Evaluation: Part 8

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Looking back at this project, I felt I have leant many lessons, which have made us create a good title sequence. There have been many disagreements but eventually we managed to pull everything together. This has all helped me develop my skills as an editor, producer and cinematographer. This project was split into two section, research and planning, and production.

The research and planning stage was about looking into title sequences and finding research and inspiration for our own. This has helped me learn the codes and conventions of a title sequence and what they should look like. Initially I looked at horror title sequences to start with (e.g. Zombieland), as they are the easier ones to analyse due to the iconography. I then looked into more sequence to do with my chosen genre (e.g. Forest Gump). This I found quite difficult has its hard to spot the iconography for a feel-good drama, but I managed to get it in the end. This all helped lead toward the development of our title sequence.

Using my research and planning previously, we manage to make a title sequence from it. This taught me that planning and research is key in making a successful title sequence. What was successful about my preliminary task is the postproduction side, as without it, we would have no idea what we would be doing. We changed our storyboard multiple times to suit our narrative until which we finally found success. What I thought was unsuccessful was our animatic as we didn't put lot of detail into it and if I had more time I would redo it.

The production side was the film, editing and exhibition side of the coursework. The filming part of the coursework was very time consuming, as we had to redo shots and film in different locations multiple times due to lighting, shots, etc. which left me not a lot of time to edit the whole sequence. However, I worked around it and managed to finish everything in which I think the sequence is a huge success. The exhibition of our film to our target audience I thought was hard in a way as I did not agree with some of their criticism, however I took everything on board which helped me complete the improvements that needed to be don't to make our film a success. 

If I were to do this project again, I would consider working by myself as, even though it would mean more work, I think it would be less stressful and would have more choice in what I want to do.

Evaluation: Part 7

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Evaluation: Part 6

Evaluation: Part 5

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Evaluation: Part 4

Evaluation: Part 3

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Evaluation: Part 2

Who would be the audience for your product?

Evaluation: Part1

Brief

The brief for our media studies coursework was to create a title sequence of any genre, around two minutes long. It needed to have at least ten different shots, sound and editing. We also need proof of the development of our title sequence which you can see on this blog. We were allowed to work in groups no more then four. I worked with Michael for the project.

Before we started designing the title sequence I looked at a few title sequence designers to see different types of sequences to me an idea of how they should look like and the codes and conventions for them. I looked at Saul Bass and Richard Morrison who are both renowned title sequence designers. Morrison has done multiple sequences in the feel-good drama genre which I found most inspiring as it the same genre as I am doing.

Sequence From Richard Morrison

Sequence from Saul Bass

The title sequence for my coursework is called ' The Journey of Self-Discovery' which is a feel-good drama. We came up with our film idea by looking at films such as The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and Eat Pray Love.  These films inspired us to come up with the narrative of our title sequence. We research into the genre and found that most of these films have a sub genre of romance (convention of genre). We added this element into our narrative my adding a love interest for the main character (Louise Brown).

The basic narrative for our film is the equilibrium; Louise Brown, an average everyday woman, leaves her dead-end job and travels to India. There she befriends a young Indian girl who she empathetic to as she cannot get an education due to her gender. Louise then decides to help up and sets up a school in the village she lives in. She faces multiple challenges but overcomes them. She also meets a missionary who she has a relationship with (convention of feel-good drama). The new equilibrium is that she stays in India and set up an organisation there to get girls an education, with Matthew (missionary). this film is suppose to show how Louise discovers her true self, i.e. the title name.

The title sequence opens with Louise Brown in an office doing work, her facial expression show she is sad and she is solemn and frowning. This tells the audience that she hates her jobs which coveys part of the narrative. Whilst at the office, a pop up appears telling her about a tip to India. this then cuts to a globe spinning when the title with India on the globe behind it. from then on, the scene cross cuts back and forth her at the office and at home, showing how the urge to travel overthrows society mean of normality. the sequence end of Louise leaving with a suitcase, hitting to the audience that she has left for India.