Media Studies - Film Opening Concept Development

This blogpost features the development for the initial ideas we had for our film opening, and features 3 different developed concepts. All screenplays, opening notes, and synopsis' however were written by me (Maxi)

This post includes the 3 different movie ideas (Lovesick, Moonlight Sonata, and Mr Fahrenheit) we thought of and discussed about. The movie we chose to produce in the end was Moonlight Sonata, due to it being the most realistic option to film, while also being the concept that allowed us to include the most amount of media aspects and allowed us to tell a story through cinematography and through the camera, instead of through words and dialogue.

STAGE 1: INITIAL CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

CONCEPT 1

LOVESICK

Note: This initial concept has been inspired by openings such as Whiplash (2014) and The Dark Knight (2008), the Dark Knight specifically led us to making one of the most climatic sequences of the film be put at the very beginning, while Whiplash inspired the confrontational style meeting between the 2 main characters at the very start of the film.

Synopsis

Adam (Arjuna Nakao) is a shell of a man. After a devastating breakup with his girlfriend of 2 years Jess (Jasmine Riadi), it seems like Adam’s life has spiraled into a dark abyss. The hole in his heart creates an unending void, and as he tries to fill that void with a life of debauchery and excess, his life slowly begins to lose meaning. That is until a woman named Alex unexpectedly barges into his life. 

Lovesick is a story of heartbreak, depression, pain, but most importantly; it is a story of how one’s struggles are not forever - it is a story of recovery.

Opening Note

The goal of this opening scene is to introduce the audience to the character of Adam, and to illustrate the effects this initial breakup had on him. This will leave the audience with a conceptual idea in their minds as to the type of man Adam is, but will also try to build sympathy for his character. This opening acts as a precursor as to what's to come in the rest of the movie, as the opening explores the huge hit of sorrow that comes with heartbreak, while the rest of the film explores the ongoing struggles of forgetting someone you’ve loved for so long, even when equally as “great” opportunities may present themselves.

OPENING CREDITS (2 MINUTES TOTAL) - SCREENPLAY

SCENE 1:

SETTING: Empty room in an office building

COSTUME(s): Semi formal - work attire

STORY BOARD & SCRIPT: 

[words in bold are used to convey emphasis, hyphens(-) are used to show where the talent has been cut off]

Shot 1

Scene starts with a close up of Adam’s face and eyes; with sweat running down his face and a nervous expression taking over his being. It is clear he’s done something wrong

Shot 2

Scene cuts to a medium-close up shot from behind of Jess walking frantically down a hallway, while camera tracks her, from behind. Then cuts to a shot of her face, still walking, while camera is still tracking, however more shakily (to convey the unsteady state of mind she is currently in). It's clear she's angry, 

Shot 3

Scene cuts to a medium close up of Jess from behind as she slams open the door to Adam’s room, tracking her as she goes in. Then cuts to a shot of her from inside the room - as she continues to walk towards Adam’s desk, with the camera still tracking her. Shot cuts to a still close up of Adam with his head looking towards the ground, leaning against the side of a wall. Cuts back to over the shoulder shot of Jess, as she yells at Adam.

JESS: 

Who the HELL do you think you are? Firstly, you lie to me, secondly you cheat on me with SARAH  WALKER OF ALL PEOPLE, and NOW you’re saying that YOU’RE the one breaking up with ME?

Cuts to over the shoulder shot of Adam

ADAM:

 Look, Jess, please, let me explain-

Cuts to over the shoulder shot of Jess

JESS: 

No I'm not gonna let you say anything-

[Adam, now screaming]

Cuts to over the shoulder shot of Adam

ADAM: 

NO YOU LISTEN HERE, IM FED UP WITH THIS RELATIONSHIP, YES I DID SLEEP WITH SARAH. YES I ADMIT IT. BUT IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE COMPLETELY INNOCENT IN THIS SITUATION TOO, ARE YOU?

Cuts to over the shoulder shot of Jess

JESS: 

Jesus Christ Adam that was MONTHS AGO HAVE WE NOT GONE OVER THIS AGAIN AND AGAIN? [rubs hand over her face in frustration] YOU ARE THE BIGGEST ASSHOLE IVE EVER MET!

Cuts to over the shoulder shot of Adam

ADAM:

 SO I'M THE ASSHOLE NOW? WOW [scoffs sarcastically] I'M THE ASSHOLE? YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH JESS YOU JUST DON'T. HOW MANY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS IVE HAD, HOW MANY COUNTLESS TIMES IVE WANTED TO DIE - TO END IT ALL - BECAUSE OF YOUR BULLSHIT?

Cuts to over the shoulder shot of Jess

JESS: 

God please Adam for once in your life WHY CAN'T YOU EVER ADMIT THAT YOU WERE IN THE WRONG?

Cuts to over the shoulder shot of Adam

[Adam, now tearing up]

ADAM: 

BECAUSE I JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND ME. I WANT YOU TO SEE HOW I FUCKING FEEL DAMNIT-

Cuts to over the shoulder shot of Jess

JESS:

 ALL THIS TIME THATS WHAT IVE BEEN TRYING TO DO BUT YOU ADAM, YOU ARE SUCH AN INSUFFERABLE [pauses], EVIL, [pauses again as tears start to run down her face], JOKE OF A MAN. THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE. I'M THROUGH WITH YOU. I AM THROUGH WITH YOU. NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. WE’RE DONE.

Cuts to a full shot where a majority of the office and both Jess and Adam can be seen, as Jess turns her back on Adam and storms out the door. Adam does not move - he is just looking at Jess, as she leaves, sorrowingly, as he wipes the stream of tears off his face.

Then cuts to a close up from a high angle of his face looking up, still while crying, as he yells out, to no one but himself.

ADAM: 

GOD DAMMIT.

--------------------------------------------------END OF SCENE 1-------------------------------------------------------

SCENE 2:

SETTING: Bedroom/House - 1 week later in the morning

COSTUME: 

Shot 1

Scene begins with a close up shot of Adams face as he sleeps. Shot then switches to close up of Adam's alarm ringing, and then switches to a medium close up of him from his bed, lifting his arm up and turning off the alarm. Camera then shows him waking up from bed, from a low angle, from the foot of his bed. He rubs his eyes as he slowly gets out and sits down on the edge of the bed. Shot then cuts to a close up of his face, as he puts his head in his hands.

Shot 2

Adam gets up and begins to walk out of his room. Camera tracks him & pans to reveal bottles of alcohol, cartons of cigarettes, clothes, and more lying around messily in his room. Adam then leaves and shuts the door behind the camera

Shot 3

Shot starts with a medium close up of Adam from the other side of the door. Camera then tracks him as he sluggishly walks to the kitchen and makes a cup of coffee, Adam then turns around and looks down. Shot switches to close up of Adam's face looking down from a low angle. Adam puts his hand on his forehead as he proceeds to mumble to himself.

ADAM:

(regretfully) God… what have I done…

Shot 4

Adam picks up his cup coffee and starts to drink it as camera starts to dolly towards him. He then looks down, dissatisfied. After this, a series of jump cuts are used to portray Adam showering, brushing his teeth, clothing himself, and getting ready to go to work.

Media Studies - Film Opening Research

This blog post features a list of different film openings that I have watched and what I have learned from them, and what I like about them. This research and blog post was independently conducted and written by me (Maxi).

The Shining (1980): Warner Bros. Pictures

The Shining is a 1980 psychological horror film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick and co-written with novelist Diane Johnson. The film is based on Stephen King's 1977 novel of the same name and stars Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Scatman Crothers, and Danny Lloyd. It was distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. The films opening credits' intentions are to set the ambience of the film.

Media Language

The Shining is generally regarded as one of the best horror movies ever made and the opening sequence does a fantastic job in introducing to the audience the overall tone of the movie itself. The opening credits features a sole car driving down desolate mountain and hillside roads, as a score of eerie music is played as non-diegetic sound in the background. Not a single word of dialogue is said, and not a single face is shown. All that we see for the 3 minute duration of the opening sequence is a single car. This builds tension and uses hermeneutic code (Barthes 5 Codes) to lure in audiences and cause them to wonder where the car is going, who is driving, what do they want to do when they arrive at their destination, etc. The spooky music that plays, combined with the solitude of the scene causes the audience to decode the meaning of the opening in only one possible way; fear. According to Stuart Hall's reception theory, this interpretation of the opening would be considered the audiences preferred reading.

Audience

The shining's target audience most likely incorporates more adult audiences from the age of 21-50, due to the use of gory imagery and mature content. However even based on the opening alone, the shining would most likely not be considered as a movie for younger audiences. The underlying tones of the opening suggest that the film will contain psychological elements that may be far too scary for younger audiences. It would also take a higher level of cognitive thinking to understand and appreciate most of the underlying tones suggested in the film, and would thus be hard for younger audiences to understand.

Representation

The opening sequence of The Shining cannot be said to represent any specific ethnic or people group, due to the scene not showing the faces of anyone, in any shape or form, instead featuring only a car driving throughout the entire duration of the opening credits. However, the driving itself may be representative of audience members that enjoy driving as a hobby. Furthermore, driving is often seen as therapeutic by many people, especially in solitary/desolate areas. Thus, the opening sequence may represent the psychographic of audience members that enjoy to drive.

Industry

The Shining's opening is created using overhead camera shots from up in the sky, most likely using helicopter's or a large plane to record these shots, as they couldn't use modern drones due to drone technology not being readily available during the time the film was being produced. The film follows genre conventions by including eerie and suspenseful music while also keeping the audience in suspense by not revealing the identity of the driver, which are common tropes of psychological thrillers/horror movies.

In conclusion

In my opinion, I believe The Shining's opening sequence does a phenomenal job at building the atmosphere and tone for the movie overall, and should be used as a foundation/blueprint of what any opening sequence for a movie should be.

Media Studies - Film Opening Diary and Plan (COMP 1)

This blog post features my (Maxi) diary and plan for my teams film opening.

Plan:

	To Do...	Deadline
Week 1	Form a group	Week 1
	Research: 2 in detail, 8 not much detail.	End of Week 3
	Start diary
Week 2	Plan (story board/script/idea outline)	End of Week 4
Week 3	Plan (story board/script/idea outline)	End of Week 4
Week 4	Plan (story board/script/idea outline)	End of Week 4
	Create
Week 5	Create	End of Week 7
Week 6	Create	End of Week 7
	Social Media Page + Research	End of Week 7
Week 7	Edit	End of Week 8
Week 8	Edit	End of Week 8
	Self Reflection (Prezi)	1st draft before meeting
Week 9	Meeting with Mr Nick
Week 10
	Deadline (Wed 15th March)

Diary:

Week 1 - 13/1/23

This week we learned about media industry and how vertical integration is used in media corporations, along with the effects of globalisation on the industry. I also finished my research post and did 3 pieces of extended research along with 6 pieces of short research for a total of 9 openings analysed. I also chose my team for the project, and are planning to do a romance/drama film opening.

Week 2 - 20/1/23

This week we researched magazine covers and their properties. We also brainstormed ideas of movie names, openings, and more, and finished a screenplay for our first movie opening concept Lovesick, while also simultaneously working on our 2 other ideas Moonlight Sonata and Mr. Fahrenheit. We also learned about media ownership.

Week 3 - 27/1/22

This week we learned about media funding, started our storyboard, finalized our cast, and chose a song for our soundtrack. We also began discussing the logistics for our shooting.

Week 4 - 03/2/23

This week we learned about how governments regulate the media. We made significant progress for our storyboard but are not yet finished. We have casted all except one of our cast members and we chose our 2 final shooting locations. Lastly we finalized our development and set the order in which our credits will appear.

Week 5 - 10/2/23 

This week we created the set for our film opening and we plan to start shooting some scenes today. We learnt more about media industry. We explored different types of lighting, rented equipment and tried out different shots for our scenes. We also finished the storyboard.

Week 6 - 17/2/23

This week we finished all shooting for the film and moved on to the other details like choosing an accurate/fitting typeface for the film.

Week 7 - 24/2/23

This week the editing of the film began, and have finished up to 75%, with only color grading and the actual credits left. Furthermore we revised over media industry and did exam questions on synergy and the downsides of large corporations in media.

Week 8 - 3/3/23

In this week we finished our first draft for Moonlight Sonatas opening, but hope to refurbish and edit some aspects to have a final product done by week 9. Other than that, we also received feedback from Mr Nick, and started writing our crititcal self reflections. Lastly, we reviewed over some topics of media industry.

Week 9 - 10/3/23

This week I received feedback from Mr. Nick on my critical self reflection, which I took and edited my self reflection based on that, and also decided to change some details after Timothy showed us the final draft, including the removal of a black screen, alignment of text, audio levels, and color grading.

Media Studies - Film Opening Team Introduction

This blog post features an introduction of my (Maxi) team for my component 1 film opening project, and was written by me.

My team for this film opening project consists of me (Maxi), Timothy, Sharon, and Nayana. I chose this group because I believe that we all share a different set of skills that will be useful in the production of our film opening. They are all hard workers that, from past experience, are able to withstand the pressure of deadlines and get tasks done on time, without proving to be a burden to the team.

Timothy is a person who is not only very interested in camerawork and filmography, but also very naturally good at it. He runs his own production company, "POV", and thus possesses the talented eye for cinematography, and also top of the line camera equipment that will allow us to create a high quality film opening. I've also worked with him in multiple past projects as well, thus I believe we have a natural chemistry that will allow us to get the job done even better. Sharon is a person who I believe strives for perfection. I believe she will make sure that whatever we produce will be only of the highest quality, additionally, she is a hard worker who is able to work well with a team and give valuable input whenever necessary. Last but not least, Nayana possesses the valuable ability to bring the team together and organize effectively, this means that when the team feels down or in a slump, she will able to bring us back together and get us back on track.

For all the reasons mentioned above and more I believe that this team contains the perfect compilation of members with different sets of skills to produce the best film opening possible.

(From left to right) Timothy, Sharon, Nayana, Me

Here are the links to Timothy's, Sharon's, and Nayana's, blogs.

Sharon: Creative Director
Maxi: Screenwriter, Assistant Director
Timothy: Director, Editor, Cinematographer
Nayana: Casting Director

Media Studies - Film Opening Project Brief

This blog post features the brief for my component 1 project. Written by me (Maxi).

In this term's project, we are assigned to produce a media product from a choice of two set briefs – a film opening or a magazine. We are to present evidence of the process of our work (research, planning and production) on an online blog. We must also reflect critically on their finished media product in a creative digital format of their choice, answering a series of set prompt questions. All work involved in creating the portfolio, including process, finished product, and creative critical reflection, is put online for moderation purposes. 

This work may be undertaken either individually, or as a group (of maximum 4 members), wherein I chose to do it in a group of 4 people. Together, we chose brief 2, which was to produce a film opening.

The instructions for this brief are as follows: 

Candidates are to produce the titles and opening of a new fiction film (to last a maximum of two minutes). Titles should follow the institutional conventions of commercial cinema. The task may be undertaken individually or as a group. There should be a maximum of four members to a group.

All images and text used in the main task must be original, and produced by the candidate(s). Sound should be predominantly original (dialogue and atmospheric sound), though music taken from an acknowledged source may be used as part of the soundtrack.

This task should be preceded by relevant preliminary exercises to build up candidates’ skills with equipment and their understanding of conventions.

Throughout the production of this brief we must also follow the instructions of uploading to our blog consistently, where the details of which are as follows:

Each candidate must complete an individual blog which is started at the beginning of the project. Each blog should contain:

• the process of research, planning and production

• any refinement, changes or edits made, and reflections on key moments

• all individual contributions to any task undertaken as a group

• evidence of any preliminary exercises

• the final finished product, clearly labeled

• the creative critical reflection, clearly labelled.

Some production elements such as storyboards may be shared by all members of a group. Collaborators who worked with the candidate on research, planning and/or production must be listed on the Individual Candidate Record Card under ‘other group members’. Centers should select dedicated blogging applications which allow posts to be read chronologically, with appropriate capabilities to embed other applications.