DYM HW FEEDBACK

Your comparison was very well presented, and showed clear understanding of the task. Your analysis was of a very good standard．Ｗｅｌｌ　ｄｏｎｅ．

Preliminary Task Evaluation

What did you think was the point to the activity?
~ To break and then learn the rules of continuity

What works about the finished sequence?
+ Establishing shot shows you the setting
+ It is easy to understand what the character is doing and what happens
+ Match on action from 2nd to 3rd shot
+ The fast pace of the shots as he is running
+ Last shot - onlooker- out of the action = funny
+ Handheld = variety - live, dramatic
+ Shot reverse shot- whipped round 180
+ This LA shot introduces the cone

What would you improve about your sequence?
- Establishing shot is a bit too long
- Some of the shots do not flow well
E.g. 2 shots that are too similar next to eachother- 30 degree rule- almost a jump cut

What did you learn from doing this activity?
~ Shot reverse shot
~ Match on action
~ 180 and 30 degree rules
~ Mastershots are filmed to go back to from other shots

COMPARISON OF OPENING SEQUENCES ‘Legally Blonde’ and ‘Se7en’

Narrative Info:
Helpful Qs: What kind of story is being told in each sequence?How much of the story is revealed to the audience?

Legally Blonde:
- Camera follows a card addressed to the main character - Elle- As it does so a sunny, perfect looking, materialistic campus is revealed – fountains, mowed lawns, massive houses, boys messing around, girls striving to look perfect (working out, doing their make up) - Everyone seems happy so something will probably go wrong to create a problem or some sort of conflict later on.
- We know a lot about Elle by the end of the sequence (throughout it we see her getting ready) but her identity is built up and kept from us until the card reaches her room, as she is the most important character

Se7en:
- Unlike Legally Blonde we’re introduced to the main character straight away, not much is held back as a minute into the sequence we see the dead body in a pool of blood signifying that this is a thriller with a crime and a mystery of whodunit
- Another difference is that we already see conflict between the characters and things seem far from perfect, we are introduced to the 2 detectives, they start a conversation and we expect a partnership will form but there are already signs of them not getting along.
- In both sequences, expectations are built up of where the story will go. We expect something to go wrong in seemingly perfect Elle’s life and in Se7en a crime has taken place and the detectives have to solve the mystery, we also expect them to have seven days to solve the mystery as the sequence begins with Monday signifying the beginning of the case.

Character Types
Helpful Qs: What are your first impressions of the characters you see?
What role do you think the characters will play in their respective storylines?

- Although the characters are very different, in both sequences we learn a lot about the main characters in the first few minutes by the way other characters react to them, the way they act themselves and the props that surround them.

Legally Blonde:
- Main character is very typically girly and rich – lots of pink in her room, makeup, perfume, designer shopping bags etc
- She’s at college and very popular - homecoming queen and class president, lots of people sign her card and care is taken for it to reach her
- She seem to be likeable as she seems to be liked by everyone and also quite innocent and childish - seeing as she is presented so perfectly something bad is bound to happen to her.

Se7en:
- By the way he gets dressed, the main character appears a careful, considered and thoughtful character - he does things a certain way (metronome turned on to get him to sleep)
- The way he lies awake at night suggests internal conflict- maybe worrying about the past or future (unlike Elle who is carefree and materialistic)
- He is retiring which suggests he is very experienced at his job but…
- Unlike Elle in Legally Blonde, his colleagues don’t respect him or seem to like him as he questions everything about the crime scene - we side with him because he seems to be the ‘good guy’ that wants the truth and justice - so he may be the one that solves the crime in the film
- Unlike in legally blonde where everyone on campus looks the same (perfectly groomed and happy)and is the same age, there is contrast between Brad Pitt ‘s character who is young, relaxed and easy going with Morgan Freeman’s character who is older, more experienced, and thoughtful.

Shot Types
Identify at least 3 different shot types/camera techniques used in each sequence
Explain the impact on the audience

Legally Blonde:
- 1st shot is out of focus CU of blonde hair which then become in focus – dreamy effect-idealism
- Pan across campus as girl rides bike across- people playing, fountain, sunny weather and sunlight reflecting off the water presents an idea of perfection and idealism (reinforced by the soundtrack)
- Tracking of people holding the card shows the journey of the card and the care taken to make sure it is delivered - she is obviously an important, popular character
- CUs of perfume, make up etc reinforce her image as a girly girl
- Lots of bright colour, opening credits are glowing pink with curly writing- perfection

Se7en:
- 1st shot seems like we’re watching him, we’re hidden by the furniture as if we can see him but he cant see us = sinister, stalker effect
- Not much colour - even the pool of blood isn’t red, contrasts and shadows, quite dark, very gloomy and rainy – nothings perfect (like in LB)
- Opening credits - lots of fast paced, distorted images presents a psychotic but very careful and specific killer
- LA of the 2 detectives in conversation outside- looks up at them and the rain = gloomy, stalker effect
- -Zoom in to Morgan Freeman and metronome as he tries to sleep = something is on his mind, conflicted character

EVALUATION OF THRILLER STILL

Describe your shot.
In what way can it be seen as representing horror/thriller?
◙ In the foreground of the shot is a MCU of a knife, central to the frame and a person standing to the right of the frame with his hand holding the knife coming from the top of the frame. The knife itself implies that someone will be killed and the darkness of the shot reinforces these sinister connotations. Shot in night mode and on a straight angle, the colours are gloomy and the ‘killer’ is in the dark part of the shot as he is the dark, threatening character. In the background, to the left of the knife, is an out of focused, silhouetted LS of the female victim on the floor looking back at the ‘killer’ whilst turning to try and escape into the naturally lit part of the corridor which signifies safety as it is the only lit part of the shot. The victim looks defenseless in her position on the floor which is at a lower level than the killer- increases suspense as we don’t know if she will get away. The rest of the shot is taken up by darkness which is also associated with horror.
What did you actually do to achieve the effect?
◙ We framed the shot with the camera on the tripod at a low height - the same level as the person in the background. We also had to position the hand so that it was at the right height and didn’t obstruct any light or the victim. The night shot setting was turned on to give the shot an ominous effect. We chose to position the ‘killer’ in the middle of the corridor where there was less natural light as this would make him seem more evil and the victim is positioned by the windows where there is lots of natural light coming through which contrasts with the darkness surrounding the killer so we know that she is the victim. Also, after trying the shot with the victim standing up in the background we decided she seemed more defenceless and scared if she was on the floor as she can’t run away as easily.
What is successful about your shot?
◙ Positioning the victim in the background and the killer with a knife in the foreground was effective and leaves us wanting to know what will happen next. The characters positions were effective as well as it is clear who the villain is and who the victim is. The shot being in night mode made it even scarier than if it had been shot normally. I also think the location of our shot worked well as the silhouette of the victim in the light contrasted with the killer being in the darkness.
What would you do differently in hindsight?
◙ I think the killer could look more threatening if he wasn’t dressed so normally and maybe the knife could already have blood on it suggesting that he has already killed someone and is after his next victim. Also there is a lot of dark space to the left and bottom of the frame – tighter framing or repositioning would allow the characters to take up more of the shot.