Azmain's camera shots

Here is a list of the different types of camera shots that we will incorporate in our film opening.

1) Extreme Long Shot

2) Long Shot

3) Over The Shoulder Shot

4) Two Shot

5) Low Angle Shot

6) Close Up Shot

7) Medium Shot

8) Point Of View Shot

9) High Angle Shot

10) Extreme Close Up

11) Bust Shot

Assessment of Donnie Brasco - Ishmail

Assessment

How do the filmmakers establish character, genre and narrative in the opening?

Write about:

• Camera 
• Editing
• Sound 
• Mise-en-scene

Donnie Brasco opening assessment

The film opens with the production company logo and then it immediately fades to the opening titles of the film in this case it was the actors and composers names. This was overlaid over a series of images in black and white. This consisted of an eye line shot of a man looking to his right and then it fades to a series of images in the style of a film reel. This is an effective editing technique to signify past occurrences, this will also tell the audience that these people shown, have met or will meet in the future.

This also suggests that he was looking at something or someone, as he was looking to his right which would muster questions into the audiences head i.e. “What was he looking at?” As the scene progresses, we are introduced to a transition of a film reel where multiple black and white images of people are shown, again this is a very effective editing technique to show the audience events which have occurred in the past, also it is not to revealing so the audience are left on their toes guessing. The black and white images suggest that the people shown in the images are in the younger years, like a set memories trying to make the audience reminisce the events that have occurred also the music played in the background had a 1940-50s feel to it, which adds to ambience of memories.

At this point in time the audience are trying to connect the images and the music to events that could have taken place in the past using their imagination, questions that they can ask themselves is that “how are they related to each other?”, ”what ties these people together?”. The scene then fades to the next; we are again introduced to a man using an eye line shot, but this time it appears to the audience that he is looking to his left. Earlier we were introduced to a man looking to his right now we are introduced to a man looking to his left, this suggest that they are probably looking at each other. We can now assume that these two people are the protagonist and antagonist it is made quite clear that these two are binary opposites i.e. left and right.

We are then shown images of the men from the film reel transition in photographs, but this time their faces are circled with a marker and one of the faces has a cross on it. From this we can determine that the man looking to his left has a grudge against the man looking to his right, this is because the people circled may be associated with the man on the right and that he will not stop at all costs until everyone associated with him and he himself is eliminated. We can assume this because circled photos is a typical technique used in other films and dramas to show that he/she is target and also when cross is put over it, it usually means that he/she is dead.

We are then re introduced to the man looking to his left with another eye line shot in black and white and then it fades into colour, this is a effective transition and editing technique (colour saturation) to show that it has become present day where he appears to be in a bar where the man looking to his right, which we will refer to him as Mr. right and the other as Mr. left from now on is sitting with his people. Mr. right seems to be talking to one of his people about which car is better, he goes on to give reasons as to why the car he chose is better, he lists multiple reasons and then starts to repeat some of the things he has said. Then another one of his people tells him that he is repeating his words. From this we can determine that a great deal of time has passed as he is getting old and starting to repeat words (short term memory loss). Mr. right turns around and then his eyes meet with Mr. left. He asks one of his people ‘who is that guy sitting there, is he a wise guy’ (wise guy is a term used by gangsters in the 1940-50s not necessarily commonly used nowadays) then the person replies ‘don the jury’. From this the audience begins to wonder what past did Mr. left have and what could he have done to gain that title.

As the scene progresses we are shown an over the shoulder shot of Mr. left from the point of view of Mr. right the camera then focuses on Mr. right and the person talking to him in a two shot where Mr. right asks to the other person ‘if I had a thing, could you take care of it for me’ from the dialogue spoken we can immediately concur that Mr. right has something to hide and wants it to be taken care of, we also can determine that there was a sense of fear due to the fact the way the dialogue was spoken. It was spoken in a nervous voice with a slight tremble.   

The scene moves on to Mr. left looking at the reflection of Mr. right and then leaving from the bar where we shown a series of jump cuts; a camera is following his movements and taking pictures from afar. From this we can determine that Mr. left is a watched man, but by whom.

From this opening we can determine what type of genre this film is, we can do this by analyzing the generic conventions portrayed in this film. In a thriller we have 1 main protagonist and 1 main antagonist that will eventually collide, in this case, it is of Mr. Left and Mr. Right. We know this because in the beginning of the film we have both of them introduced, one in the left of the frame and one in the right of the frame this will signify two opposites as it is shown clearly to the audience watching that, they are the two that are in conflict.

Other signifiers that are shown which will make the audience assume that the film is a thriller is when the characters are in a bar together examining each other for the slightest of defects to which they can use to their advantage for a arriving situation. This is also a typical convention of the genre thriller where the protagonist is faced with a situation where escape seems impossible.

Assessment Azmain

Assessment

How do the filmmakers establish character, genre, and narrative in the opening.

Write about:

·      Camera

·      Editing

·      Sound

·      Mise-en-scene

From the opening of the film, the filmmakers have clearly established the production company through the titles of the film; ‘Mandalay Entertainment’. Titles of the characters involved are also shown. They also establish associate production companies who go by the name of ‘A Baltimore Pictures’ and ‘Mark Johnson Production’. The opening also shows the people behind the making of the film, ranging from the casting, executive music producers, costume designers, editors, production designers, director of photography and executive producers. We also find out that it is based on a book by Joseph D. Pistone and it is based on a true story. The soundtrack is a violin playing, the tune in which it plays in could connote death as it sounds like the type of music played at funerals.

An eye level shot of a mans eyes is shown and then he slowly looks up and stares for a while which connotes he is paying close attention to someone or something. This is then followed with a series of still picture shots of what could be perceived as the ‘main characters’. The close up shots of Al Pacino and Jonny Depp establish the main characters of the film. Bust shots of Al Pacino are illustrated and this could give off an idea that the film may be gang related as he is known to be in films of that genre. He is also wearing a leather jacket which is typically worn by villains in thrillers which emphasize their build, therefore their power. An establishing shot of a building is shown and then the inside of it is shown straight after which tells the audience that the next scene of the film will be in that building, which is a bar from which we can gather from the bottles and the dim lighting inside. The still pictures are presented in fast-cuts which may present a sense of chaos or fast movement. They may also suggest that the people who are in the still pictures are the main characters in the film and have some sort of significance.

The still pictures then transition into a video with a slow dissolving effect. It starts off with an eye level shot of Jonny Depp, then it cuts to a group shot of Al Pacino and his friends. Al Pacino seems to be arguing with his friend about which car is better, a Lincoln or a Cadillac. This introduces the idea of conflict and mat foreshadow future conflicts between him and his friends as the play forges on. Pacino then exchanges with another friend and the exchange is demonstrated through over the shoulder shots. An establishment of the date is made is the date is presented in a title at the bottom of the screen while Pacino and his friend are arguing. The loudness of the dialogue also presents a form of chaos. Pacino and Depp then make eye contact, but then Depp looks away. Pacino asks his friend who Depp is which shows that Pacino wants to know more about him and this gives Depp significance as a character. Depp then looks through an object that has reflecting capabilities and sees Pacino and co. looking at him and talking about him. He studies what they are saying and this portrays that he is in the bar with a purpose as he examines Pacino without Pacino knowing that he knows him in some way, this creates dramatic irony as the audience as well as Depp know something that Pacino doesn’t. His facial expression shows that he is fully aware of the situation that he is being talked about.

It could be argued that the eye contact between Pacino and Depp is Depp’s cue to leave as he leaves shortly after, maybe because he doesn’t want to give too much away. This is a cut from the interior of the bar to the exterior of the bar. A long shot of Depp is then presented of him leaving the bar, through the point of view of a camera. A camera is shown taking multiple pictures of Depp, which may suggest many things. It could suggest that he is a criminal and the police are keeping an eye on him or it could suggest that someone else is keeping an eye on his every movement for whatever reason that we are not yet to establish. Depp is shown wearing a long jacket, which could signify he is a gangster as it gives off that stereotypical sense of what gangsters dress like.

From the opening of the film, as the audience, we can gather that the genre may be of thriller. This is because the soundtrack, and the connotations which the characters give off, due to their attire, and the way that they act. Sub-genres of the film could be of crime thriller, as there is a specific focus on what would seem to be ‘criminals’. The props used also give off implications, such as the cigar. The cigar may connote Pacino’s rebellious way of life.

Images of locations that will be used

This is an image of Saint Dunstans Church where we will film our confrontation scene.

The next image is of the location that we will shoot our airplane landing scene.

The next image is that of London City airport where we will shoot the couple coming out of the airport.

The next image is that of a prop, which is a map of London to signify that they are tourists.

Synopsis of our film opening

The main idea of our film opening will primarily consist of a a mans race against time. Vijay and Raani are a newly wed couple who are visiting London on their honeymoon. They are visiting tourist attractions in London, in this case, Tower Bridge. Vijay is filming Raani for their honeymoon tape and witnesses a killing taking place behind Raani and this is unintentionally caught on Vijay's camera. Vijay grabs Raani and runs away in a sense of panic and they accidentally get split up. Andrew then stumbles upon a church and seeks Gods help to find his wife. The mafia who have followed Vijay the whole time since the incident appear behind Vijay sitting in the church. They give him an ultimatum of 5 hours to find his wife who has the tape or they will kill her. They threaten him with a gun.

Props and costumes - Erdinc

- The couple will wear casual clothes
- Mafia will wear suits

Other items that we will need are:

1. Leather gloves
2. Suit case
3. Sunglasses
4. Fake gun
5. Map of London

Generic conventions - Jayeb

This is a list of generic conventions that are associated with our genre (Thriller):

• Criminals - Antagonist/hitman
• Stalkers
• Assassins - Antagonist/hitman
• Innocent victims - Witness/victim
• Phsycotic character
• Dark pasts
• Cops

A typical thriller has 1 main antagonist and 1 main protagonist. It ususally takes place in ordinary suburbs. A typical storyline would be of a character in a menacing situation, where esscape seems to impossible; life is threatened and storylines are ususally crime related.

Pitch vote results - Ishmail

Jerdazis have decided that it would be best to go with pitch 2 (Jayebs pitch) after the feedback we have recieved from the other media groups. We decided on it due to the followeing reasons:

1. We believe that it fits the generic conventions of our genre.
2. The storyline seems to be appealing to the audience.
3. The props will be easily acquired and the locations will also be easily accessable.

Azmains possible settings and characters

Possible Settings for the opening scene of our film:

-Church
-City Airport
-Tower Bridge

Possible Characters:

-A newly wed couple visiting London on their honeymoon
-2 killers (criminals)

Pitch 2

This is pitch 2,please comment and vote on possible improvements and suggestions.

Pitch 1

This is Ishmail's pitch for Jerdazis coursework. please comment for improvments and suggestions and vote in the poll for which one you liked.

Azmains pitch for the coursework

The first thing you see is a black screen of credits running for about 25 seconds. The music in the background will be a piano playing until the credits and title disappear. The credits will consist of the characters of the film and the people who contributed to the making of the film, after the credits, the title will appear zooming out of the screen while the screen fades in with a smooth transition to a close up of the main character, Jason. He has a squint in his eyes as if he is looking into a bright light. The camera zooms out, to establish the setting of the place that he is in, he is in a dark basement and the only source of light is the bright torch which is attached to the gun pointing towards him. A bust shot of Jason tied up in a chair is shown, he says “where is my father?!” in anger. The masked man who is a robber says “Don’t worry, he’ll be fine, just as long as you tell me the code for the safe” in a relaxed tone while the camera is still on Jason. A side view shit of Jason is shown while he screams “Never! Those are my grandfather’s jewels, and you are not getting your filthy hands on them!” A sound of a gun being cocked is heard. Fast cuts are then shown of a close up of the gun, then a close up of Jason’s face, then a close up of the robber, all in quick succession to give a sense of chaos and urgency. Each shot in the fast cuts have a drum sound over them, then the screen goes blank simultaneously with the last beat of the drum sound.