Accident Sequence

1) What techniques did you specifically use to create continuity (narrative flow) in your accident sequence?

   First of all we shot the master shot, so as to establish setting (the school corridor) and characters (the two boys, Harry and Kayvon). This ensures the audience knows where the events are taking place.
    We then had a low angle shot of the Harry being angry that he was ran into, followed by a shot of the Kayvon backing away. The low angle shot makes Harry seem more intimidating to the audience, giving the a sense of his character. The fact that Kayvon backs away further backs up the implication that Harry is intimidating.
   This then cuts to a low angle mid-long shot of the two boys, where the Harry hits Kayvon. This cuts to a close up of Kayvon hitting the wall and sliding down it onto the floor. We ensured that Kayvon stayed in the same position from when he hit the wall in the mid-long shot to when he was sliding down it in the close up to make the narrative seem seamless.
   Lastly, we had a ground level shot of Harry fleeing the scene after checking if Kayvon is conscious. The fact that the camera is ground level helps to make the audience feel as if they are seeing the scene from Kayvon's point of view.

2) In hindsight, what could you do to improve the continuity (narrative flow) of the sequence?

To improve the continuity, we should have had Harry on the right of the shot rather than the left in the second shot, as it would abide with the 180˚ rule. We also could have had Kayvon try and placate Harry so he wouldn't hit him to make Harry seem that bit more intimidating.

Film Opening Continuity

• The clip starts with three close ups of a china set and dolls, instantly establishing that the characters are young girls. The close ups also force the audience to focus on the toys, rather than the characters.
• The characters themselves are then shown in a long shot, which also shows the setting; an attic space. This is the master shot.
• Two more close ups showing the girls playing continues to give the audience a sense of character; they are young girls, who enjoy playing with their dolls and tea set.
• Two mid-close ups then show us the girls themselves in more detail, showing the audience their faces, and the fact that they are smiling. This complies with the 180° rule, as two girls stay on the left of the frame, whilst the other girl stays on the right. One girl leans forwards to place a teacup on the floor, and the next shot matches the action by showing her place the cup on the saucer.
• After another close up of the toys, there is a long shot from a different angle, showing there is a bed and three windows in the room. The girls all look towards the camera, implying that there is a character stood 'behind' it.
• The girls then look towards the window in a long shot from a different, low angle, which makes the audience question what they are about to do next.
• The camera then arcs into the windows, increasing the audience's curiosity and uneasiness.
• There is another match on action as the girls stand up, showing them starting to stand up in a midshot, then cutting closer to the girls as they continue to rise to their feet.
• Multiple close ups show the girls treading on and breaking their dolls and tea set, as they walk towards the windows. This implies that there is something different about the girls, as at first they were shown playing with the toys carefully and lovingly.
• A mid shot shows the girls walking towards the camera and the windows, faces void of any emotion, when seconds before they were smiling and laughing.
• The girls then step up towards the windows in a long shot, which establishes the fact that the girls would easily be able to fit through the windows.
• This cuts straight to a close up of one of the girls opening the latch on the window, which is a match on action of the shot before, where the girls are reaching towards the latches. The close up forces the audience to focus on the action, so as to increase their sense of uneasiness.
• A long shot then shows the girls stepping up onto the edge of the windows, before they step off and fall out of shot.
• The camera then tracks back from the empty windows, before cutting to another close up of an unbroken doll. The quick transition from long shot to close up again forces the audience to focus on the doll, and on the fact that the girls suddenly completely changed their demeanour.
• Lastly, there is a cut back to the long shot which is tracking backwards, and a figure appears in the frame, standing where the girls had looked before they looked to the windows. This is to make the audience realise that it was the figure who caused them to jump.

Reflection On Shots

Describe your shot and identify in what way it could be described as representing your chosen genre. 

This shot is an extreme close up (ECU) of her eyes, which are narrowed. She is directly addressing the audience. The eyes are the main focus of the shot.
This represents the action genre as it is replicating stereotypical fight scenes, where the camera focuses on the characters' eyes as they narrow and have a Mexican stand-off with another character.

What did you actually do to achieve the effect?

To achieve this affect we had the actress narrow her eyes and directly address the camera, so as to give the effect that she is staring someone down. The slight frown also portrays her emotion; determination and fearless. We then had the camera extremely close to her face so as to make sure our framing was as close as possible, to achieve the ECU.

Identify what is successful about your shot.

The framing (and ECU) is correct as only the top half of the actresses face is visible. Also, the way the actresses emotions are portrayed clearly, even though only a small part of her face is visible. The natural lighting helps to give a sense of setting, even though you can't see any background in this shot. The lighting implies that it is outside, where a stand-off would most likely take place.

What would you do differently in hindsight?

In hindsight, I would improve the focusing of the shot, so the eyes are more clear and sharp. I would also get the actress to narrow their eyes a little more, and frown a little more, so as to appear more intimidating and menacing. I would also make sure the actress is more centralised in the frame.

Film Opening Analysis

Warm Bodies | PG-13 | Rom-Zom-Com

• The film is set in a post-apocalyptic America, that has been destroyed by decades of wars and natural disasters, resulting in a mysterious zombie plague, and is set over a few weeks following the narrator, a zombie named R.
• Firstly, the audience is introduced to R, the zombie narrator, and are then shown the airport in which he lives. R then goes on to guess what jobs other zombies had 'before' the breakout of the zombie plague, before pondering on what the cause was. After showing what the airport used to be like, R introduces the audience to the Bonies, the stage after being a zombie. Lastly, we are shown R's best friend, and they decide find food (humans) in the city.
• The order of events is significant to the story telling as it not only introduces the audience to the protagonist, setting and back story to the zombie plague, but also gives an idea as to what kind of character R is; wry, quick-witted and introspective.
• The events are linked in the sense that R is almost explaining what happened, along with what his surroundings are, but they are still unconnected, such as the fact that zombies turn into Bonies isn't linked to R going to find food with his best friend at the end of the clip.
• The first character to be introduced is R, and he is the narrator and protagonist in the film. We know that he is the protagonist as he is present throughout the opening, and not only gives his insight into the situation he is in, but also explains to the audience what happened and who other significant characters are, such as the Bonies. These are one step on from zombies; R explains "they'll eat anything with a heartbeat", and informs that audience that all zombies become them eventually. They are the 'enemy' in the film, and this is implied by the fact that they are shown in a very dark area, and R says that turning into one is what he has to look forward to, and "it's kind of a bummer." The fact that R doesn't speak highly of them at all insinuates that the Bonies are not characters that the audience should like. Lastly, we are introduced to R's 'best friend', which goes to show R's insightfulness is not the norm, as he and his friend have very limited forms of communication.
• In terms of story information, the audience only finds out about very little, such as the fact that the cause of the plague is unknown, or that the zombies are living in the airport. The audience only finds out what R knows, and this is revealed through his comments and narration. For example, R explains what Bonies are as he passes them on his wanderings, before adding his own opinion that turning into one of them is a "bummer". The fact that there are still humans (who live in the city) is withheld until the end of the clip, as the opening is purely an introduction into R's way of life and why it is how it is.
• I think the audience needs to know more about where the humans are so as to show where they are in relation to the airport and zombies. This would help enhance the audience's knowledge on the setting.