in the movie, that he is showy with his work and that he leads the detective on a false trail. He is also a very smooth character.  It also shows the main storyline in a brief yet thoroughly entertaining way that makes the audience get involved at an early stage and sets the mood for the movie.

It appealed to me because I find the title sequence very amusing and it is fun to watch and therefore fun to study. I also like the way it relates to the movie and even if it were to be seen on its own I think that it still tells a good story. The way it tells the story of the mischievous pink panther out-witting the daft detective is very humorous.