RESEARCH: LES BLEUS DE RAMVILLE

I have looked at the opening titles of the film Les Bleus De Ramville for inspiration for my own opening sequence for a film. I have been able to note specific techniques used within the sequence including shot types and editing software that I could use to recreate a similar shot.

1) mid shot from inside locker

This mid shot brings the focus for the audience on the persons torso featured within the shot. The restricted view where the locker is seen helps the audience to focus on something specific. Creating a shot within a locker is something that would be associated with hockey; it is a look at something personal and behind the scenes drawing attention to the fact that the audience is being introduced to the lead up the hockey game.  The shot would work well to invite the audience to share in a personal experience and is something that I could incorporate into my own opening sequence. It could be done by using a fake locker that is open at the back so as to manipulate the shot in more detail.

2) tracking shot with mask

The images above display how this shot makes use of lighting to create drama and tension. The mask has fierce and dangerous tones and suggests violence and safety issues. The tracking shot helps to reveal more light gradually. As the light flashes onto the mask the audio works along side it as the sound of  hockey puck empathizes the sudden change in lighting. Use of the audio with a personal aspect of hockey creates a very vivid experience for the audience. The font is clear and positioned appropriately. The colour tone to the image is dark at first complimenting the theme of danger and violence. When the light flashes on it becomes warmer as the camera tracks along to show blurred outlines of hockey players in the changing room. The red of the shirt worn by the hockey player also assists in signalling danger. This would be a good shot for me to recreate in my own filming as it creates a sense of drama and uses effective lighting that could be recreated with the use of lighting at various angles.

3) Old film footage 

The use of this old film footage creates more reference to ice hockey. The shot suggests the history of hockey and reinforces the key theme of the film. It is an effective way of showing that hockey has background. The shot can be identified as old film footage as it has a glow and the quality appears blurred and less colourful. I could recreate this shot to create historical reference for my sequence by editing a shot to appear blurred and discoloured. 

4) istopmotion shot

In this high angle shot/ birds eye view angle shot the audience looks above this plan of the hockey rink. The circles and crosses are seen to move demonstrating tactics of the team. This demonstrates again the lead up to a hockey match and presents a more detailed personal account of what occurs before or leading up to a match. To recreate something similar to this i would make use of the software istopmotion which enables me to take various images that can turn into a moving animation through the process of onion cutting.

5) hockey puck drops shot

This very low angle shot presents the audience with the feel for the action of the game. The puck is seen to drop into the center of the screen. Where the puck covers the camera there is a cut to another scene. This transition creates drama and helps the audience to feel that they are part of this drama and action. This could be a helpful and effective way of creating action or drama in my opening sequence and a way of cutting to another shot. To recreate this I would have to consider how to fix my camera in this low angle shot where the lens would face upwards. If something were to drop on the camera it would have to be something that would not damage it. The sound effect used as it drops create emphasis on the sound of the puck that is heard throughout.

 6) Tilt pan shot

 

This tilt pan is effective as the eye of the camera tilts down to reveal various lights. The visuals work well with the audio as both create drama and tension. The puck sound occurs to introduce the shot and simultaneously the number on the board "14" changes to "13" again creating suspense. The lights are very vivid and eye catching which emphasizes the timing and suspense of a match.

 7) Old Photos 

In this shot the lighting enables the audience to see old photographs. This creates a sense of drama as only the photos are highlighted and the theme is enforced once again as there is a sense of history to the sport. This is a type of shot I would recreate as it assists in developing the plot and theme of the film. I would recreate this shot by using photos or if I wish to establish a sense of history I could use old photos or edit photos in a way that they appear dated. 

8) Transition

In this series of shot we can see a reaction from the audience who stand to celebrate and whilst doing so gradually cover the camera. This creates a blackout which creates a transition to the next shot. In these shots the black background transitions into a male wearing a black coat or jacket. This is very effective as it keeps the flow of the shots running smoothly. The fast pace of the shots is reflected in this and thus interests the audience. I would like to replicate this sort of effect and would do this by placing an object in front of the camera that would match with another object that would be used in the following shot. 

 9) Title of the film

In this shot the colours used appear gradually and the title of  the film appears to be drawn or painted on to the surface. This type of shot could be replicated with software such as istopmotion where the onion effect will allow me to create a similar effect where colour gradually spreads over a surface. 

RESEARCH: ART OF THE TITLE 2

I used the website "The Art of the Title" to investigate and analyse title sequences. The website showcases various title sequences such as the title sequence for the film "Scott Pilgram v.s the World". 

At the beginning of the sequence, the universal logo/ident is shown. It has been altered to sound and look like a video game to be in keeping with the theme of the film; the audience will recognise this as it is very well known. Font and narration introduces the film and the camera pans down to an establishing shot.  The audio is used to represent a flash back, the sound effect sounds dreamy and indicates the audience is introduced to the beginning of a story. 

The main characters are featured in the following shot. Characters mention the name "Scott" however the character "Scott" does not turn around at first which builds suspense for the audience. Those viewing the film are aware that this name is important as it is linked with the title of the film. When "Scott" is revealed there is a close up and font is used to introduce him: "Scott Pilgrim. Rating: Awesome". The font used is used in the style of a comic book or a video game. This theme is seen throughout as font and sound work together. For instance when the door bell sounds, cartoon font simultaneously appears on the screen "ding dong". Shots used include over the shoulder shots as well as many cuts and close ups. There is a lot of emphasis on emotion due to the frequent use of close ups. The shots are fast paced to create tension or drama. When scott goes to open the front door a sound effect is used that signals triumph or accomplishment - these types of sound effects are also common in video games. There is a two person shot at door and again use of close ups to introduce the character Knives; font again appears next to the character to introduce them. 

The characters start to introduce themselves as a band.  There is a mid shot of  guitarist and theres a pull of focus to show the drummer taking charge and starting off the music. This is used to represent the personality of the female character and to demonstrate the theme of comedy. Font accompanies her speech: "one two three four!" Graphics used show cartoon electric sparks that erupt from the band. This emphasises the loud sound created and again is associated with video games or comics. Following from this is the use of a pull back shot where a tracking shot or zoom is used which moves back from the subject (the band) to the context of the scene (other characters watching the band from the sofa). Whilst this tracking shot moves backwards font appears to introduce producers and another shot shows the title of the film. This font is noticeably bigger to emphasise that this the main title of the movie. Music accompanies actors names which flash on and off of the screen and there are several cuts to different backgrounds. This colourful and fast moving pace of graphics reflects the pace of the music and the hectic attitude of the film. The noise of these background helps to display this. The music plays whilst actors names flash on and off of the screen. The colourful and fast moving graphics in the background reflect the pace of the music. At the end of the names there is an abrupt stop; close ups of the character knives are to emphasise her response to the music 

RESEARCH: ART OF THE TITLE 3

Flubber (1997)

The opening shot begins with well known disney indent and the music used it upbeat suggesting an upbeat or comical film. As the music progresses the audience here strange sci-fi noises that suggests the topic of the film to be scientific. Font used is presented to look like mathematica and scientific codes and formulas. This technique has been used as it represents the genre and story of the film. This will also appeal to the target audience which is likely to be children. The interesting and eye catching graphics used will appeal to this audience. The formulae is created with use of a medium-specific typography and use of 3D effects. The font seems to break up and reform which could be linked with astrology and also signify the rapidly changing ideas of an inventor. 

The camera is seen to pan down and there is a smooth transition to a shot of boy on a bike. This transition is in keeping with the music and the peaceful feel at the beginning of the movie. There is a tracking shot towards a house where the camera lingers and there is an establishing shot. This signals to the audience that the emphasis if on this house. The audience witnesses the boy throwing a newspaper at a house where there is a cut as the paper lands on the ground. This action again emphasises that this house is the focus point of the story. Sounds of machines and strange mechanical noises can be heard and there are shots of scientific objects and models during a tracking shot.  The tracking shot is used as it enables the audience to get a feel for the setting of the scene.  An alarm clock sound can be head during the tracking shot where the volume increases as the camera moves closer to the object. Use of this technique helps to create a more realistic feel for the audience. It also emphasises the object and draws attention to it. There is a cut to a hand which his a red button; another cut occurs and the audience sees a garbage can fly off into the sky outside the house. The audio featured, "Oh what a beautiful morning. Oh what a beautiful day", contrasts with the shots of the garbage cans. The only close up of a character so far is revealed to the audience and no other character is introduced so personally which indicates that this character is the main focus of the story. 

Cuts are used often for example they are used to emphasise the various machines featured in the shots which help to set the story for the audience. 

It is clear that the genre is scientific related due to the shots of so many pieces of technology. Included in this are unusual or strange devices made from various different objects to signal that the story looks at inventions and creations. This is confirmed through the various scientific and mathematical references made via models and the font used throughout the sequence. It is also made clear that there is a humorous tone to the film for example the audio used features the phrase "where are my shoes" and another voice can be heard saying  "they're on your feet". It is childish humour that a younger audience may enjoy. Therefore this technique also suggests the target audience. 

websites:
Art of the title - Flubber 

RESEARCH: THE ART OF THE TITLE 1

Elementary (simon clowes, 2012)

I used the website "The Art of the Title" to investigate and analyse title sequences. The website showcases various title sequences such as the title sequence for the series "Elementary". The television series features a title sequence that depicts the fast paced mind of Sherlock Holmes of whom the series is based on. The detective is well known for having a fast paced intelligent mind. The title sequence features a domino effect where a contraption is set in motion and a chain of events begins to unwind. This chain reaction consists of various objects moving that results in a trap being executed. This chain of events is used to represent these qualities of the main character. Various objects are involved in this chain and many represent the key themes of the story. The theme of a pinball is demonstrated and developed through use of circular object such as hamster wheels and gun barrels. Specific colours are used such as Red where this is associated with danger, death, blood.

As well as this the shots have all been edited so that they all feature a brown and yellow tint. This is effective as it creates an old fashioned tone to the shots in the title sequence. This colour demonstrates the victorian era and mise-en-scene of the series. This could help to establish the time the series is set in or perhaps show the style of Sherlock Holmes as an old fashioned mind. The final shot contrasts with the rest of the sequence as it is calmer and the font used is enlarged to accentuate the title of the series. The colour theme however is in keeping with the previous shots; throughout the sequence there is an old fashioned dingy tone to the shots. This could help to establish the time the series is set in or perhaps show the style of Sherlock Holmes as an old fashioned mind. The music used creates a pace that compliments the motion of the objects in the clips and shows the climax of this domino effect as the trap is activated. Again, this links with the mind of Sherlock Holmes where he is a fast paced thinker and shows the suspense of solving a murder mystery.

RESEARCH: REPRESENTATION

In class I've begun looking at semiotics. It's a way of looking at visual images. All images reflect the dominant ideology (the existing set of beliefs) of the time. With this image seen in Paris Match, the image depicts a boy who is seen as patriotic. He is supportive of france and represents the equality in france. The messages being portrayed here are false however media can be seen to represent information and themes in this appealing manner. 

looked at Mythologies which is a book by Roland Barthes published in 1957. It's a collection of essay which examine contemporary social value system to create modern myths. He looks at the semiotics of the process of myth creation; his work's considered to be a key aspect of cultural studies.

The term myth would often be associated with legends but for Barthes they were the dominant ideologies of our time. All texts are re-presentations of the world. We can identify that images can be manipulated and media can be used to represent something specific.

-  "denotation is what is photographed, connotation is how it is photographed (Fiske 1982,91)

This cover of Paris Match is a good example of the way media is used to represent and maintain a "myth". In this case the myth of the french empire which is accomplished by representing it as 'natural'.

Following the view of Barthes, I am able to see how media is presenting a "myth". The boy on the front is used to represent the apparent eqauality in the french empire and as barthes states they wish to convey that there is no "colour discrimination". 

This myth is created through use of the boy who speaks to an audience on an emotional level. He represents youth and innocence as well as unity and which will have an emotional effect on the audience.



Rhetoric of the image

Roland Barthes also defined a straight forward description of a text as "denotation". He explained that "connotation" is the  given to a text when society interprets added layers of associated meanings from the text. For example when a word has a literal meaning such as the concrete noun "chocolate" this would be "denotation". This word may have symbolic/cultural meanings associated with it such as romance which is known as a  "connotation". 

An example present by Barthes is the advertisement for Panzani tinned and dried products where imagery is used to creative positive and persuasive meanings through connotation. The product is has a connotation with Italy - the aim of the advertisement is to appeal to those who would normally buy fresh products as opposed to tinned products. Firstly, the colours of the poster have a connotation with the italian flag and therefore would enforce the symbolism of it being a true Italian product. The items dispalyed in the picture are seen to spill out of a bag in which natural, fresh ingredients might be kept in. This bag symbolises that the ingredients are just as good as purchasing fresh goods. Products featured in the poster are also surrounded by other fresh ingredients which also enforces this idea. The red is a dominant colour in the image as it is used in the background as well as packaging and vegetables. One of the connotations with red is often love and luxury which would send a positive message to the audience. 

Pride (2014)

The image has many connotations that link with the name of the film ("pride") in various ways. People are shown to express their pride with their body language. Thos in the image have bold stances; the hero shot has been used to show this sense of pride. Those in the image appear to be happy and many show with their facial expressions that they are shouting or yelling. The megaphone would also have connotations with being being bold, loud and gaining attention.This wish to be loud could be associated with a wish for attention which, in this context, the audience would understand to be likely. Body language such as this as well as the large group of people holding signs and flags would signify that this is an important event and march. The background assists with this as it is very iconic and therefore it is likely that this would be a way of gaining attention and it is likely people are marching through the streets. The colour of red is very bold and could be used to signal a warning that these people are willing to fight for their rights. Contrasting with this however white is also included in various places. White often has a connotation with meaning peace which could be interpreted by the audience as a wish for peace. 


Websites:

• Wikipedia
• Fiske
• Pride