Opening Titles and Sequence analysis

Analyze 2 opening credit titles and 2 opening sequences.

Genre: Crime

Format: Presentation

Original document: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Az_VcHAVj1Q7ZtnxIJ8eZ5j1i4yrEQPf/view?usp=sharing

PDF version (no embed videos):

Editing Practical - The Spy - Reflections

I really enjoyed working on this project, it was great working as the camera man and co-director. During these times I've learned and used many different skills. This includes creative and critical thinking skills when coming up with the scenes, narrative and writing skills are also used during creating the plot and story of the project. Later on we used teamworking to refine our rough ideas into the best iteration. I also managed to refine my camerawork skills and just getting used to the camera in general. It is also the first time we did risk management and time organization which is a huge learning opportunity.

Being the camera operator gave me some precious vocation skills. This practical helped me practice my practical filming skills like framing, composition, changing depth of field, setting up the camera, manually changing ISO...

Co-directing this project also allowed me to have certain control over the scenes we film. This helps a lot with communicating with actors and having creative vision, trying out different scenes and experiment with different angles.

I think that me and my crew planned the brief really well, we managed to encode the emotions, personality and professionalism of both Spy A and Spy B. We also came up with an insert shot  of the time which encodes strict regulation and professionalism of the spies which we are very proud about.

We did a lot of different shot types, close ups, medium shots, long shots, high angle, low angle, over the shoulder...

We plan to use standard continuity editing with straight cuts.

I think that our storyboard and shot list can communicate our intention very well but we still need some more instructions on specific props and actions in both the story board and shot list (mise-en-scene).

To rate my own performance, I feel like I deserve a 3.5 out of 5 performance. I did the camera work and directing. Some shot I did isn't as smooth as other shots. Some shots are a bit shaky since I'm still not used to filming with a camera. In terms of directing I still need to work on instructions and communication with the actors since we have some difficulty understanding each other

Reflecting on shots:

1. Transaction, Spy B puts down the drop and Spy A picks up the drop.

This shot is probably the most unpolished shot out of all of the shots we've done, the whole idea just doesn't work so well. If I were to shot this again, I would do a tracking shot of the drop through out the whole scene to highlight the importance of the drop. 

2. Eyeline match of Spy A, showing Spy B walking towards the bench

This is by far my favorite scene. The depth of field change as Spy B walks towards Spy A is such a great effect that I think I would do again in future projects.

3. Ending shot, Spy A and B walk away in different directions.

Not much to talk about here, mostly if I were to shoot this again I would keep trying to get both actors to walk at the same pace to make the scene completely symmetrical. But other than the lack of symmetry, this scene is fine.

If I were to film this sequence differently, I would add a lot more shorter shots and many more insert shots and close ups on the actions in order to emphasize the importance of the 'drop' more.

Stranger Things Opening Group Analysis

 We are tasked to analyze the opening sequence for the show "Stranger Things". We did this in a group of 4.

Editing Practical

 We were challenged to film various scenes of a predetermined sequence and edit the sequence into a 2 minute short film. We can be creative and tweak certain things in our storyboards.

This is the basic brief:

Spy A and Spy B will meet at a spot where spy B will deliver spy A a 'drop'

Spy A arrives first, is very anxious and distressed.

Spy B arrives later, very confident and experienced.

Spy B meet Spy A, sits next to spy A, place the 'drop' down.

Spy A picks up the 'drop' and leaves.

Spy B wait a while before stand up and leave in the other direction.

This is my first iteration of the short sequence:

The first iteration is divided into 12 scenes:

1. Shot from a wide angle, establishes the shot. Camera pans from right to left, showing a wide view of the setting. Spy A is then shown sitting on the bench 1/3 of the screen from the left, drawing attention.

2. Close up portrait shot from Spy A's back, showing Spy A looking around constantly, encode anxiety.

3. Close up of Spy A's hands fidgeting, showing impatience and distress.

4. Close up low angle shot of Spy A's legs bouncing, showing impatience and distress.

5. Low angle tracking shot of Spy B's legs, showing Spy B's swift movements

6. Close up portrait shot from behind Spy B, tracking their movements

7. Insert shot close up of the 'drop' held by Spy B(still walking toward Spy A), highlighting the importance of the 'drop'.

8. Wide, long shot of Spy A and B, Spy B sits down next to Spy A and looks around, showing that no uninvited guests are around them, ensure safety of the transaction.

9. Close up between the two spies. Spy B puts down the drop between them, Spy A picks up the drop.

10. Medium shot to the right of both spies. Spy A stands up and left towards the camera, Spy B still looks forward, unbothered.

11. Close up of Spy B's face, they smirk and left to the right of the frame (opposite direction from Spy A)

12. Camera stay still from last scene, credit rolls.

Original Shot list:

Final Idea:

We share all of our ideas with each other, all of us received an overall good feedback. In the end we decided it is best if we combined the best our work. This is our final Story board:

Explanation:

The first scene is taken from Emma's version of the establishing shot.

The second scene is taken from my version since out of the three, it contains the most expression which we think is the best for this scene.

Scene 3 and 4 is taken from Diana's Version, I think it introduces Spy B the best out of the 4 options.

Scene 5, 6, and 7 is taken from Edward's version, scene 5 wasn't carried out but scene 6 is a really nice detail to highlight how the spies are very cautious with their procedure of the transaction, that's why we kept the scene in.

Scene 8, 9, 10 is Emma's iteration of the ending, we think that it is the most creative and fitting.

Final shot list, schedule and risk management:

The Boys pilot episode podcast

 Mise-en-scene Analytic podcast episode, collaboration with classmate.

 

Different types of shots and angles

 We were tasked to take various shot types: Close up, extreme close up, wide shot, tilted shot, and many other shot types!

Medium long shot

   

Medium shot

Rule of 3rds

Tilted Shot

Medium close up

Close up

Extreme Close up

Extreme close up

Extreme close up

Over the shoulder

Two shot

POV (Point of view)

Establishing shot

Medium long shot

Long shot

Media Genre mind-map

 We are asked to draw mind-maps for two different genre in TV and movies, I did Fantasy and Sci-Fi

Camera movement practical

 We were challenged to make a one-shot clip using a camera and a tripod. The shot must include zoom-in, zoom-out, 360s, horizontal and vertical panning. This is the result: