Analysing opening scenes: 'Warm bodies'

This opening shows us that the genre of the film is a supernatural; however once into the film we discover that it is actually a romantic. At the start he seems to be looking around for what could be a love interest as we are shown that he is the main protagonist in this film. We know this is a supernatural film as his appearance immediately gives us the picture of pale skin, bloodshot eyes and his posture is hunched. People may think this is a horror as the known 'Bonies' add the horror genre to this particular film, for the genre of horror film, this types of appearance would give the audience and automatic sense that this is for the horror genre. Also another convention is that the setting of the film is looked like it has been abandoned, and is now filled with dead people. However, the narrator is the protagonist talking about his everyday life being a zombie. Also, he seems very relaxed about what he is saying; treating like this is a normal day.



Some camera shots include of an extreme close up of the protagonists face showing his facial expression, a medium shot to show his body language and his posture to gain a sense of what he is like. A close up to show his complete face letting the audience know that he is a zombie, however there is an enigma, showing the audience that that he not trying to scare anyone, which makes this a double genre film, we also see an over the shoulder shot which shows the location of the film and where abouts the protagonists lives which is in an airport. There is a high angle shot which allows the titles to be shown as well as the full setting of the film. Lastly, there is a long shot which allows the audience to see more of what is going on in the Mies En Scene. This is everything in the shot or frame allowing the audience to gain more information of where the film is set. Also the voiceover of the protagonist talking about what he is like and he comment about that he should do certain thing in order to fit with everyone else, so that he can look normal. Also the protagonist asks questions to the audience, so being direct, so getting the audience involved and thinking about what this film could be able.



The music which compliments the start of the film as well and also plays at the same time the voiceover which is the protagonist talking. During the beginning the protagonist asks questions directly towards the audience, making them feel included into the film. The non-diegetic sound very quiet, but yet relaxed, trying to set the scene, as if it’s another normal day. Also during the opening the music changes as the camera move around the protagonist, and changing the place to a Christmas theme song along with the location changes quickly and then the camera moves around more to shows more of the people, then as the camera moves quickly toward the back of protagonist and the music changes completely as it goes back to normal, this shows that it’s trying to show a flashback to a happier time of his life.

What I would like to get out of this year/course.

At the end of this year I would like to be able to get learn and gain experience on how to use a camera, and being able to practice using one, so for example filming different angles and shots. I would also like to gain experience in editing different types of scenes. I also would like to good grade out of this year which will able me to pursue A2 media, which I intend to carry on with this course in to year 13.I would also like to broaden my knowledge, so being able to expand on my analysis skills, of films or opening to films.  

Analysing Opening Scenes: '21 Jump street'

In the opening two minutes of the film '21 Jump street' it begins by showing the audience that the film is original, by showing that in the first shot, with the build-up of tension like music to go with that particular scene at the start where is reveals its and original film. Afterwards the camera fades out and fades into the next shot by telling us the year this shown by the shot where it says "THE YEAR 2005", which could tell the audience that it could some sort of story that is being told, by showing the year, telling us its rewinding back to past. The music at the beginning started off as non-diegetic sound, and music was a upbeat, but then changes slowly into a more goofy beat which suited the way the protagonist personality which has been presented in the first scene. The protagonist is represented as the unpopular student in the high school, this shown through his facial expressions, and how he enters into the school building on his own, also the way he tries to greet someone by doesn't get a response shows that not many people in the high like him.

The mise-en-scene includes of a high school, with bus which has stopped with students coming out of it, this tries to set the scene by showing us an ordinary school day with students coming into school, and this fits the conventions of a comedy film, because it is showing the audience a stereotypical location in which this type of genre of film, which is expected. Also it then turns out into black screen showing us the audience, the institution of the film. Also during the next scene the audience will meet the protagonist of the film, making an entry. It shows us that protagonist comes out of the bus, and the camera moves in on the protagonist, and starts to follow him into school, and the camera quickly comes out of the shot and turns to next shot showing more information about the institution and the title of the film is shown in one of the scenes, and so the afterward it continues to follow the protagonist into school. The camera follows along and shows a medium shot of the protagonist, and slowly turns around so that the audience can see his face, showing the audience that he not so eager in going to school at first.

Then his facial expressions change by greeting someone who is on the other side, and this shown by his hand being raised and a smile on his face. The non-diegetic sound starts to become quieter and then stops the dialogue starts between the protagonist and the women. After the camera shows his walking through the corridors, on his own, shows that he may not have as many friends. Then the camera moves around and shows the perspective of the protagonist and show that there is poster about the school prom which the protagonist is drawn into, soon after he turns around and sees the girls that he fancies, and the girl walk past him and he quickly turns and says 'hi', in an awkward way. The girl stops and starts to talk to him, and she has been represented as innocent looking, but when the protagonist asked her to prom, with non-diegetic sound in the background as starts to be tense as he was talking to her, then she suddenly turn as she wasn't too keen and the music stopped as she turned him down. Afterwards we get meet the antagonist of the film, as they were standing by the lockers laughing at the protagonist for being turned down. They have been representing as the most popular boys in schools, as there were a group of them laughing at him. This then put pressure on the protagonist as he felt embarrassed and starts to deny the fact that he was asking her to prom.

The colours used in the film are very bright, especially the title of the film, which has bright flashing colours, with the colours red and blue, these two colours put together shows us that it might have something to do with police or involvement of them, which suits the convention of a comedy film, and also the lighting is very bright, which compliments the colours and the location of the film.

Analysing Opening Scenes: 'The Notebook'

The opening two minutes of this film only has non-diegetic sound all the way through, and it has a piano at a slow pace which fits the scene as there isn't much going on beside that there is a man traveling on a boat at a slow pace along with pace of the how fast the boat is going, the music stays at constant speed throughout the whole of the opening 2 minutes.

The opening 2 minutes to the film 'The Notebook', starts off with showing us mise-en-scene, which shows us a huge, spacious lakeside, with a very dark sunset. In this first two minutes it doesn't really give that much information about what the story line is about. However from what I've seen the spaciousness from the location tell us as the audience that it could start off very relaxed, However the darkness of the sunset which is a dark red, tells us that something will build up of stress which could possibly be developed during in the film. During the first 2 minutes it shows us that there is man in a boat traveling somewhere during the sunset, and this is shown by the shadow/silhouette of the man. This shows us that the man could possibly be traveling to see someone in secret, and this shown by the fact that he is on his own, and seemed relaxed as there is no else in around, which could lead to the love interest which could start off as a secret or it could be something that happened in the past, and slowly be revealed in the film. However eventually comes to a mansion and turns into another direction, which leaves the audience confused. This sets the atmosphere of the film. Also there were a lot of extreme long shots in different corners of the mise-en-scene.



The camera moved around very slowly around the location, capturing gentle moments of the man traveling on the boat, so showing the pace of the boat, which was really slow. The camera also fades slowly into the next, showing the stress free moment of that particular scene which is very open, and relaxed. The shot characters are shown in long shots especially the man on boat, which didn't show his facial features at all and focused more on what he was doing. However there was a close up shot of the old women standing by the window and it shows her facial expressions, which looks like she has been suffering about something.



The genre indicators aren't as obvious in this film as in most films, However we know that it’s a romance film as it shows a man going to meet someone which could possibly be the old women who was standing by the window, which looked like that she is waiting for someone. Also the old women in the scene were waiting by the window. Also in the first two minutes it only introduces a man and an old women who looks like may play the protagonist in the film or has importance part in the film, but doesn't give any other hints on what they could be like, leaving the audience wondering why these people have been represented like that, which will make them more intrigued into watching the film.

The shots used in the opening two minutes include of bird eye view from the old women inside of house, and it shows a view of the outside, with the bird flying away

 

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Analysing different genres

Genre	Conventions/Genre Indicators	Film Titles
Musicals	Singing, music, dancing, usually typically snob wanting to get things there way. Performance by the main characters, fulfil desire or to feel better by dancing and singing, usually a group or couple as protagonists (more than one), love interests, practising performance pieces.	American Psycho (musical) (2013), Step up all in (2014), Jersey boys (2014), Frozen (2013), Black Nativity(2013)
Romance	Couples, relationship problems, usually a jealous antagonist, love scenes, sex scenes, usually a voice over to introduce the love scene, typically a ‘boy meets girl’, draws the audience in hoping for a happy ending. Typically would include sexuality, gender and statues, and relationship life. Usually contains emotional feelings such as flashbacks, there past story. Aimed at female audience. Usually some characters have arguments and may go their separate ways, but then after would lead to them re uniting later on in the film. Traditionally there is a ‘happily ever after’	Safe Havan(2013), The great Gatsby (2013), The fault in our stars (2014), Blue is the warmest colour (2013), Only lovers left alive(2013), endless love (2014), just for love (2014)
Comedy	Funny punchlines, usually a love interest, lightening is often bright. Teen comedies usually include bright colours and set in a high school/secondary school, location can vary depending on the audience. Characters include smart people, socially awkward people, or show 2 faced people, poor and rich people, usually a dumb character. A lot of use of sarcasm. Love interest usually with protagonist.	Pride (2014), kickass 2 (2013), wolf of wall street(2013), 22 jump street (2014), Hangover part 3 (2013), Saving Mr banks (2013), Grown ups 2(2013)
Horror	Dark and mysterious scenes, haunted places. Small communities or isolated places anything to do with ghost towns which connotes isolation or being alone. Often a dark history either to do with childhood past, or medical issues.  May also be based on a true story. Locations such as abandoned houses, hotels or asylums to set the scene. Sometimes there is a survivor at the end of the film.	The conjuring (2014), deliver us from devil(2014), insidious 2(2013) Carrie (2013), We are what we are (2013), devil’s due(2014), paranormal activity(The marked ones) (2014), A haunted house 2 (2014)
Rom-coms	Two protagonists, who fall in love or sometimes two males who fight for one female or the other way round. Typically plot includes male protagonist fails to gain her love and embarrasses himself many times through stupid attempts, target audience usually 15-19. Usually based on a females point of view. Set in a urban areas in work places, apartments.	The awkward moment (2014), Think like a man too (2014), blended (2014), two night stands(2014)

My favourite Genres

My favourite genres are Romance comedy films, Romance and Horror films; these are one of my
favourite movie genres, because these are all types of genres which I enjoy watching the most. Under these genres the films which I enjoy include of the conjuring (2014), Insidious, Paranormal activity. Horror is one of my favourite genres which I like to watch, because I like how some of these movies are based on a true story which makes it more believable for the audience, and to put their head around that it has actually happened in the past. I also like what the protagonist is like and what they do and how they overcome this experience and they are usually the ones who survive the experience, as they try to solve certain events. Also I've seen that there are a lot of spiritual things that have happened, which in my opinion I'm not a spiritual person, but in some of these films they put these ideas into real life concepts, which makes it believable for the rest of the audience. I like the fact that the characters in the film are usually based on a family or past relatives, which makes us as the audience feel like that we are in there position of them, putting us in their situation whilst watching the film.

Romance movies are another favourite genre, and some of my favourite movies include, The Great Gatsby (2014), the fault in our stars (2014). In these films I like how they have some sort of twist to the beginning of the film, weather its medical or something to do the past coming slowing back into the future. One thing that I like about this genre is that it unfolds a love story between two protagonist, sometimes some of these films start off with a hidden emotional feeling, or something that has happened in their life and which it bring a couple closer together has they slowly find out. I like how these couple have a lot in common, such past or medical situation. In The Great Gatsby the start of film was quite confusing at first because I didn't know what was going on at the beginning of the film, but later on it reveals why certain things happen at the beginning of the film, such as this mysterious man having these huge, extraordinary parties every now and again, but leaving the audience and the rest of the characters untold of what the reason behind it is, so it all reveals that was doing this all for this one women which he loved very much back in the past, and wants to see her again, but is unsure where she is. So what I liked about this is that there were slow hints on how this all came to one solution through different events. However I like the fact that it not always a happy ending which turns the audiences expectations on something else which create a twist to film. 

Romance-comedy film combines both romance and comedy put together. I like these two genres put together, because I feels it makes it more interesting, for the audience to watch as it has something for a laugh with funny punchlines within the film, but yet have convention of which it make it a romance film as well, so the comedian will typically fall in love with female protagonist. I also think that this types of genre mixed create a twist to a storyline, so it may be either it could get more sympathetic or it could turn into a joke. Some my favourite films include of the awkward moment (2014), and blended (2014). I like these films because I like how there always a love interest, but shows how they meet and what they go through and the aspect of comedy which comes with it, which makes it more interesting as it has an impact on their relationship. I like the way that the main protagonist attempts to do a lot of things to impress the person they love, which make includes of them making a fool out of them self.   

Baz Lurhmann

Baz Lurhmann is one of the most successful Australian directors. He also specialises in screenwriter and producing. He is very well known for his 'The red curtain trilogy', these include of strictly ballroom which was released in 1992, followed by the modern interpreted version of Romeo and Juliet, which came out in 1996 , and lastly Moulin Rouge which was released in 2001.

The modern interpretation of the film Romeo and Juliet starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes, was nominated, ALFS Award, Director of the Year in 1998, also the film had won the BAFTAs for best direction, music, and screen play, which defeated the film Titanic. During the success of the film, Lurhmann produced complimenting soundtrack which fits the film, selling 8 million copies worldwide.

In 2001, the film Moulin Rouge was titled one of the AFI's top ten films, creating a great achievement for Lurhmann, following in 2010 was then the film was chosen for the top films in the 2000 decade. The film also had a great soundtrack album, selling more than seven million copies, which then lead on to the Grammy-winning number one hit single, Lady Marmalade.

Lurhmann's romance hit film 'Australia' starring Nicole Kidman and Huge Jackman, achieving moderate box office in the United States, and highly successful in Europe, maintaining a steady number one slot in France, Italy, Germany, and Spain and the Scandinavian countries for many weeks. In 2009 ‘Australia’ was nominated for FCCF award for best film. It was also the second-highest grossing Australian film alongside the film 'Crocodile Dundee' and go ahead of the film 'Happy Feet'.

His latest project includes of an adaptation of the novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald film ' The Great Gatsby, shot in 3D, starring Leonardo Dicaprio, Amitabh Bachchan, and Carey Mulligan.The influence behind his films has a lot to do with his past and his family background, a large impact was caused by his parents as they did a lot of Ballroom dance and then then later led on to him doing ballroom dancing himself, which was taught by his mother, so a lot of the themes in some of these films has a lot to with background of ballroom dancing. Italian grand opera and other theatrical styles such as Bollywood films was another major influence on Lurhmann’s work which had a large impact on his style as well. Lurhmann’s favorite films included of Star 80 and War and Peace, and Medium Cool, which all had impact on his style of work, in many ways such as creating romance, cultural or even creating films in different languages or war related.