Audio

     Our film opening, won%, is all going to be diegetic sounds, or mostly diegetic, I'm not entirely sure if we should add music yet. I feel like adding music wouldn't fit the opening because it's about a lazy, lonely gambler who's in debt. 

    Instead of starting with music like most films, were starting with the sound of a sports game in the background (for most of the film, until they turn it off) and a microwave with popcorn popping in the back and this is during the credits, eyeline match and up until we hear the microwave beep (mid shot on the couch). Then we will hear shuffling off the couch, we probably will put footsteps but very low since they are probably going to be wearing socks or are barefoot. 

    Next, were going to hear the microwave open then it cuts to the tv with the sink, if we do a focus pull on the sink, we might also do a focus pull on the audio and make the droplet sound louder. Then we will hear her take a bowl from the sink, maybe wash it too. After that, we hear her put the popcorn into the bowl, open it (maybe add "ouch" because the bag is hot), and then close the microwave and walk away. The next major sound we will hear is the mail being all taken away together, so like the sound of thick paper shuffling. 

    When they get to the couch, we will hear her start eating the popcorn and ripping open the mail and then throwing it away, she will do this a few times before she finds the fancy red envelope ( blog post soon about making the prop). We still hear the TV at this point but we will focus and blur the audio of the game and focus on the sound of opening the envelope. Then we suddenly hear her phone ringing, and she picks it up. We hear the anonymous voice on the other line and the character responding, then hanging up. She looks around, TV still on, and she turns it off. It's silent for a bit, other than some sounds from neighbors outside (maybe), and she decides to call them back and we hear the ringing tone, and it ends there!!

Soundscape (not the official one just a test/idea one kind of for the blog post):

I was originally going to upload an audio or video file but it doesn't work so I just put a link hopefully it works

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ifLp5RIEhjRznloPZ5ZZJQQk1lcH0gxs/view?usp=sharing

Media Theories

 The media theories my partner and I think we will use in our film opening project:

The ones I think were definitely going to have in our project is the Enigma Code or Action Code, both of them are leading up to mysteries, where the only difference is the Enigma Code is when information is withheld and the Action Code is actions that lead to something. It's hard to say for certain which we are using because we haven't thought through the what they are going to say in the phone call or letter, but we will probably decide next week. If we did the Enigma Code, the ending would be the main character calling back the unknown caller and it would end there, while the Action Code would be the character calling the unknown caller back but then they said they would do it and end it there. 

The one I'm not certain we will use, but still considering it is the Binary Opposition Theory, which is by Levi Strauss, where the story is made of concepts of good vs evil. I'm not sure how we can use that one since our main character is not really good since they have gambled all their money away and is living a very lazy life. It would probably be useful for the whole film where we would see character development, but we are just making the film opening, so it's best to stick with the Enigma and Action code.

This is our media theories paper that our teacher gave us to study and where we chose our theories from

won% storyboard!!

We just finished our storyboard! 

It's not perfect and some things aren't fully decided yet, but it's pretty much how the film opening is going to look. We might add some things or take it out based on the resources and time we have. Also if the drawing doesn't look too good, sorry, but don't worry because it's gonna look great in the opening (i hope).

I think I forgot to add where were planning on putting the title, so I'll just explain it here. My partner and I were planning on putting the title on the fancy envelope during the over the shoulder shot in the third page of the storyboard sheet. I was thinking of writing it in cursive, or something similar, in gold/shiny ink. We would zoom in on the envelope as they are examining the writing, like feeling it over or something, because that's something I would do if I got a fancy letter with very nice writing on it. I was also thinking that they could say the title, like "won%....?", in a very slow and confused voice.

 

won%

    My partner and I finally came up with a plot!! It's a mix of drama and thriller. We decided to name it won% because won sounds like one. The character has to win the game to win the money (won), and no one except the character should live to win it which is where the % comes in (one%). However, it also represents the one% of the population, like in squid game, who have so much money they don't know what to do with it. So for entertainment, they pay people to watch people fight each other for money. 

   The film opening starts with many close ups of places in the dark house, such as the sink, piled up with days of dirty dishes, messy laundry all over the place, and old food laying around the house. You can hear a sports game/horse race playing in the background. Then the character is introduced through a mid shot. They're watching TV with a blanket over them, also in the background we hear the microwave and popcorn popping. Then an eyeline match of their eyes and the TV, we can tell they are anxious because someone or a team is loosing, suddenly the microwave beeps and they get up to get their popcorn. It's a tracking shot following them to get the popcorn, but they get distracted as they are getting the popcorn, looking back at the TV, it's another eyeline match. They grab a bowl from the sink because they are lazy and then there is a focus pull on the dripping faucet. 

    They notice the mail on the counter, all past due bills but also ads for horse races and betting on games. They grab the mail, but accidently drop it, pick it up and go back to the couch. As they open the mail, they are throwing the paper all over the living room not caring to be clean. As they go through their mail, the see a very nice envelope with fancy writing, as they open it they read it very confused. Suddenly they get a call, no caller ID. They accept, someone with a heavy voice changer, they simply ask YES OR NO, confused, they hang up. They look around their house, dirty and messy, thinking if they should accept this odd offer. After a few thoughts, they call them back, and the opening ends there. 

Our major inspirations:

Parasite: (the look around the house)

The Substance: (the call/offer)

Squid Game Season 1: (survival game/title)

Scream 1996: (the phone call)

 

    

Group Meeting #1

First Group Meeting!!

    

On 2/2/26, my class was separated into 4 groups, where we all give feedback and help to each other after we explain our plots and show our blogs. 

 

During this meeting, I realized that many of my classmates were doing action as their genre, and raids in their film openings. I was very surprised by this because raids are harder to do especially when they probably don't have the right props, costumes, and amount of people. It would be expensive and probably hard to find many large weapons and FBI shields, and it would be hard to find 10-20 people to act as the raiders at the right age if they are showing the faces and heights. One of them who were doing the raids also wanted to do a scene where they show government officials in a meeting, but I was wondering how they were going to make it realistic, because usually the buildings are always crowded and loud. Also, all of government officials are usually over the age of 30, and he was having his friends act as the government officials, which would look VERY odd. 

When it came to me, I knew I wanted to do something coming of age, teenage drama, and something they could all relate to, because those movies are my favorite. So, I asked everyone what they struggle with and think other people also do. I had many good suggestions like insecurities and feeling left out, however, I wanted to do something more academic related because course cards are due soon and I kind of had the idea to do something about struggling to fit in with a very competitive school, like my school. However, I didn't know my partner was going to ask her group about how we could do a thriller, so I think we may change the genre...

                                                                       My Group and I!!!

Film Credits

 The Godfather (1972):

    The credit sequence for The Godfather(1972) is mostly at the end, while in the beginning, it only shows the producer, screenwriter, and the name of the film. The ending credits are similar to most other movies, where it's just a black screen and words moving up. However, they use a specific font that is a bit sharp and represents the time period the film was set in (1940's). The music played during the ending sequence also fit the mafia theme of the film, and it sounds like something played at a fancy banquet.

Link to ending and credits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l2OXn17CL8

Spider-Man (2002):

    I liked this opening because it was different than the other ones, but it wasn't as creative as I would like my film credits to be. I thought it was interesting to put the letters on the spiderweb, and the transition was also good compared to the scrolling names in other credits. The music was made for an adventure, like what the genre of Spider-Man mainly is; however, it does feature a lot of emotional and personal struggles, so I consider it to be a drama as well. 

Link to opening credits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f5ykkGJvMU&t=198s

Memoirs Of A Geisha (2005):

    This was my favourite out of all three credit scenes. The moving water represented Sayuri's experience and how she was adapting to the world around her. The music also represented her life and the ending well, as she finally achieves her dream, but it was bittersweet since she ended up being his mistress instead of his wife. I also liked seeing the characters' faces with the actor's names instead of a blank black screen or something else. I think I would've changed the font, though, because when I think of a memoir, I think of a diary, and the font should be more like a human's handwriting.

Examples of other fonts that would be better fitting(on Word):

Link to credits:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP39kVEgEB8

Citation:

LitCharts. (n.d.). Water, rivers, and streams. LitCharts. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/memoirs-of-a-geisha/symbols/water-rivers-and-streams

Film Openings!

Genre Reveal: My partner and I decided to do drama as our genre! So, for this blog, I will be researching some drama film openings.

The Godfather (1972):

    The Godfather's film opening was quite long compared to others, about 7 minutes. The first thing you see and hear in the opening is a black screen with a dark and slow trumpet solo, while the producer (Paramount Pictures) and title are presented along with the screenwriter (Mario Puzo's The Godfather). The music stops, and we hear a man's voice, "I believe in America." his face then fades in, and he continues talking. The lighting of the man's face was very dramatic, low-key lighting, which created a mysterious and solemn tone. 

    As he continues talking about his daughter's tragic experience with two teenage boys, the camera continues slowly zooming out until it's an over-the-shoulder shot of the other man (Don Corleone), whom he is asking for help from. Usually, when two people are talking about something sensitive they experienced, it means they are talking to a close friend, in which they would be shot in a two-shot. However, for this scene, Bonasera was begging Don Corleone for justice, sitting across from him, creating a close-up, slowly zooming out into an over-the-shoulder shot of Corleone, making him seem mysterious and intimidating compared to Bonasera.  

    The costumes of all the men in the office are very elegant, as they are all dressed in nice suits because of Don Corleone's daughter's wedding, but it is also fitting for their role in the mafia, which seems to be the boss (Don Corleone) and his assistants. Also, while the other characters have white flowers on their suit, Don Corleone is the only one with a red rose, which might represent the blood and violence he commits as a mafia boss, but also the respect he receives as a boss. The large wooden desk and expensive-looking leather chair that Don Corleone sits at while the others stand or sit around him, on more plain-looking chairs, show the power difference between everyone in the room. 

                                          Low-key lighting, over-the-shoulder shot of Corleone

Link to Opening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5iGD-AcwMM

The Truman Show (1998):

    The Truman Show starts with the creator of the show in the film, talking about the genuine, unscripted main character compared to the "phony emotions" other actors give. It cuts to an extreme close-up of Truman's eyes on a TV screen, which then zooms out to show him talking to the camera, which seems to be a mirror in his bathroom. It then cuts to the credits, and after each one, it shows the person talking about the genuine lifestyle of The Truman Show. After the 3 credits, it cuts to a black screen that reads "The Truman Show" and cuts back to Truman talking to his bathroom mirror, staring directly at the viewer, breaking the 4th wall, which most shows don't do. Then his wife calls him, and he leaves. It cuts to a black screen again that reads "Day 10,909", which is most likely the time the show has been running. The next scene is of Truman saying good morning in a very cartoonish way, looking directly at the camera. It cuts to his neighbors saying good morning back, but they aren't looking directly at the camera. It cuts back to Truman, and he says his iconic line, "and in case I don't see you, good afternoon, good evening, and good night," while the camera zooms in on him. He walks away to greet another neighbor, but then is greeted by his neighbor's dog, and then goes to work.

    As Truman walks to his car, the camera is very shaky, and it seems like Spencer is holding the camera. Once Spencer is revealed carrying his trash can, we can see an odd black thing on his trash can, which we can assume is a hidden camera. When Pluto, the dog, was jumping and barking at Truman, the angle the camera was at was a POV angle, but it wasn't directly from his eyes, more like his other hand, which, like the trash can, had a black ball on his ring, which was most likely also a hidden camera. Also, when Pluto walks away, it is shown at a low angle, which is odd because they are usually used to make the character look powerful, but in this case, it is probably another hidden camera. All these odd angles and hidden cameras make it seem as if it's not really a TV show where Truman knows he's being recorded. 

    The costuming and lighting of the characters in the show make them seem perfect; everyone is wearing nice clothes, and the sun is super bright, without a cloud in sight. The uncanny, perfect life and total surveillance of Truman's life make the show very unsettling because it seems like Truman doesn't know what's happening at all as he stares into the mirror, talking to himself. While the other characters, like his wife, are clearly actors, which we know because they were interviewed along with the creator, saying that though the world he lives in is controlled, Truman himself is an actor with a script or cue cards. 

   

                                                       Hidden camera in Truman's mirror

Not very hidden hidden camera on trash can

Link to opening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAJEyZ3Mg8s

A Dog's Purpose (2017): 

    The opening of A Dog's Purpose is the life of a dog named Bailey, who lives on a small farm with his favourite boy, Ethan, and girl, Hannah, with their granddaughter, CJ, and her mother, Gloria. Gloria doesn't really like Bailey and decides to leave with her daughter. Bailey is getting older, and it seems like he has cancer, so he promises Ethan that he will protect CJ throughout his next reincarnations. 

    The lighting throughout the whole opening is very warm and high key, which creates a feeling of nostalgia and comfort as we watch the family(Ethan, Hannah, CJ, and Bailey) play together.

    The narrator, who is Bailey, gives us the perspective of a dog, their emotions, views, and how they process things. Sometimes, the camera is positioned from a lower angle, showing Bailey's POV. Also, when Gloria was clearly mad about CJ "bathing" with Bailey, trying to get her out, Bailey thought she wanted to play and pushed her into the water.

    The music in the opening varies from scene to scene. In the first scene, when it was Bailey and Ethan were on a tractor, having a nice time driving through the fields, it was very quiet, calm, and uplifting music. However, when CJ was in danger, the music was much louder and faster. Along with the music were the diegetic sounds, for example, the birds chirping, panting from Bailey, and water splashing. 

POV shot, warm lighting

Link to opening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaDYnAQCmTw

What they all have in common: 

    All these drama openings introduce a problem that the main character(s) have to solve, or an adventure they are on. They also use many close-up and medium shots to capture the emotions of the characters. Two out of the three films (The Truman Show and A Dog's Purpose) also used POV shots to give the viewer a similar experience. They also blur the background a lot to focus on the person talking or doing an action, which emphasizes the action or emotion displayed. In all these films, it opens with someone talking (The Truman Show) or with music (A Dog's Purpose and The Grandfather), which sets the mood most of the time. The Truman Show, starting with the producer talking about the poor performance of actors and the overuse of special effects, making the mood very serious as he has a deep voice and is speaking badly about almost every movie ever produced. A Dog's Purpose and The Grandfather both start with music; however, A Dog's Purpose starts with a calm and melancholic tone, while The Grandfather is more solemn as Bonasera talks about what happened to his daughter.