G321 Film opening

Research films similar to yours or a credits sequence that you like.

If you can take a screen shot of the credits or title. For example

Then go to WhatTheFont upload your image, follow the instructions and try to identify the font.

Once you have a good match - look for the font in Photoshop or at dafont.com

 

 

Write this up as a blog post - embed the first two videos as well so the examiner knows what documentary you're responding to.
1) Write a 100-150 biography of Saul Bass, explaining what he did and why he is so important.

Look here, here or here for information

2) Watch the following clips and answer the questions below.

What were credits sequences like before Saul Bass?
Why does Kyle Cooper believe the Vertigo credit sequence is so effective?
Pick out at least 3 things Saul Bass attempted to do with his credits sequence (e.g. set the tone of the film)
What is his greatest advice to any graphic design students and why?
And just for fun here's some other opening sequence videos that might be interesting to watch.

Half term is approaching so if you're behind on you blogging this is a perfect chance to get catch up. Following is a break down of the mark scheme that examiners use and a list of suggested blog posts for the project.

OCR G321 Foundation Portfolio – Planning & Research

Below is the marking criteria for the Planning and Research section of practical work – in other words ‘everything you should be looking do on the blogs’. This part of the process is worth 20 marks (two grade boundaries) so should NEVER be overlooked. Below the main headers is a brief description of what the criteria means.

Overall the blog should tell the story of your creative process from the first look at the brief to completion. Everything that is linked to the project should be on there.

‘Planning and research evidence will be complete and detailed.’
This means all your evidence is referenced (if appropriate), threads and tangents of research have followed. It answers the basic questions posed by this project – what is a Children’s film? What do we expect from a Film Opening? How does your product fit with what’s already out there?

‘There is research into similar products and a potential target audience.’
Thorough, evidence based research into existing Children Films, existing film openings and anything that is useful or influential in your creative process.
Potential target audience – this is the people you hope will come to see and pay for your product - Who are they? What else do they like? Why will they like your product?

‘There is organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props.’
Are you organised? Have you researched and sourced everything you need to film? What do they look like? Where are you getting them from? Were there problems? How did you solve them?

‘There is work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding.’
Pretty self-explanatory – they want to see all the creative planning and preparation.

‘There is a good level of care in the presentation of the research and planning.’
This assessing your presentation skills so is your blog interesting to read and look at? Are your storyboards neat and well constructed? Have you been inventive in your research?

‘Time management is good.’
Did you hit your deadlines? Did you work steadily throughout the project - have you got proof of that with frequent blog updates on you progress? Have you a production diary?

Just how many marks you get for this process depends on the quality of your work, be it basic, proficient, good or excellent.

Research does not always have to be big chunks of writing with pictures – try to be creative. Video diaries and videoed analysis, annotations, use of Prezi, Sound Cloud, Youtube and Powerpoint, etc is all valid as long as it appropriate and relevant to the project you are working on.

CHECK LIST
(You are marked individually for the Blogs, but as you're working in groups there will inevitably be joint posts as you don't need multiple storyboards, location scouting etc. However if there is not evidence of independent study, research and analysis you mark will suffer - so ensure you do you're own work) 

Prelim + an evaluation of the process

Analyse codes and conventions of the Thriller genre
Thriller Opening Analysis
Practitioner Case Study & another (if you fancy)
Audience Research and response
Institutional Research
Character Research
Music Analysis
THE ABOVE ARE ALL POSTS THAT MUST BE COMPLETED INDIVIDUALLY

Credit Structure analysis
Foley Sound test and write up.

Mind map of ideas
Analysis of key influences
Analysis of past student work
Examination of the sub-genre of Thriller you're working in

Preparing for and Pitch document
Evaluation of the pitch process and re-evaluation (if necessary) of your ideas

Planning for film shoot:
Storyboards
Scripts
Drafts
Shot lists
Location planning
Props
Costumes
Casting
Lighting
Production diary 

Test footage and explanation of its purpose (if appropriate).
Research on techniques, effects, filters you hope to use in Final Cut  

Research on how you are going to include the credits.
Research on fonts.
Tests in Photoshop and key-framing in Final Cut (creation of ident)

Updates of progress on the project – outlining what you hope to achieve in each lesson, what you did achieve and what you have left to do - use images of your software documents, pictures of you filming. 

 

 

AND IF YOU WANT TO DO MORE LOOK HERE FOR SOME GOOD PAST STUDENT BLOGS TO GET SOME INSPIRATION

 

http://www.watchthetitles.com

artofthetitle.com

http://annyas.com/screenshots/

 

 

 

While you’re developing your characters for your Film Opening it’s useful to look at existing characters from other media products that will help you construct representation in your opening in terms of mise-en-scene, framing, music, acting etc. This will also help you with Evaluation Question 2.

 

They could be from a film similar to your idea, but they could come from any other media product or genre (game, TV, film, comic). It could be just one character or it could be that your character is a mix of several influences.

 

Write a short description of the character – film, personality, biography

 

Analyse the way the are represented – costume, make-up, props, framing in film, role in film.

 

How is your character similar to the characters in your film and why have you chosen that type of character/representation? (because it’s conventional, quirky, similar in age/gender to target audience?)

 

ILLUSTRATE YOUR ANSWERS WITH PICTURES (TAKE THEM IN TO PHOTOSHOP AND ANNOTATE IF YOU WANT), TRAILERS ETC

Media Institutions tend to produce certain types of product or have qualities/values associated with their brand (think of Pixar, Disney, Rockstar Games, Def Jam). So which institution – specifically a FILM DISTRIBUTOR - would be interested in being associated with your product and handling the marketing and distribution of your product. This will help you with Evaluation Question 2.

 

Who is going to distribute your project?

 

1) Outline what a film distributor is/does.

 

2) Research at least THREE distributors.

Identify the key/major films they have released.

 

Identify films that are similar to yours in terms of target audience, budget, genre.

 

Try and find some marketing for these films (posters, trailers) – do these fit with your product in terms of style, genre, strategy, UK based etc.

 

Conclude whether they would be an appropriate institution for you.

 

Suggestion distributors:

Lions Gate

Revolver Entertainment

Optimum Releasing

Icon FilmDistribution

ArtificialEye

Metrodome

Universal Pictures International

Or think of a film that's similar to yours look them up on imdb.com, click on Full Cast and Credits, look for Company Details on the left hand side and find the UK distributor.

 

ILLUSTRATE YOUR ANSWERS WITH LOGOS OF THE COMPANIES, TRAILERS, POSTERS ETC.

Audience Research

 

To Research and Plan effectively and to make your blog complete you must demonstrate an appreciation of your potential target audience, so who is going to watch/consume your product. This could influence your creative process but just as important as it will help you when you come to write your evaluation.

 

The easiest way of getting some idea of your target audience is to do a questionnaire – here some suggested questions based upon asking about you’re chosen sub-genre of thriller.

 

For each person questioned get their age and gender so you no what demographic you’re targeting.

 

What would you expect to see in a (insert subgenre) thriller film?

 

Create a check-list of conventions and ask them to number what aspect is most important in your sub genre.

 

What other films, TV shows would you associate with this genre?

 

Are you fan of (sub-genre) films and explain your reasons?

 

What do you films need at the beginning to keep you watching?

 

What is your favourite movie opening and why?

 

IF YOU’RE IN A GROUP OF 4 AND EACH GET TEN RESPONSES YOU’LL HAVE 40 RESPONSES TO USE.

 

IF YOU CAN’T DO A PAPER QUESTIONNARIE – USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO HELP YOU (FACEBOOK, TWITTER)

 

CREATE EVIDENCE OF THE PROCESS AND PUT IN ON YOU BLOG

 

Once you have got the questionnaires back – you now have data. Now you have present your findings in a clear way (using Excel create tables and then pie charts/graph or perhaps Wordle.net for looking at key themes or words).

You must also analyse the data – so what have you learned from the process? Who likes the film you’re trying to make (gender, age)? What other media do they consume? What do they expect from a film of that type? What would attract them to go and see your product?

 

Then you must reflect on how this information will impact on your product. So will you include what they expect? Will you change you’re ideas to fit your expected demographic?

 

This is all about reflection, understanding the influences on your creative process and creating interesting blog post for the examiner to give you lovely marks.

 

  Read the Powerpoint about preparing for a shoot. It's here