Note to the Examiner

Dear Examiner,

Since September 2013, I have been constantly working on constructing this blog for my AS Media Studies coursework, which is hopefully evident in the posts below.

My coursework starts at the very bottom of the blog with my Preliminary Task and works in a reverse order as my blog ends with the more recent task which was my Opening Sequence.

This blog is equipped with navigation tools on the right hand side called the 'blog archive' which allows you to easily move through the whole blog and find certain posts. 

For the Opening Sequence task, I have done a draft followed by a final copy.  The difference between the draft and the final is small but is hopefully noticeable. 

I hope you enjoy it all!

                                                                             Roop Arora

Opening Sequence - How I improved the final project from the draft

Between the draft opening sequence and the final opening sequence, I have included a few extra features and aspects including differing camera angles, an extra soundtrack which I made on Logic Pro X and improved synchronised editing between the soundtrack, titles and video.

Opening Sequence - Audience Feedback

Omar (16) --> 'Soundtracks are good, the costumes are really well suited to the characters and a good variety of camera angles throughout.

Camille (16) --> 'Good range of shots and I like how the beat of the music is synced with the footage'

Milo (16) --> 'I like how the music fitted the titles and the costumes are great'

Louis (16) --> 'Great choice of music and is well synchronised with the textual insertion and there are a good variety of camera shots'

Sophia (23) --> 'Really good choice of music and I would watch the the rest of the film it was made

Toby (17) --> 'The unique music was nicely complimented by the well stylised opening sequence which had a good variety of camera shots'

Max (17) --> 'Great variation of shots and a fantastic choice of non-diegetic sound to accompany them'

Anita (39) --> 'I'm not too sure if I enjoyed it or not, I did like the editing and the music though! Well Done!'

Alex (17) --> 'It seems like two opening sequences in one'

I asked a handful of people from my target audience about their opinions of my opening sequence. I was contented with the feedback I received because there is a fine balance between criticism and praise. 

Also, I asked one person aged 39 and they said that did enjoy it but I feel 40 years of age is the limit in terms of target audience as the storyline would be mainly out of their interests.

Here is a collection of the comments I received on YouTube and it seems all positive. This tells me that people enjoyed my opening sequence. The comments have a theme running through them about how the shots, titles and music were synchronised together during the editing process.

I am overall very happy with the feedback I have received across all forms.

Opening Sequence - Directors Commentary for the FINAL

Opening Sequence -- Final Project FINAL

Opening Sequence -- Behind The Scenes

This is the video for my behind the scenes. It comes across that filming was very fun in which it was and I really enjoy it and cannot wait to do another project again. I have included interviews and a commentary from me about the basic plot of my opening sequence. The song I used in the background was the instrumental version to 'Rather Be' by Clean Bandit.

Opening Sequence - Directors Commentary for the DRAFT

Opening Sequence - Final Project DRAFT

This is the draft for my opening sequence as there are aspects of it which I can improve on to make it better.

Opening Sequence - Rushes

Foundation Production Evaluation - Question Seven

Foundation Production Evaluation - Question Six

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

I used a handful of technologies to construct the opening sequence. Firstly, to edit my media product, i used Final Cut Pro X which is Apple's industry standard film editing software. 

A Screenshot of the Final Cut Pro X application whilst I was editing my Opening Sequence.

Secondly, I used Logic Pro X which is used for soundtrack and music production. I used this application to make the soundtrack perfect for the opening sequence. This was to make the soundtrack as smooth and synchronised as possible. 

Logic Pro X

Other than computer software, i used my Macbook Pro to complete and finish the opening sequence. But to film the all important footage, I used a Sony AVC HD camcorder which was very reliable and easy to use.

Sony AVC HD Camcorder.

MacBook Pro 

Foundation Production Evaluation - Question Five

Foundation Production Evaluation - Question Four

Foundation Production Evaluation - Question Three

Foundation Production Evaluation - Question Two

Foundation Production Evaluation - Question One

Opening Sequence - Editing Process

I used Final Cut Pro X for the editing process of my Opening Sequence.

Here is a Screenshot of Final Cut Pro X on my laptop which I used to edit my opening sequence, behind the scenes and other videos for my coursework.

The editing process was a lengthy process because I did a draft and a final. The draft was the favourable template that my opening sequence would follow and the final project is more refined, better edited and includes more camera angles.

The editing process took a long time and a large chunk of my spare time and lesson time in media studies but I feel was well worth the time as I enjoy editing videos.

Opening Sequence - Soundtrack

I CHOSE THIS SONG AS IT HAS A REALLY CATCHY BEAT THAT MAKES SYNCHRONISED EDITING EASIER AND MORE EFFECTIVE. IT IS ALSO ONE OF MY FAVOURITE SONGS. I USED THE INSTRUMENTAL VERSION OF THIS SONG THOUGH TO AVOID ANY UNWANTED BACKGROUND LYRICS.



I CHOSE THIS SONG BECAUSE IT HAS A MEMORABLE RHYTHM WHICH I THOUGHT FIT MY OPENING SEQUENCE WELL. THIS SONG HAD NO LYRICS MEANING IT WAS RECORDED AS AN INSTRUMENTAL. I DO ENJOY THIS SONG A LOT.

THIS IS THE MAKING OF MY OWN PIECE OF MUSIC DONE IN LOGIC PRO X AND IS THE FIRST SOUNDTRACK HEARD IN MY OPENING SEQUENCE. IT COMES IN AS SOON AS THE CHARACTER SWITCHES ON THE LIGHTS. THIS TOOK ME 1 HOUR TO MAKE AND I FEEL IT FEELS THE OPENING SEQUENCE WELL. 

Opening Sequence - Shooting Script

Libertine Shooting Script

Opening Sequence - Construction

THE MAKING OF MY OPENING SEQUENCE

Things that went wrong during the filming process

The fact that all of the other characters other than myself are in my media studies class, it becomes difficult to gather everyone together on a specific date making the filming process harder because they were also busy on their coursework. This may have been due to poor communication and organisation skills on my part.

Due to this, I could not get all of the actors together at any point causing me to have to film individual parts and edit them in hence why my opening sequence does not feature all of the characters together in any shot which makes everything tougher.

I had to do a lot of filming on different days, the weather plays a massive part as it affects continuity because sometimes it may be dark and sometimes it may be lighter. I tried to make this less obvious to the viewing audience through shooting mostly during the day as opposed to night time. 

This camera angle was shot during the day on a cold, cloudy day.

This was filmed at around sunset on a sunny day. 

The Editing Process

I used Final Cut Pro X throughout the editing process. This editing software made by 'Apple' let me to edit my opening sequence with very close detail.

I felt that focusing on continuity and synchronising the non-diegetic sound and the textual insert was most important and using both 'Logic Pro X' and 'Final Cut Pro X' was the best way to do this.  

Costume

For the majority of the opening sequence, all of the characters are wearing suits and sunglasses as they get dressed and leave their respective residences for a night out together. The opening sequence begins when one of the characters wake up in the morning in a joyous mood wearing nightwear and text messages a fellow character if  'tonight is on'.

Opening Sequence -- The Shot List

My opening sequence consists of a multitude of different camera angles than shown in my preliminary task.

My Preliminary Task required me to focus on three types of camera shots which were:

1) Match on Action

2) 180 Degree Rule

  3) Shot/Reverse Shot

In my opening sequence, I used a wider range of shots including:

1) Low Angle Shot 

This is a low angle shot where the camera approaches the subject from below the eye level. A low angle shot can emphasise the size of the object being filmed and add to a point of view perspective. 

2) Close up Shot

A Close-Up shot is used to observe reactions and emotions such as happiness or tension. The emotion shown in the image is indifferent which means the audience cannot tell or read what the emotions on the characters face tells or what he may be thinking about.

3) Establishing Shot

The establishing shot shown above shows the setting of the opening sequence and often used at the beginning of a programme or film to set the scene. This shot was used at the beginning of my opening sequence. 

4) Medium Shot

A medium shot is described as a medium-distance shot where the camera is not for from the subject or close to the subject meaning it is a moderate distance away making it a medium shot. This medium shot shows one of the characters putting his blazer on. 

The variation of different cameras shots calls for a more enjoyable viewing experience for the audience as the camera angles can show different perspectives, settings, character emotions as well as the events taking place in the film. It simply makes the media product better and enhances the storyline.

Opening Sequence -- Target Audience

Considering that my opening sequence is inspired by the hangover trilogy which is rated as a 15, it makes it appropriate that the target audience for this opening sequence are those aged 15 and over. Ideally, this opening sequence is more catered to those who are younger than 45 years of age and those who really enjoy comedy. The opening sequence is not designed to be comical, it is made to give the audience an insight as to who the characters are.

I have set myself a wide target audience range which allows for more people to view it but this accounts for people who have a vented interest in comedy films and that is very large amount of people so I believe that 15-40 as a target audience age range is justified. This means that no particular tastes are accounted for as the overall genre of comedy is admired and is therefore provided. 

I decided this target audience because I felt like those younger than 15 may not develop an understanding of the plot whereas fifteen year olds and over would understand. Furthermore, the nature of the film would not be suitable to those under the age of fifteen as the four male characters go clubbing and there would be scenes with references to alcohol which would not be allowed to be shown to those younger than 15.  

I set the limit at 40 years old because I feel that people older than that would not be as interested in my opening sequence as people who are younger. The ideal person from my target audience would be: 

There is no specific gender I would aim 'Libertine' at as it seems apparent that females enjoy comedy films almost as much as men.

Education is important and it would be preferable if the target audience are either in full time education, have an education, in a full time job or are simply to understand the plot.

Opening Sequence - Title Font Analysis

There were many various fonts at my disposal to which I could have included in my opening sequence 'Libertine'. I decided to go for the usual and typical font in 'Helvetica' which is used very commonly in a lot of company logos, films, town signs and newspapers.

The reason I chose this specific font type was because it is clean, very easy to read, has no serifs and stands out well with the shots. The name 'Helvetica' gives the impression it is a European typeface which is normally associated with simple, eye-catching and pretty works of art including typefaces. The text is bold which is a popular characteristic of titles in comedy films.

This text below was another possible font I could have used in my opening sequence. The reason I did not use this font was because it came across as a little bit too cartoon like and maybe aimed at those younger than 15.

The next typeface below was another possibility but I felt that it was too bold and intimidating for the comedy genre.

The last typeface I considered was too simplistic in my opinion and would not work as effectively as 'Helvetica' does in my opening sequence.

Opening Sequence - Shooting Schedule Updated

It seems apparent that from a little verbal criticism from some people, I decided to remove some parts of my opening sequence as they make very little in the context making it difficult for the audience to understand the storyline.

This was the original plan for the production of my opening sequence but due to some criticism and my own personal distaste towards some parts such as the part of Piccadilly Circus. I had to condense the schedule to what is shown below. 

This is the updated version of the shooting schedule as the part of Piccadilly Circus is not needed so this is what the schedule looks like without that part. 

Opening Sequence - Shooting Schedule

1) Initial Filming was at my house in East Sheen filming the beginning of the opening sequence with Maxwell Fox and William Van Horn> Unfortunately Alberto could not attend due to short notice. 

2) Filming with Alberto Verme was done at my house again where Alberto's puts on his sunglasses and buttons up his jacket. More could not be done due to tight timings.

3) Day into Central London was for the establishing shot of Piccadilly Circus which features around 20 seconds into my opening sequence.

4) Finishing off filming was to obtain so establishing shots and tracking shots. 

5) Editing Process --> This is the beginning of the editing process which lasted one week. I edited my opening sequence during my media studies lessons, free time and on the weekends. 

Opening Sequence - Camera Set-Up Diagrams

This camera set up diagrams shows this shot from the opening sequence. I have included a key and colour to make the diagram easier to view and navigate around.

Opening Sequence - Storyboard Evaluation

The aim of a storyboard is to show the outline the scenes and shots of a specific textual insert through drawn images or pictures. The storyboard allows for small captions to be made to explain the camera angle, what is being shown in the image and which transitions which are going to be used. The storyboard is an indication as to what the final product is expected to look like on screen. 

I am not a talented artist and so I knew that drawing small scale images to outline my opening sequence and would pose a challenge for me. I am rather pleased with the storyboard as I managed to draw the images better than I expected.

Opening Sequence -- StoryBoard

Opening Sequence - Equipment List

The first piece of equipment i will use is this 'Sony AVC HD Camcorder' for filming. It is very good and records footage in very high quality which is essential for the opening sequence.

Next, I will require a tripod to stabilise the camera during filming to make it the viewing experience for the audience easier and smoother. So I decided to use the 'Hama Star Tripod' which is a perfect tripod as it allows for high angle shots and low angle shots as well as easy pan shots.

For the editing process, I will need to use a computer to load all the footage onto before I can begin to edit. To do this, I will use the 'Macbook Pro' with editing software capabilities. 

 I will use 'Final Cut Pro X' to edit my opening sequence as it is known for being very good and reliable with editing and is also film industry standard. 

Opening Sequence - Inspiration

The idea in which I based my opening sequence around was from 'The Hangover Trilogy'. I wanted to create a piece of work whereby the audience become familiar with the audience. 

The inspiration for two of the soundtracks (Bananeira and Backseat Freestyle) was from the Hangover films when they used the song 'Can't tell me Nothing' by Kanye West which had a catchy and memorable beat which is what I wanted to use in my own opening sequence. 

I feel that using a range of editing paces in synchronisation with the soundtrack is a good idea and gets the audience involved with the media product. 

Opening Sequence - Props

Opening Sequence -- The Character List

 MAXWELL FOX

I chose to cast Maxwell because he is always really helpful on and off set with both ideas and practical aspects and was really excited to act in my opening sequence when I pitched the idea to him.

 ALBERTO VERME

Alberto was more than willing to act in my opening sequence when I asked him. His height makes it really easy to do a low angle shot to show power, class and status.

WILLIAM VAN HORN

I used William because he is a good friend of mine and has some past acting experience and would suit the character i assigned for him well.

ROOP ARORA

I thought I would cast myself because I needed a fourth character and it turned out that nobody was available so I had to put myself in. I have some past experience in acting so I could put what I know into practice.