Se7en.Ellie & Natalie

In today's lesson we studied and analysed the opening sequence of the thriller movie Se7en staring Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman & Directed by DAvid Fincher. This opening sequence included a pre credit sequence and credit sequence. I will be analysing the Credit sequence, the main characters and enigma code or the hook that captures the audience.

This is the opening credit sequence of the opening sequence.

The Credit sequence of the opening is very dramatic. The music is heavily beated with a scratchy tone, it sounds similar to a heart beat. The music is dramatic, disoreintating, discordant and unpleasant, all of these make the audience feel a mix of emotions and make them feel uncomfortable. There is also use of dark, disturbing images; these introduce the genre of the film giving its audience knowledge of that they are letting themelves in for. The title sequence also uses flashing and montage images, they confuse and disturb the audience. They could also be a way of hooking the audience into wanting to see more. The credit sequence could be seen as a way of questioning the audience making them want to watch on. The techniques of how the images are put together is really clever, there are flashes between images and they don't flow. The discording images may worry its audience and keep them wondering what will happen. They all create a sinister portrait for its audience and evoke emotions and a reaction from them. The credit sequence also uses flashes or red throughout the black and white images, the red represents danger or death and the colour stands out on the black and white.

The two main characters in the sequence are Morgan Freeman who plays Detective Somerset and Brad Pitt who plays Detective Mills. The two represent very stereotypical characters: The older, wiser detective and the younger, cocky and less experienced character who looks up to the older of the two. Detective Somerset is represented as a very tidy, precise character: his home is set out in a very particular way, everything lined up on his desk. He also represents a lonely lifestyle as he is alone in his apartment and reads himself to sleep. He shows a compassionate side when questioning another detective "did the kid see?", asking if a child saw the murdered body of his father, this is significant as it shows him as caring. The other character is Detective Mills, He is a young and less conventional character. He is shown less in the sequence but he appears to look up to Somerset as he moved to that city to work with him. He seems ahead of himself, walking into a crime scene,chewing gum. It also represents how he can be considered cocky.

The enigma code of the opening sequence could be seen in the credit sequence. The montage and questioning images confuse the audience and hook them into wanting to see more from the killer or stalker in the rest of the film.

Seven used all the mise-en-scene factors to not only create effect and meaning, but to establish the appropriate genre. Firstly, we see the crime scene. Although it is not a conventional gloomy and mysterious setting, we - as the audience are still capable of establishing why the characters are there. Inspector Summerset, is a lonely, pernickety professional man who does not only do his job well, shown by the typical inspector clothes (long drench coat, hard hat and a immaculate suit)but though his caring nature ‘’did the boys see?’’ shows he is a loving, kind man. Subverting the usual stereotypes of a cold, hard brutal inspector.

The setting is a significant convention in an all time American crime scene, a family orientated apartment where the murder takes place. This shows that the audience can also establish with the story line as it is a home setting, proving that there must have been a home murder.

When the characters are outside, the dramatic effect of the rain reinforces the idea that something bad has happened - pathetic fallacy. The dull, rainy yet busy street in America reinforces that the movie isn't planning on getting better.

The lighting in the apartment emphasizes the idea that a murder has taken place, dark, cream, brown colors are used with the blinds half shut portrays secrecy and therefore the chance to commit murder- reinforcing the chance to actually commit murder.

Natalie Murray and Ellie Mannix

Lesson Evaluation. Bridget

Bridget Long 12.11.09

In Today's lesson we were introduced to the coursework of our AS media. We were told what our portfolio needed to obtain and what action we need to take to reach the best grade possible. The coursework totals to 50% of our entire grade and that is why it is so crucial that it is done correctly and to a high standard.

The coursework consists of two parts. Firstly the preliminary task which will not be assessed however must be included in our portfolio. This will consist of us filming two people having a conversation in a room, showing we can use the 180 degree rule and crosscutting. The preliminary task will also include an evaluation.

The second part of the coursework is to produce a two minute opening sequence for a new fiction film. Each participant will be marked individually, and all their work will be assessed from the beginning included how well they work within a group. This is the main part of the coursework which is worth 50%. Genre conventions will be extremely important throughout the production and we will be assessed on the following aspects of our production:

Introducing the genre – using genetic convention
Introducing the main characters
Introducing the plot and the themes that surround the film
An establishing shot which identifies the place
Also, there must be a ‘hook’ or ‘enigma’ which will make the audience want to be involved and continually watching

We also watched and assessed students coursework for ideas and to help us produce our coursework to the highest of standards. By doing this I feel as though I am now much clearer in how to reach a higher grade and what a good production consists of. We considered such things when watching the productions, camera angles, mis en scene, costume, sound, lighting etc. Some groups did certain things better than others and from recognising this we will be able to take their mistakes and use them to make ours better.

From our group so far I feel as though we will work hard to achieve good results and we will work well as a group. We also set up our blogs and Google mail accounts which will help us record our coursework along its development process.

Media Lesson, 12^th November 2009

Ellie Mannix

Today’s lesson consisted of the introduction of our AS Media studies foundation portfolio, we were introduced to the tasks that we will have to endure over the coming months. The 50% of our AS level is separated into two different media projects.

The preliminary task is one which is not marked, however necessary to be part of the blog. This short film should consist of two people having a conversation in a room. The filming to this should consist of cross cutting, 180 degree rule and a variety of shots to ensure that it complies with the specification.

In addition, the other media film that is needed in order to receive 50% of the grade is to produce a two minute opening sequence for a new fiction film in groups of 4. the fact that each participant will be marked individually, so that everyone will contribute according to how well they want to do in their AS level.

We found that we will be marked on being able to use and portray the conventions of the genre and how well we were able to use and submit the conventions of an opening sequence into our films.

The genre conventions are specific to the genre that is not yet chosen, but the conventions for an opening sequence consist of:

¨ Introducing the genre – using genetic convention

¨ Introducing the main characters

¨ Introducing the plot and the themes that surround the film

¨ An establishing shot which identifies the place

¨ Also, there must be a ‘hook’ or ‘enigma’ which will make the audience want to be involved and continually watching

As a starting block, we will also have to research and to plan our media products to make sure they are specific and of a good standard before wasting time producing a film that does not meet the requirements. We will have to research and identify the target audience and the genre to ensure that the requirements will be met, so the audience will continue to watch it and stay focused. We would also need to provide enough evidence of planning the organisation of actors, locations, costumes and props, scripting and storyboarding. All this planning and research will have to be put onto the blog in order for it to be able to be marked. The type of research that could be presented on the blog is website links, youtube clips, still images from the film, visual references in order to attract audiences instead of boring writing.

Technical skills are expected when we creatively produce our product. The use of camera shots, angles, positions are appropriate and are used of a high standard to avoid a bad quality film. Also the use of mise-en-scne is of upmost importance as it portrays effect and meaning which is effectively the objective in the film.

Pen ultimately, the introduction to the coursework is the evaluation , in which we would type on this blog, containing audience feedback which integrates with research and planning. It will require questions reguarding social groups, media institutions.

To differentiate between successful and poor quality products, as a class we watched the previous year 12 groups performances, we noted down positive and negatives about their final piece. Although the criticisms were mainly positive, as a class we managed to distinguish what our projects should contain instead of those who went wrong and achieved a lower grade from doing the wrong things. From this we are learning from others misfortunes in order to achieve a better film product.

From this realisation, I feel that our group will do really well, think outside the box, enjoy and achieve what is deserved in this task.

Next, in our classrooms and made a blog from scratch, firstly making a googlemail account, then going to blogspot.com and this is why we are now making our first blog.

Today's lesson. Catherine

Catherine Dalton

Filming Task:
This whole task is worth 50% of the overall grade, and it consists of two main elements.

• Two paired Media products: Prelimary task: This is a task that is not assessed but does need to be in your portfolio. It includes filming a conversation between two people, showing that you can use the 180 degree rule and cross-cutting.
• It also includes an evaluation.

The main task: -

• Planning and research: analysis of Seven, research of conventions, research typical conventions of a opening sequence. These opening sequence conventions inlcude: Introducing characters, genre, plot/themes and have a enigma code. Also includes a storyboard. (20 marks)
• Contrustion (60 marks)
• Electronic evaulation (20 marks)

The planning and research stage should be represented on a blog. On the blog the following should be researched: Conventions of opening sequences, generic codes, target audiences and the film should be planned in detail.

The films we watched:

Do's: editing needs to be fast, need to be able to identify characters and narrative, camera shots should have variation, length of shot should be short, smooth transitions, mise-en-scene should link to narrative, music should relate, dialogue should be clear, have an establishing shot, have a simple idea but make it effective, frame the shot and make sure that actors props are related.

Dont's: Hold the shot for to long, don't make dialogue unclear, make sure shot is framed and that nothing else is in the scene that should not be there, don't make the narrative unclear, don't use one shot type, be creative don't just use one setting (School) and think clearfully about custome (don't use school uniform), make sure that editing is smooth not jumping, don't use a complex idea or plot and don't not frame the shot.

An opening sequence should: -

• Introduce genre
• Introduce the main characters
• Introduce the plot/themes
• Introduce the setting
• Have a enigma code

Lesson Evaluation 12/11/09 Natalie

Today's lesson gave me a clear insight into what to expect over the next few months in relation to coursework: Creating, researching and blogging our opening sequence and how to go about this.

I enjoyed creating the blog as a group, i feel using interactive and electronic material such as a blog and YouTube is far easier and makes the media task seem more digitally active.

Viewing previous media AS opening sequences gave me an opportunity to see what to do and what not to do. Various opening sequences were very good, they included things such as variety of shot, steady camera movements, appropriate mise-en-scene and a good narrative. By seeing a good example of an opening sequence, i can see what the examiner is looking for. I now realise it isn't all about creating an amazing or complex story, it seemed to me that by using a narrative which could be followed, then detail such as props, locations etc. a good opening sequence could easily be achieved. Other examples of media opening sequences gave me an idea what not to do: shakey camera actions, bad continuity and one shot type were all basic things which shouldn't be done at AS level standard are things i can learn not to do when making my media text within my group. By learning from other previous years mistakes i can see the detail, research and dedication needed for making a successful media product. Another important thing i learnt today was that people are very critical, it was easy for us to judge as a class other peoples work, so this has made me more motivated to have a good opening sequence for my coursework. Being critical can also be a good thing, by critically analysing others work, I've learnt a lot about what our media group should and shouldn't do, and i think we all, as a group learnt the same lessons.

The introduction of coursework was very clearly described with a lot of detail, this was very helpful. The coursework overview gave me a small insight of what my group and i will be doing over the next few months. It also gave me an idea of what we would be doing, firstly, opening the blog and speaking about it gave me a good idea of where all our work could be viewed and where my evaluation would be. Learning about the preliminary task excited me, practicing and using digital technology like the video camera is always exciting and interesting. It will also be a great introduction before our main task so we can all, as a group, learn each others strengths and weaknesses and decide what would be a good path for us for the main task itself. It will also help me decide what i am good and bad at so in the main task, i will, hopefully already corrected the bad, making the task easier to complete and also i would have learnt from the preliminary task.

I am looking forward to the coursework task and feel the introduction and critical analysis has helped me realise what has to be done. I think as a group, there will be a lot of work, but hopefully, our coursework will be successful.