Product Research: Kidulthood

 

Kidulthood is another example of a film based upon urban British culture that also features bullying and violence. This in particular is relevant to us as it is a more modern representation than anything else we have seen so far. It also introduces the idea of cyber bullying with the phone. This is possibly something we could incorporate into our opening sequence to give a representation of the modernity of the situation and represents the form bullying can take today. It also shows many good examples of modern day dialect and slang, which is something we will have to ponder.

Product Research: Barnardo's Advert 2

This is another Barnardo's advert made earlier than the last. This is different to the other advert as it actually shows footage of domestic issues instead of just dialogue about it. This also uses music to juxtapose what is happening in the mise en scene which something that we are interested in. This creates an interesting mood for the audience as it stills the action in a way and  creates more sympathy for the character at the heart of it.

Product Research: Banardo's Advert

This is a very well made Barnardo's advert that was released two years ago. Despite not resembling our sequence filmically, this advert captures excellently the troubles of a teenage boy that is vulnerable and alone. In one of the younger versions he speaks of bullying and a slightly older we can see he has anger and  violence issues. These are two factors that mirror the protagonist of our film. In the opening title we see him bullied and then in relation to the rest of the film he goes on to have issues with anger and ends up in a young offenders institute. We can draw inspiration from the way this advert creates sympathy for its leading character.

Product Research: 'We Are From Venice'

This is a former media music video entitled 'We are from Venice' made by some past A2 students from my college Hurtwood House. In its camera work, this video has captured what we want for our opening title perfectly. The shaky camera and fast pace is superb, combined with the mise en scene in terms of the dingy location and urban looking costumes. We want to make a sequence that is threatening in the way that this is.

Product Research: 'Green Street Hooligans' 2

This is a later scene from the same film 'Green Street Hooligans'. The main factor that I would wish to draw from this is the way the director has chosen to use music to juxtapose the events of the scene. This is something I would be interested in doing, using sad and slow music ad then paring it with horrendous violence. Of course the violence in our scene would be not nearly as harrowing as in this one, but the effect of the music would be the same.

Product Research: 'Green Street Hooligans'

In this scene from 2005 film 'Green Street Hooligans' that depicts the modern state of football hooliganism in England. However, in terms of its violence it is something great to work from as it is filmed in such an appropriate way for its content. When the violence begins the camera work becomes very shaky with no shot held for a long period of time. The instability is purposeful as it disorientates and goes as far as is possible in putting the audience in the scene. This is something I would like to emulate with our sequence, as well as a similar setting if possible. Also, as I already knew of this film, it was from this scene that inspired me to include the 'credit card in mouth' action or 'Chelsea Grin' into our first storyboard. It is a gruesome action that would cause the audience to grimace.

First Story Board

Today we spent the lesson constructing our very first storyboard for our thriller. Storyboarding is a hugely important task as it gives us a definite and clear idea of the way in which we plan to shoot our thriller. It helps in making sure that everyone in the group understand the concept. However, it can sometimes be difficult translating an image of how something looks in your head onto paper. This is a first draft of many before our final storyboard. It is understandably rough. However, it is a move in the right direction and proves that our idea is developing practically.

'Wimbledon' Opening Title Analysis

Coopers choice of music in this sequence is very appropriate. It is light and playful representing how this is not a film to be taken too seriously, being a 'rom-com' after all. However, there is a monotonous tone to the music which could easily relate to the protagonist of the film, an ageing professional tennis player who has fallen out of love with the game. Over the top of this track is a consistent noise of a tennis ball being hit reinforcing how the sport is at the centre of the romance that will soon occur, and actually proves to be the stumbling block in their relationship.

The mise en scene emerges with a simplistic black screen with credits appearing on opposing sides of the screen after one another in time with the noise of the ball. Not only does this maintain the attention of the viewers eye by constantly moving their point of focus but it also relates to the game of tennis and the way in which the ball is hit to opposing sides of the court. We then see various time lapses of clouds moving across the sky. This helps establish the summery atmosphere of Wimbledon as an event, especially when followed by cuts of still images of tennis crowds. The clouds moving constantly could represent the constant flow of the protagonist life, reinforcing how he is getting too old - a prevalent theme in the film.

In terms of camera the sequence largely consists of shots of tennis audience members. Cooper does something interesting by playing footage of a crowd watching the ball fly across the court and then cutting back to the start of the same clip to give the impression that they have watched the ball go back. The cuts are concordant with the soundtrack creating something rather comical. This reinforces that it is a comedy by setting the mood right from the opening sequence. The short length of cut could easily convey the short length of career in professional sport, something that the central character is coming to terms with in the film.

This is not only a very well made and original opening sequence, but also is a fine example of Kyle Cooper's versatility as a filmmaker. There is very little that is similar in this sequence to the previous two analysed. This is the reason why he has and is still have such a successful career, he has the talent to adapt his skills to various different genres and still produce a suitable and effective opening sequence.

'Wimbledon' Opening Title Sequence

'Spiderman 2' Opening Title Analysis

The trailer starts with just music. The music chosen by Cooper is ominous and appears as though something important is coming. It is not written in the minor key, but does have a dangerous sense of grandeur. After starting with just violin, it picks up later in the sequence with more instruments and a quicker tempo therefore creating excitement for the oncoming movie.

In the mise en scene, we initially see the classic marvel trademark appear on screen. This establishes that it is a movie originating from the Marvel series of comics. This in itself acts as a pre-sold element as the film already have a audience based in the fan base of the comics. Doing this also establishes a relationship with other Marvel films suggesting to the audience that if they like them then they will like this too. There is also of course a strong theme of webs throughout the sequence which separates different shots. Not only does this have obvious spider connotations but also relates to the way in which comics are separated by lines. This reference back to comics is reinforced by how the shots replicating those from the previous film are sketched. The majority of the film has a red colouring. This relates back to Spiderman's iconic costume but also infers that danger is coming.

The editing and camera work correlate heavily with one another in this sequence. There is very little if any cutting in the scene. This creates a constant flow of motion which of course relates to Spiderman as a character and the way he flies through the air. This fluidity is reinforced by the camera work. Not at any point is the camera in a fixed position which aids the audience in feeling as though they are soaring with the films protagonist. 

Like all good opening sequences should, this one is not only visually interesting but is also in keeping with the themes, plot and identity of the film. However, unlike some others it gives very little away as to the plot and heavily relies on it's music and motion to stimulate the audience. 

'Spiderman 2' Opening Title

'Se7en' Opening Title Analysis

Possibly the most immediately obvious feature of Kyle Cooper's critically acclaimed Se7ev opening title sequence is his use of music. The soundtrack for this sequence is instantaneously unsettling. It is in the minor key and is slow, it creates a sense amongst the audience that something bad is always about to happen. Sound effects have also been added for effect. There are metallic clicks that could possibly be the turning of a safe lock, the first reference of a crime being committed. There is also various different high pitched screeches which resemble that of a human in pain further enhancing the morbid feel of the sequence. Part way through the sequence the beat of the music notably picks up that brings the sequence to a climactic end.

Cooper uses camera to engross the audience in his sequence and the actions that are asking place. Throughout the entirety of his sequence Cooper uses very acute angles that are mostly ECU's.This therefore, makes the work of the ambiguous man seem even more intricate and personal. It also in some cases makes what he is dealing with not immediately obvious. This ambiguity only increases the enigma of the scene and forces the audience to question who he is and why he is doing this. Cooper also in no way adheres to the 180 degree rule. This in some cases may disorientate an audience member as the camera angles switches from one side of the man to the other. However, this is completely intentional as this sequence is supposed to be ultimately unnerving.

 

Cooper's use of editing and mise en scene in this opening title are undoubtedly what makes it a masterpiece. The mise en scene is constantly filled with objects and actions that have strong connotations to crime such as the tearing of skin to remove fingerprints. However, nothing more than the mans hands ever enter the frame meaning that his identity remains unknown, therefore encouraging the audience to show interest in what is to come in the film. Cooper purposely uses dim lighting that has sinister connotations. He also experiments with shadow and its movement across the frame in order to withdraw details. Throughout the duration of the sequence we also see the credits arise. The font of the credits is messy and reckless which could be a representation of the featured character. It also resembles the mans handwriting from the paper he is writing on reinforcing the link between them.

 

The topic of the credits then brings us to Cooper's editing decisions. The text somewhat flickers after first making an appearing in the frame. This allows it to move position and even change size. The text is never on the screen for too long before disappearing. This makes the audience feel as though they have seen something they shouldn't have, which relates to crime and witnesses. This short duration of screen time is also reflected with the general cutting of the sequence. No shot is held for more than 3-4 seconds. This adds pace and intensity to the sequence and once again may disorientate the viewer and only allow them a glimpse of the horrific details. Cooper also inserts drawings or writing that fill the frame. These only arise for a second and the correlation between them and what is happening is unclear. However, they appear to have been scribbled frantically and naturally arise suspicion in an audience that is now keen not to miss anything.

 

The fact that this sequence was so well received is no surprise. You would struggle to find a better example of a piece of filmmaking that combines the four elements in such a precise way so that they complement one another without the audience even being aware. As well as this, the sequence outlines the major themes of the film without giving anything away and establishes a mood for the film to build upon later.

'Se7en' Opening Title Sequence

Kyle Cooper Demo Reel

Kyle Cooper: An Introduction

Kyle Cooper (51) is a highly rated title sequence designer from Massachusetts, USA. After graduating from Yale University where he studied graphic design independently with Paul Rand, Cooper then went on to work within the field of motion picture title sequences. He established himself with his work on film Seven (1995) staring Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman. This work received critical acclaim and the New York Times Magazine hailed it as "One of the most important design innovations of the 1990's". Since then Cooper has gone on to direct over 150 film title sequences and has also breached the walls into the worlds of gaming and television advertising. Cooper has also broadened his web by being the founder of two of his own internationally recognised film design companies 'Imaginary Forces' and 'Prologue Films'. His work establishes the title sequence as a fundamental and more importantly interesting element of a movie. His body of work communicates dynamism, versatile and genius and goes a long way in helping establish the creating of a title sequence as an art form in itself.

Exterior Inspirations

Now that we have settled on a final idea we can start to explore exterior sources for inspiration. This could involve watching films specifically based upon advise and review or drawing inspiration from films I have personally already seen. This type of work is on-going and will continue to help our idea develop so it can expect to be seen throughout the course of my blog.

After compiling our first storyboard and understanding our concept their were two films that personally jumped out to me that bore resemblance to it. These were ' Green Street Hooligans' (2005)directed by Lexi Alexander and 'This is England' (2006) directed by Shane Meadows.

Both of these films I had seen before and stood out to me as sharing a similar identity to what we are creating. They are both independent films, and despite 'Green Street Hooligans' actually being made by an American production company, they both are centred in urban English areas that are represented in strong ways. This relates to the personal struggle of our protagonist who has been give a tough start in life being from a rough area and having unsupportive careless parents. Both of these films contain a hefty amount of violence. This mirrors our film as our protagonist is beaten up in the opening sequence. Much like Warp Films 'This is England' our film is one that wouldn't necessarily have a very definable target audience, something that is characteristic of a British film production company. However, it would have a extremely definable personality and gritty sense of realism much like 'This is England'. This would be its USP.

In terms of the opening sequences of these films, much like ours the protagonist in 'Green Street Hooligans' is making a journey from one place to another, a common feature in opening sequences. However, with 'This is England' the opening titles consist entirely of legitimate television footage from the era in which the film was set. This is of course to acclimatise the audience to what was happening and possibly convey so cultural and political messages before the film has even started. This has given me some ideas to possibly add something similar into our opening sequence, or perhaps even just a cut away to his family in other locations. However, this requires more thought.

First Storyboard

After our initial production meeting, the group had following meetings in lesson time. It was at this point where Adam (teacher) would join us allowing him to offer his thoughts on the way the idea was developing. After telling him that we had settled on our political thriller idea based around a assassination, he immediately disagreed as he much preferred the idea following the life of a young, unsupported boy who is beaten up by a group of bullies on his way home from school in the opening sequence. We analysed the potential of this idea and where it could go and after lengthly discussion agreed that this is in fact the idea we will move forward with. The main reason is that Adam helped us to understand how first idea was very 'American' and could have easily been done before. Where as with the other idea, he felt it was much more a British idea and had more personality because of that. This is of course a huge change in direction but it is better to make it at this stage rather than further down the line.

After settling on a final idea, now came the task of starting to storyboard.  Storyboarding is a hugely important process that takes an idea from the brain into something of substance and gives everyone in the group some clarity. It took us approximately two hours to create our storyboard with pictures for each shot accompanied by a detailed shot description. This gave us a chance to work out our key shots and where we could include important elements such as music and slow motion. This is of course only the first draft and will almost certainly be subject to change, but I am glad that we have created a solid base for us to work upon.