AS Level Media Blog
James Wilson. Year 12 AS Media Studies. The Billericay School. This blog is where I will be documenting all of the ideas, research, planning, production, post-production and evaluation processes during the course. It will show my progress during the creation of my opening sequence.
-
Opening Sequence - Timeline Analysis: Slumdog Millionaire (first two minutes)
- 0:00 - Pathe company logo.
- 0:13 - Fade to black screen.
- 0:15 - Celador Films company logo.
- 0:20 - Fade to black screen.
- 0:21 - Film 4 company logo.
- 0:29 - Fade to black screen.
- 0:30 - White text, company names.
- 0:37 - Fade to black screen.
- 0:38 - Panning close up of boy’s body and face. Smoke.
- 0:46 - Close up of man’s face. Blowing smoke as he breathes.
- 0:52 - Close up of boy’s face. Blinking.
- 1:00 - White text. Location, date and situation.
- 1:01 - Quick close up of man’s face. Foreign dialogue.
- 1:02 - Man slaps boy’s face. Close up reaction shot.
- 1:03 - Black screen. White text answers appear. Non diegetic clock ticking.
- 1:12 - Panning shot of money on floor. Answers still on screen. Clock ticking.
- 1:17 - Cross cut to boy and man on game show. Lights moving. Man talking.
- 1:19 - Cross cut back to money on floor. Man still talking.
- 1:24 - Cross cut to man. Bright lights. Conversation.
- 1:28 - Close up of boy’s face. Nervous.
- 1:30 - Cross cut of money being put in bath. Crane shot.
- 1:33 - Cross cut to mid shot of boy and man on gameshow.
- 1:37 - Over the shoulder shot of boy and man as gameshow begins.
- 1:39 - Tracking/panning shot of game show arena. Crowd cheering.
- 1:41 - Mid shot of boy and man as they walk out.
- 1:45 - Medium shot of control room. Dark. Glare of computer monitors.
- 1:47 - Overhead shot of boy and man walking to game show arena.
- 1:50 - Close up of boy and man as boy sits down.
- 1:54 - Cross cut to other man as he slaps boy. New setting.
- 1:56 - Close up of boy. Reaction to slap.
- 1:57 - Close up of man as he speaks. Foreign dialogue.
- 2:00 - Close up of boy. Confused.
-
Opening Sequence Analysis - Casino Royale
The camera work in this opening sequence is one of the most prominent features. At the beginning, both the building and the antagonist are shown in low angle, establishing shots, showing them to be threatening. As the scene progresses, various other shots are used to show the switch in power between the two characters. Shots with selective focus draw the audience to certain parts of the camera framing, helping the narrative of the piece. Panning shots are used during the conversation to set the tone, showing that Bond is in control. During the action scenes, mid shots are used in quick succession to replicate the urgency of each of the characters. Towards the end of the opening scene, Bond is the character that is shown in a dominating light, through close ups and low angle shots.
In terms of sound, there is little non-diegetic music in the background of the piece, this makes the sounds of other objects, such as car doors, sound amplified against the quiet background. At the cricket game, the only sound that is heard is the ambient sound of the outdoors and the diegetic sound of the crowd and game as they are playing. The non-diegetic music then picks up as Bond chases the man through to the bathroom before coming to a crescendo of noise during the fight. The sound then dies back down again before Bond kills the antagonist.
The entire opening sequence is edited with a black and white filter, making the scene appear more sinister and dark. The conversation uses shot/reverse shots to develop the characters. The scene also makes good use of cross cutting, as the scene cuts away the the cricket arena where it is shown how Bond kills one of the contacts. Match on action also plays a big role in the fight scene, making it appear more believable.
The mise en scene is very simplistic. Bond is shown to be wearing dark clothing, as well as the antagonist. In terms of props, the stereotypical silenced gun was used my bond to kill the antagonist, while a black pistol was carried by the male at the cricket game. Bond’s facial expressions showed him to be a controlled, detached spy who knows what he is doing.
-
Analysis of an Opening Sequence -Pride and Prejudice
(click photos)
-
-
Analysis of an Opening Sequence - Atonement
(click photos)
