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Roles in the Production of The Reckoning Fallacy

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Pre-Production:

Concept





















Script























- During the course of script writing we had to re-write our script several times in order to make sure we were aware of the message and representation we were displaying


-This is an example of one of the changes made later on in the project. The end of the script was changed after the original script was published. Due to the original script being done on a 15-day trial of Celtx I was unable to make an edit to the script. Therefore this is the last correction, which I put up separately on our group blog. This correction is instead of the last 'reality' shot.

 Production:
During the production stage my main role was the audio technician. I was often had come up with alternate ways to record audio on this role such as when filming on a wharf, I didn't want to take the audio equipment with all the different cables on to the wharf for safety reasons, therefore I instead recorded a voice over later on and added it in with editing. I also set up lighting on many occasions including the bed room scene in the 2 minute sequence and the logo sequence. The logo sequence required me and my team having to experiment with different orders and positions of the lights to see what positioning would look best.

Post-Production:

In post-production my main job was the editing. I solely did all the editing in the project, including the logo sequence. This took up a lot of time so I was also setting jobs for the other members of the team such as getting Shayla to create the opening credits on photoshop for me to edit it into the project later. This aspect of post-production required a lot of focus and attention to detail as it would include a lot of tedious viewings to try and improve the product. For example sometimes I would spend up to 20 minutes of editing on 5-10 seconds of film, trying to make sure all the footage, diegetic audio, non-diegetic audio and effects were lining up together to make the product look as professional as possible.


















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Creative Critical Reflection: Evocative

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Evocative


1. How does your product use or challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups or issues?
2. How does your product engage with audiences and how would it be distributed as a real media text?

3. How did your production skills develop throughout this project?


4. How did you integrate technologies -Software, Hardware, Online- into your project?

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Logos - Investigations

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Walt Disney

Walt disney was founded in 1923, however its logo was not introduced in its movies for another 62 years until 1985. This shows the lack of importance logos had when video presentation first came out. Before that a simple "Walt Disney Presents" was enough and was found at the start of their movies. The original logo was (the one off to the left) given a more artistic revamp in 2006 which included using a new intro with a new CGI animation with a very complex depiction of the Cinderella Castle and its surroundings. This gives a very welcoming and family feel to the movie that is about to screen, and the realization that the movie is acceptable and appropriate to children as well as adults. It was a clear change from the old blue and white intro with its stylized castle and 2D animation, that will stay in the minds of anyone born from 1985 to 2000. The new logo was first used on Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. As of 2011 the "Walt Disney Pictures" on the logo has now been shortened down to just "Disney". This shows that the company has changed its name on its logo 3 times throughout the ages. From "Walt Disney Productions" to "Walt Disney Pictures" to "Disney". 

Universal Studios

Universal studios was first founded in 1912 but did not release its logo until 15 years later in 1927. This original logo featured a plane flying around a spinning globe. It has since been updated to include CGI animation of a more detailed earth. The way the logo is set out depicts some form of dominance over the movie world. Most people in the Western world would have seen a Universal Studios movie and therefore will know the studio. They have had time to promote themselves as they are the second longest running movie company. They also are widely known to have opened up their studio in hollywood and turned part of it in to a theme park. The fact that it highlights the Earth by itself with stars in the background shows how it recognizes other film companies existence but the fact that the logo takes up the majority of the screen represents that these film companies haven't had nearly the amount of legacy or experience as Universal studios has. 

Summary

Overall general commonalities can be seen between most logo designs. The normal is that the text seems to be large and noticeable to pull the audiences attention. Another is that the always seem to show the sky if they have a background. Wether its the horizon, clouds or space it shows that the company is larger and bigger than life. The logo also doesn't and is not meant to specify a specific genre as it would limit the company to which movies it can make. However when watching movies from companies like Disney and Dreamworks, you can overall assume that they would be suitable for younger viewers and would not contain that much, if at all, any profanity or inappropriate scenes.





















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Thriller Films: Opening Sequences

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North by Northwest

The opening sequence here is engaging because it leaves room for some suspense to build in the movie due to there being no characters, plot or even much setting presented. Also the use of different titles coming from different directions all over the screen helps one to be amused by the use of surprise as the audience do not know what direction they are coming from and where they will be placed on the screen. The sound heard in the opening sequence is non-diegetic. It uses a varying level of dynamics that also brings along the feeling of suspense, however instead of it being quiet and eerie it is rather up beat which suggests the movie will be more about finding someone or something, rather than spooky and mysterious about some sort of area of the unknown. Since there isn't any characters introduced there isn't any make up or costumes to be analysed, however the limited look at people suggests the movie is set around the 60s. The setting also seems to look like it is somewhere in New York or another American city of the sorts. The way the editing is done is very interesting. Essentially for most of the opening sequence the only shot shown is that of the side of a building, however it is the editing that makes this interesting with the organisation of the opening titles on the side of the building making it look as if they are being shown to the whole city which suggests its importance.

Dark Knight Rises

The opening sequence's use of fast changing images, broken glass, fire and water ripples automatically has the audience engaged as it sets the tempo of the movie and suggests some form of past. It also sets up the genre as a action thriller. The use of black and white lighting in the opening sequence put together with the very little information given sets up an area of suspense and mystery that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats wanting to know more. There is not much of a setting established. The only small bit is right at the end when the batman mask is left half broken on the ground. This suggests some form of identity has been abandoned or forgotten about by Batman and/or Bruce Wayne. The only sound is non-diegetic and is a very menacing piece of music which engages the viewer as much as the footage. This being because as soon as the movie starts we are hit with drums and orchestrated music which commands the viewers attention. Towards the end of the sequence we see a character, but we don't yet know who it is. We only see gloved hands which additionally gives the impression of mystery, as the gloves are presumably worn to hide the wearer's identity. The person in disguise draws a ring around Bruce Wayne's picture, this suggests to the audience how the man circled is the protagonist of the film.

Shutter Island

The opening sequence of the movie engages with the audience because of the confusion it creates along with the creation of the unknown. It pulls the audience in to want to know more. The use of darkly lit settings along with sharp attacking music and bold red credits at the start and end creates a visual tension that makes the audience feel as if they themselves are in danger. Editing in some shots such as the spinning stair case adds an element of illusion and confusion which suggests the audience should not completely understand parts of the movie at first and will be caught guessing about what is actually happening. Mis en scene is established in shots such as the one seen with a door in dark lighting with some form of water dripping from above. This creates a morbid feeling in the atmosphere of the setting and produces some form of discomfort and anxiousness due to an eeriness connected to the setting which gives the audience 'goosebumps'. In one shot flames are used to add suspense and danger as well as a gun in another shot which adds to the danger and produces a sense of crime as well which may intrigue the audience. The use of gates and handcuffs in some shots shows a prison theme in the movie and along with the overall setting of a dark island, produces a theme of isolation as well.

Limitless

Limitless' opening sequence intrigues the audience because of the way that it already pretty much straight away, introduces to us a character who is speaking some profound words that us as the audience do not fully understand at this point of time but expect to understand as the movie progresses. The first sound us as the audience hear even before picture is shown is the diegetic sound of loud bangs against some form of metal door. This indicates that there is a feeling of trapped and loneliness already found at the start of the movie. However another alternative interpretation of this shot would be that the feeling of being trapped is purposeful due to it also creating an atmosphere of threat. Long shots of empty rooms supports this feeling but also indicates some form of danger. The first character we are introduced to is a man in high class clothing standing over a ledge on a high building. This makes the audience wonder what happened to get this man here and often leads us to think about suicide. The use of editing after this point includes using a high speed zoom down to the ground and then an almost focused zoom through different cars to make the audience feel as if they too are part of this journey.








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Thriller Sub-Genres: Codes & Conventions

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Crime

A crime thriller's protagonist is usually a spy, personal detective or former agent of a organisation. These thrillers are usually based around a problem that the protagonist has to solve by piecing together clues and certain circumstances to eventually solve the crime. One usual item seen in a crime thriller is guns or other forms of weaponry. Weapons suggest an element of danger is going to be seen in the movie and can also bring some suspense when wondering if a character will die or not. This suspense is also put together with the use of blood. In modern day crime thriller movie making, crimes that are usually seen to be attempted or achieved are the sale of drugs, murder, rape or sometimes theft. Examples of crime thrillers include Taken, Batman and Pulp Fiction.

Action

An action thriller is usually a more fast paced movie that includes a lot of fight scenes which intensifies the movie. This type of thriller aims to keep the viewer entertained and on the edge mostly with explosions and can include plot twists and ambiguity which would lead to a sequel. Action thrillers are often realistic in their plot and in modern days films use enemies such as Middle Eastern terrorists or Asians usually thought to be from North Korea or maybe China, but the use of the Russian or Eastern European villain is still seen today despite it being post Cold War times. In that way they reflect reality as the enemy is quite often seen to be an individual or group of individual that is seen as an enemy of the Western world in today's time. However use of super humans is also commonly seen in action thrillers. Examples of action thrillers can be The Avengers, Munich, Olympus has fallen, Salt.


Supernatural
A supernatural thriller is usually set within the house of the main character. The antagonist is usually some form of spirit or ghost that has unfinished business in this world. It usual includes this deity haunting a person or area until it is either finished with its business or is put to rest by some other character who usually has experience in that area. However supernatural thrillers plot lines can also revolve around a mysterious person or event and the protagonist trying to find out the truth. Supernatural thrillers are usually based on the unknown areas of life so therefore can use some sort of religious aspect. Due to it being about unknown areas of life suspense is often created. The audience in supernatural thrillers are often in anticipation for an unknown event to occur. Examples include The Others, Drag me to Hell and Ghost Rider. 

Psychological Thriller

In psychological thrillers the conflict is mainly mental rather than physical. It includes the protagonist almost going what seems to be, mentally insane as the result of either a circumstance or an antagonists doings. The protagonist then uses his mental strength to overcome this difficulty.  For the Mis en scene one prop that is commonly used is mirrors as this can usually show the darker side of a character. Flashbacks are also common in psychological thrillers as they reveal parts of a characters past which may be needed to piece together the characters current state. Examples of a psychological thriller are Inception, Shutter Island, the Great Gatsby and most other Leonardo Di Caprio films. 




Sci-Fi Thriller
Sci-Fi thrillers are usually set in either a future time or an alternative reality. They usually include the development or creation of some form of new technology, or new scientific principle. The conflict between good and bad is often seen as well and sci-fi films are often set up in either a utopian or dystopian world which show that society will either get better or worse in the future. Examples include Prometheus, District 9 and Star Trek. 

Medical Thriller

This sub genre often includes using something often used for medical use, as a deadly weapon. Often it is a virus that is leaked out to the public. There is not always an antagonist but if so they are usually the one who let the virus out or can be the one who has the antidote and will only give it away with a catch. The protagonist can be a doctor looking to find a cure or just a normal civilian who is either effected by the virus, has a family member effected by the virus or is trying to protect an individual or group of individuals from the virus. Examples would include Contagion, Cloverfield and I am Legend.


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Representational Codes

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Walking Dead:

Gender:

-Men are presented to be more brave and outgoing by their willingness to put themselves at risk in order to create some form of safety for the group (S02E01 [min 20-23])
-Women start off as scared and have many close to death experiences but through the process of the series' become more careless and 'rebellious' than some of the men e.g. Carol (S01E03 [min 41:30-42:30]) , (S05E01[min 17-19])

Education:

-Characters who may of had a higher level of education before the apocalypse now seem to be more vulnerable and less able to fight and attack meanwhile those who didn't have as high of an education are now better off as they can fend for themselves (S05E05 [mins 36:30-40:00])

Freedom:

-Freedom is never guaranteed as whenever the group find a safe haven of some sort it is only temporary. (S02E02 [mins 5:00-8:30]) , (S02E13 [mins 6:00-18:40])

Relationships:

-Relationships have to be close as trust is a very precious and rare thing to find however relationships are also easily broken mainly by death. (S05E02 [mins 10:30-13:30])

Ethics:

-Ethics are very different as the world is different. Trust is a hard thing to find and many things are required to build it up. Death is what usually tears this apart, either natural death or being killed by the living. Consequences are made up on the spot usually on some sort of bias. (S04E04 [mins 37:20-39:40])

Mis en scene:

-Often items will be found turned over or in a place of devastation, this shows the mise en scene is revealing a form of disaster has occurred. An example of this is the pilot episode. This is important as it is trying to set a scene for a brand new audience so it has to communicate effectively what level of destruction the audience can see from the beginning. (S01E01 [mins 0-3])
-Another form of mise en scene is when cars are seen driving on the road there are often leaves all over the road, this show the lack of care for the earth. It also represents the lack or organization and of leadership as man is always traveling and does not have time to make the earth look presentable, let alone the fact that it has no one to make the location look presentable to. It establishes the real anarchy in the earth. (S05E09 [mins 40:00-41:00])

Sound:

-A common form of diegetic sound used in the show is the groaning the Walkers (zombies) make. This shows the anarchy seen in the show or rather the warnings of anarchy as it represents life with out some form of organized leadership will lead to a mindless, killing race of beings. Hearing a human voice is even something that isn't usually seen outside of the main group of characters seen in the show. As the show goes on a human voices gets so rare that the appearance of other humans often creates some form of suspicion within the group as the expect the worst from these other humans. For an example click here.


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Opening Credits

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Purpose of opening credits:

The main purpose of the opening credits would be to set the scene and to give the audience a foundation for the movie. This could determine straight away for an audience whether or not the movie is worth watching. It would also give the audience an idea of what is going on in the movie and what has happened in the past or even in previous movies if the movie is a sequel. This could also create interest in other movies or spin-offs, for example Marvel movies now have spin-off shows such as Marvel Agents of Shield. Marvel fans who were interested in the Avengers could start to generate interest in the show. During the shows season it could also spark up interest in the upcoming movies. On a basic level the opening credits display the actors and the roles that they are playing in the film. This is effective as it may attract a specific target audience who are fans of a particular actor.

Difference between opening credits and the title sequence:

The title sequence primarily focuses on the presentation of the film's title. Compared to the opening credits which includes important members of the cast and crew being displayed on the screen, it can also being accompanied with a song or acting in the background. The title sequence is was segregates the opening credits from the main opening action of the film.

What techniques can be employed in an opening sequence:

A popular technique is showing an establishing shot of the location. This is popular because it allows the audience to know where they are and not be confused or unaware of what is happening in the shot and the beginning of the story. Another technique is having a close up of a main character in the film or TV show. This leaves the audience wondering who this character is and creates a feeling of mystery and suspense.







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