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.

Convention of a Feel Good Drama: My Film Vs TBEMH

Throughout this project, I always had to remember the codes and convention of a feel-good drama when making my title sequence. That is one of the reason what I analysed other films relevant to my chosen genre. I have decided to compare my film with The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (TBEMH), which is the film most similar to mine.


The first thing I looked at was the cinematography. In this genre, one convention is to have multiple close up in the film, so the audience can tell how the character is feeling. Both my film and TBEMH have done this.

Another thing I looked act is the iconography. As both of these film have a theme of India, they have to have objects to do with the country. One thing TBEMH used is the buggies, which is a popular mode of transport in India. My film used multiple objects such as an a floaty dress which Indian colours and patterns. orchid (Indian flower), Indian travel guides, etc.

Title Sequence - Final Cut

Improvements Completed

We filmed the new shots for the title sequence yesterday for me to edit in today. I remedied the lighting problem by using massive photography lights to help the scenes get brighter and cover over the top so it looks more natural; compared to before where it was all natural lighting. the shots look much better and now you can see everything. However, when we did the elevator shot it was much darker then before so the lift had its own light on; this meant we had a bright yellow glow at the back of the lift which we could not remove. We were also going to have a close up of my face as well as the lift close but unfortunately some all those shots were unfocused; however my target audience said I should still add the shot in as it finishes the sequence off, whereas the long shot makes it look like it is still going.  Overall it looks much better then the previous one and now it is finally finished.

Film Log Review

Looking at the shots we did yesterday, I think they looked much better then before. The lighting is much brighter which meant the shots looked clearer. However, as we did film later in the evening, the light in the elevator came on automatically which gave some shots a yellow glow which we could not remove. The shots were good so were still going to use them. What I plan to do now is edit the new shots into the sequence to make the final-cut.

Film Log

Filming: Monday 16th March 2015

Target: Re-film shots of Louise packing suitcase and getting into the elevator.

Times:
Home scene: 5pm-7pm


Equipment needed:
Camera
Tripod
Costumes

Light

Props

Feedback From Improved Title Sequence

When we showed our improved title sequence to the class everyone thought it was much better. They liked the colour of the typography and how it is not all the about the tickets to India. They also thought it looked much better without the bus scene at the beginning. However, The new shots we did they thought was too dark, even with the brightness changed; also they thought the end shot of the lift was slightly wonky. What we plan to do now is quickly reshoot these scenes on Monday so we can edit the in ASAP. Overall the class thought it was a massive improvement from the rough-cut.