Tuesday, February 11, 2025

 GROUP MEETING

Today in class my teacher put us into groups of 5 or 6. My group was a group of 5 and we all shared our ideas and each gave each other feedback on our projects or developing ones. The people in my group are Matias, Peyton, Dani, and Lee. This group activity helped me out a lot on my idea for my film opening and I feel like now I almost have a set idea on what my opening is going to include and what its going to be about. 

The first person to share their idea was Peyton, which was a coming of age opening. She was working together with another person and she needed more ideas on what she should include in her opening. Her coming of age opening idea was a girl feeling very insecure but never showed it around her friends. She was going to film some parts at school and some parts out of school so that it made it more of a realistic teenage girl life. The first one to give a suggestion was Lee, she suggested to include a wall in the beginning and a bell ringing in the background which would then lead to her and her emotions which would show through her facial expressions. I then suggested that she should include a clip of her in the bathroom looking at herself in the mirror with an insecure looking face. Dani then added on to it and stated that her friends should be in there with her and that once they leave that's when she would look at herself in the mirror insecurely. I felt like our group gave her a lot of input on what she should include in her opening which made her feel more confident about it.  https://cheergirlpey.blogspot.com/ - Peyton

The next group member to share their project was Dani, she was going for a horror opening and she almost had a set idea on what she was going to do. Her idea for her opening was to start off with clumped pictures on a wall and red strings attached to almost each photo. I could tell by then she was going for a more mysterious and suspenseful horror opening which was a great idea. She wanted to have a lot going on such as, a hand cutting out each photo and pinning it onto the wall and red string scattered all over which would then lead back to a photo of a girl. She wanted the photo of the girl to be the main focus and darted at with a pin which would then happen to be that girls boyfriend pinning her as his target. Then later on she wanted to show the last clip which would be that same guy (her boyfriend) to pick her up in his car and end it off there. We all very much liked the idea and suggested a couple of things to include. We all agreed that she should include a very artistic credit scene that relates to the opening since its a very creative and inventive idea. I then added on and suggested that she should end it off with a shot of the guys face with a smirk to make it more intense and leave it with a cliffhanger.  https://intomediastudies.blogspot.com/ - Dani

The next person to share their idea was Lee, she was going for a coming of age film which would be about a girl with her jealous boyfriend and overtime when she would talk to guys he would grab her arm and tell her "were leaving". My group members and I very much liked this idea because we think it could be a very unique and creative opening left with tension. She wanted the credit scenes to be very unique and original since that's the idea she had in mind for the whole opening. Something I suggested she should do is to have the boyfriend as her neighbor or someone who lives close to her so that its a more realistic idea on why and how he will never leave her alone. I suggested this because I figured it would add more of a jealous affect on the boyfriend and why she's never left alone since he's always with her.   https://leesentertainment.blogspot.com/ - Lee

Then, Matias shared his idea about a horror theme genre that's about an antagonist showing his weapons through different angled close up shots. He wanted the main focus to be on different parts of the weapons and wanted to create a mysterious feeling through the screen. My group and I enjoyed the idea of the variety of weapons being shown to express that somethings going to happen later and we gave him suggestions of things he should include in his project. What we suggested is that there should be extreme close ups on his hand and weapons to show what he's doing with the weapons to kind of create a vision of what he will be using them for and what he's prepared to do with them in the future.  https://leesentertainment.blogspot.com/ - Matias

Lastly, I shared my idea which was not very put together and still not figured out completely. I wanted to do a setting in the woods with a girl but I didn't have much information on it until my group members helped me figure it out. My group members suggested that I should do it on a girl that's lost in the empty and quiet woods and she's stuck in a loop no matter what ways she goes. They suggested that she would get lost in the woods driving and would then have to go barefoot, but no matter how far she goes she keeps coming back to the same spot. I then added on to the thought of that and came up with an idea that at the end of the opening she could be walking inside the woods alone and someone would snatch her by her arm and she would let out a big scream while the camera drops to the ground and shows a black screen. My group members liked that idea and overall helped me so much with my opening idea.

 Friday, February 7, 2025

 COMPARING CLASSIC AND MODERN (HORROR)

For this blog I will be researching the evolution of horror films and how different directors set the tone from the start. I will be comparing old/ classic horror movies with new/ modern ones to see in what ways they differ. Nowadays many directors have developed new ways to set the atmosphere in the opening of their horror production and found ways to give the audience the chills from the start.

PSYCHO

This classic horror movies opening is a masterpiece for setting the tone in their opening for the whole film. This films opening shot begins with a shot of the city which then leads to a clip of the window that follows up with a girl and her lover. This shot is filmed in side a hotel which reveals that their in a secret relationship which adds tension. This music tense to be very sharp and creates an uncomfortable atmosphere. This film opening sets a psychological horror tone that will lead to a twist later on. The visual techniques and angles used in this film is a great way to set the mood for this horror film since there are a lot of hand held and messy shots used. The angles are vertical and horizontal which captivates the audience from the very beginning and sets a tone in the horror sequence that's upcoming.

THE INVISIBLE MAN

The opening of this film follows up with suspense and fear. The film starts off with a girls plan to escape which already gives of a sense of action and fear to the audience. While she carefully walks and moves in the house she's trying to avoid making nay noise which makes the audiences adrenaline rush. The house is modern and big which gives it a more modern time and effect to the whole film in general. One of the major roles in this scene is the sound since you can hear every footstep she takes and every creek that is heard it develops meaning to the rest of the film because of the carefulness and danger she is encountering. Another sound focus is her breathing and how she tries not to breathe as loud which creates tension in the scene. This film opening starts with an escape plan unlike other horror films which brings more attention to the viewers watching. Overall, this scene from the opening is tended to draw the audiences with the immediate tension that is happening and the detailed sound. 

COMPARISION

These two horror films differ for a variety of reasons. In the classic film, "Psycho" its starts with a more common view such as a big shot view of the city then it zooms into a hotel room which is very mysterious and keeps viewers wondering. This establishes the mood and plot for the film in a more direct and ongoing way. The more modern horror film, "The Invisible Man" goes right into action which creates a suspenseful and frightening tone to the film. It jumps straight into her escape plan in the firsts shot and creates danger by the soft sound that is created throughout the opening which makes the audience feel more tense. The threat of danger gets the audience more intrigued and leaves them wanted more and wondering what's going to happen next after the scene. So, while the movie "The Invisible Man" jumps straight into action and creates the tension and suspense from the beginning, the film "Psycho" slowly creates it from bits of shots.

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

PROJECT TIMELINE

One thing that has come to realization with this class is that developing a timeline for myself is one of the priority's to be stable with projects like this. Its an opportunity to get everything the way you want it without a rush and to do well on. So, without further or due, for this blog I will be introducing my schedule/ timeline for my two-minute project.

SCHEDULE/ TIMELINE

Week 1 (1/27- 2/2):

• Choose a genre
• Research and explore the genre/ topic
• Develop knowledge about the topic

Week 2 (2/3- 2/9):

• Be close to finish planning
• Start exploring with different places
• Develop more knowledge about openings 
• Research
• Explore horror openings

Week 3 (2/10- 2/16):

• Outline creation
• Develop points
• Start storyboard
• Find people to be background actors in the film
• If can start recording
• Rough drafts

Week 4 (2/17- 2/23):

• Couple drafts in
• Recording
• Share some of my drafts with teacher/ friends
• Record most of the shots

Week 5 (2/24- 3/2):

• Finish recording
• Editing
• Revisioning it
• Take some time to re-edit or go back and film new shots
• If can or done by then, start the Creative Critical Reflection early

Week 6 (3/3- 3/9):

• Revision final product
• Creative Critical Reflection
• Proof view everything

Week 7 (3/10- 3/16):

• Edit the Creative Critical reflection
• Submit final project and reflection

Week 8 (3/17- 3/23-25):

• Have everything submitted by this week (If any delays)

HOW DOES THIS HELP?

I feel like this timeline could help me break down the work into manageable bits which would make it less overwhelming for me throughout the weeks and forward on. It would help me revision my work and my necessities for this project and will help with having enough time for everything that is needed before the due date. By completing this project, a week before, it will help me have time to go back and revision what is done wrong and what's in need of fixing or retakes. Finally, this timeline will keep me on time and very organized before the deadline so I wouldn't have to rush.

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

 CREDIT SCENES

Credit sequences are parts of a film where the names of the cast crew are displayed on the screen for the audience to see. They are not extremely visible but also not too hidden. They are displayed so that the mood is developed in a sense of creativity which follows by what the whole production will be like and the mood of it. The credits usually include the main actors, crew members, director, and the producers of the film.

RESEARCH/ ANAYLSIS/ DISCUSSION

The film "The Shining" introduces a long sequence of opening credits following a car driving through mountains. The credit scene covers this disturbing mood that is shown in the opening scene and by the setting. The introduction conveys a sense of isolation as the car goes far into the woods which sets a mood for the viewers as frightening and suspense of what will come next. The opening credits are very effective in setting a mood and tone in this film since the setting matches perfectly with it.

The Shining- https://youtu.be/9spGH0YMkj8

The following film "Scream" opening credits are started with a very suspenseful scene that creates a frightening and intense mood. The title and opening credits are portrayed in a dramatic way which establishes the films genre as horror. The opening credits for this movie are one of the most iconic and well-developed opening credits in the horror industry since it starts off with suspense and fear and that's what attracts viewers. The tension of this opening builds up with the background music while the cast members names are played out on the screen as the opening scene which drives suspense towards the audience and keeps them wanting more and keep them on the edge of their seat.

Scream- https://youtu.be/Sn5SkCvPEYo

The ultimate film "The Exorcist" opening credits are followed up with a mysterious and unflattering scene of a hole/ dig in Iraq. The music and background noise establish the genre of this film since it is very unsettling, suspenseful, and uncomfortable towards the audience. The credits are portrayed over a haunted picture with music that creates the uncomfortable mood. The opening credit scene makes the film appear more interesting and fascinating which makes the audience more investigated.

The Exorcist- https://youtu.be/on1U8bAcaDU

IMPORTANCE

These credit scenes create purpose in the film by giving recognition to all the people who worked hard on the films besides only the main actors shown throughout the film. It gives recognition to the directors, producers, crew members, and etc. In horror movies they are usually displayed to create an unsettling airspace from the beginning. Lastly, these opening credit scenes can sometimes give important and useful informational hints to the audience later on throughout the film about the plot.