Opening Two Minute Ideas

Mind map of initial opening two minute ideas

These are just a few rough ideas we had when planning our opening two minutes, however for different reasons, we have come to the conclusion that a horror, or romance alone would be too difficult to pull off successfully with what props, locations and the budget we have. Although a drama would be possible, we have decided to combine all three of action, thriller and crime in our opening two minutes.

Planning and Research - Questionnare Response

Target Audience Response

 

This questionnaire was designed as part of our research and planning in order to help us see what people like and dislike about films. We asked 5 boys and 5 girls but asked them to answer the questionnaire on 2 different pieces of paper, so we could analyse the difference between a male and female audience. We asked boys and girls between the ages of 16 and 17 as it was convenient for us, being at school. Although this age group was part of our target audience, looking back we have realised wasn’t a great idea because the age range wasn't large enough, considering the target audience was bettween the ages of 15-24. Another problem with our questionnaire is the use of ‘other’ which was given as an option. This meant that many of our responses weren't very specific, limiting the amount of knowlegde we gained from the responses.

From some of the answers we have received we can tell that the female audience is much more varied for example Question 1 and 7had rather mixed asnwers, showing that females like more of a variety of film genres compared to the male audience, which is a generic stereotype. Females are more likely to become fans of certain actors, normally men because they are attracted to them, and this is demonstrated in our answers from Question 4 were 20% of our participants said they think actors are the most important aspect of a film, whereas this didn’t occur in our answers with the male participants - they mainly thought the plot was the most important part. Again the female participants had more of mixed response in Question 3 compared to the male participants; this shows that they take less of an interest in the wider apects of films, such as the location, which also backs up my theory that women like a larger variety of film genres. This is probably due to males and females having different interests which are shown in question 6.

Planning and Research - Questionnaire

Questionnaire

 

We have created a questionnaire in order to find out what people expect from a film in order to help us with our research and planning. We decided to give choices for the questions in order to limit the number of different responses we received, so that we were able to narrow down our creative choices. From this questionnaire, we are hoping to learn more about our target audience and what they enjoy so we can take their preferences into consideration and work to incorporate them into our opening two minutes.

1.     What is your preferred genre?

a)      Action

b)      Thriller

c)       Crime

2.     How often would you say you go to the cinema?

a)      Once a week

b)      Twice a week

c)       Once a month

d)      Six times a year

e)      Other

3.     What type of location do you prefer?

a)      Iconic buildings

b)      Iconic landscapes

c)       Unique/small scale landscapes

d)      Breath taking scenery

e)      Urban areas

f)       Other

4.     What is the most important aspect to a film?

a)      Characters

b)      Location

c)       Plot

d)      Music

e)      Actors

f)       Other

5.     What do you expect to take away with you from a film?

a)      Profound moral messages

b)      Enjoyable spectacles

c)       Inspiration to achieve greatness

d)      Jealousy for the life of the protagonist

e)      Other

6.     What do you spend the majority of your money on?

a)      Food/Drink

b)      Social Outings

c)       Work/school related

d)      Holidays

e)      Hobbies

f)       Necessities

g)      Other

7.     Do you prefer realism or surrealism?

a)      Realism

b)      Surrealism

Planning and Research - Age Certificates

Age Certificates

All newly released films undergo a process called film classification in order to protect children from unsuitable and harmful content. The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) examines each film before it is released, enabling information to be provided to consumers, allowing them to help decide if films are suitable. Each film is individually and independently scrutinised prior to release to ensure the highest possible level of protection and empowerment. The BBFC works by applying the standards and criteria contained in the Classification Guidelines to each new release, helping them come to a decision. Every 4-5 years the BBFC carries out a major public consultation exercise, ensuring they find out the public’s opinion on the age ratings of films and whether their classification standards meet the public’s concerns – the BBFC adjusts its standards and criteria in response to any changes in public opinion. There are 5 different age ratings – U, PG, 12/12A, 15 and 18.

U

The U symbol stands for Universal, and it is the lowest film classification as it is for a universal audience. The BBFC states that a U film should be suitable for audience’s aged 4 and over, however U rated films are typically thought to be suitable for everyone. Generally, U films are aimed at a very young audience, however this means there is also a large proportion of the target audience directed towards parents too, meaning many of these films often have hidden morals/meanings. The majority of U films are animation; however there are exceptions such as the Star Wars films, but this is probably done purposely so not to limit their audience range. In universal films, actions such as sexual activity or violence are scarce or considerably diluted in order to keep the audience happy. Universal films are very much aimed at family viewing and so we do not think this would be suitable for our opening two minutes as it contains scenes/suggests violence and we believe that the U rating would lower our audience as they may dismiss it or consider it childish.

                                           PG

The PG symbol stands for parental guidance, and is the second lowest film classification. The BBFC state that any film with the PG rating is suitable for general viewing, but some may be found unsuitable for younger children. Typically, they are aimed at age 8 or over, however it is difficult to determine what may upset younger or more sensitive children which is why it is suggested the parents give consent. PG viewers usually range from 4 to 12 as they are a slight step up f rom U films. This is shown by the slight increase of bad language, sexual activity and violence. No theme is prohibited at PG as long as it is treated in a manner appropriate to the category. For PG films it is important that potentially dangerous behaviour is not included as the children are usually at an age vulnerable to influences, and so they are strictly scrutinised prior to release to ensure that all aspects to the film are appropriate. Despite the step up in majority, PG films are still not very explicit and are still aimed at a young audience which we would not consider suitable for our opening two minutes.

12/12A

A 12/A rating is the middle age rating of the film classification, and it permits that anyone 12 or over is suitable for the viewing, and permits that anyone of the correct age, can see the film unaccompanied. This classification states that anyone under the age of 12 must be accompanied or have consent from an adult over the age of 18, who must watch the film with them. There are two types of certificated in this age bracket – 12 and 12A. The difference between the two is that the 12 certificate is just for videos, DVD’s and Blu0rays, whereas 12A is for films shown by the cinema only. This classification is a significant step up from the classification below it –PG as they can include for more violence, danger, sexual activity and bad language, however the terms still apply and they must fit the Classification Guidelines. These types of films are the borderline of adult films as they take into consideration more serious topics that would be seen as inappropriate for anyone younger the 12, however parents may still deem some of the films inappropriate depending on their content although it is still mild. These types of film appeal to the younger teenage audience – particularly below 15 which is the next classification level, however there is still a wide audience range above the age of 15, but some may be reluctant due to the more childish nature the certificate suggests. This is a certificate we will take into consideration for our film as it may be appropriate, however we will need to discuss it in further detail as it may limit our audience.

15

Any film with a 15 age rating for the audience aged 15 and above – no one younger than 15 is
permitted to see a film of this rating unless accompanied by an adult over the age of 18. This film classification states that unless 15 of over, it is illegal to buy/rent a 15 rated DVD without permission as it contains content unacceptable for children under 15 years of age. In 15 rated films, no theme is prohibited; again providing it means the Classification Guidelines and has the appropriate treatment. 15 certificates are stronger than 12 or 12A due to the increased violence, strong language, sexual activity and discriminatory language or drug taking. These types of films tend to be taken more seriously than the lower classifications, as they are primarily aimed at an adult audience, with no attempts to please anyone younger. 15 rated films have a wide audience range and appeal to a larger audience than films such as U’s or PG’s, meaning they typically do well in the industry. This is an age certificate we will definitely be taking into consideration for our opening two minutes as it comes with a large target audience and would be suitable for our content.

                                            18

Films with the film classification 18 are for adults, and no one under the age of 18 is permitted to see an 18 at the cinema or buy/rent an 18 DVD. No 18 rated films are suitable for children as no theme is prohibited. Adults are free to pick their own entertainment within the law, so it is possible that 18 rated films may tackle offensive issues. Strong issues are also included in this age certificate with very strong violence and bad language, real sex, strong horror and gore as is some circumstances discriminatory language or behaviour. 18 rated films are the highest rated films on general theatrical release. There is one higher rating – the 18R however these films are not widely shown and are reserved for sex shops and specialised theatres. The boundaries of 18 rated films are continually being stretched, shown by the different conceptions of what is permitted as acceptable throughout history, showing the development of the film industry and the acceptance of some topics being shown on film. There is a large audience range for 18 films considering they are aimed at the entire population, only excluding those below the age of 18. For our opening two minutes, we do not think an 18 age rating would be appropriate as it does not include enough of the aspects needed in order to meet the guidelines. In our case, it would probably limit the audience range and is not really necessary as the content is not explicit enough.

Planning and Research - Film Institutions

Film Institutions

 

Film institutions are fundamental as they provide the money for films to be made, and without them, no one would ever get enough money to make a film decent with the available budget. These companies, also own studios, are useful as they are reusable and efficient, and are dedicated to film making. The major problem with film institutions funding a film is that they like to have complete control over the project, and this reduces the amount of creative input. They are all about making money, and this stops film advancing as an art form. The Big Six consist of 20^th Century Fox, Warner Bros, Paramount Pictures, Columbia, Universal and Walt Disney. They are all based in or around Hollywood and are also all centred in film studios which were active during Hollywood’s Golden Age in the 1930s and 40s.

Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. was founded in 1903 by Albert, Sam, Harry and Jack Warner – the four Warner brothers, and are an American motion picture studio that introduced the first genuine talking picture in 1927. The brothers began their careers showing moving pictures in Ohio and Pennsylvania on a travelling basis. In 1903, they began acquiring movie theatres and then moved into film distribution. Over the years, Warner Bros. have supported and distributed many world renowned films, such as Harry Potter, The Exorcist and Looney Tunes.Warner Bros don't really have a speciality in regard to what they do; they have a very wide range of films. They tend to make high budget movies that get a lot of money, which are released around the world. Figures from 2007 show that Warner Bros. comprise a massive 19.7% of the US/Canadian market share, and is the biggest player in the film industry due to the secured rights to so many popular films, making them the No. 1 name in the business.

Paramount Pictures Corporation

Paramount Pictures Corporation (commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount) is a film and television production/distribution studio, consistently ranked as one of the largest (top-grossing) film studios. It is a subsidiary of U.S. media conglomerate Viacom, and is a member of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). Founded in 1912 as the Famous Players Film Company, it is the fifth oldest surviving film company. Paramount Pictures is famous for its distribution of successful film series, such as Star Trek, Transformers and Paranormal Activity. Paramount has 15.5% percent of the US/Canadian market share and continues to be one of the most successful film production companies in the world.

Walt Disney

The Walt Disney Company started in 1923 in the rear of a small office occupied by Holly-Vermont Realty in Los Angeles. It was there that Walt Disney, and his brother Roy, produced a series of short live-action/animated films collectively called the ALICE COMEDIES. The rent was a mere $10 a month. Within four months, the ever-growing staff moved next door to larger facilities, where the sign on the window read "Disney Bros. Studio." Walt Disney traditionally specialises in family movies and animation, but in recent years it has been expanding more into live action. They also own an incredible amount of film institutions: Touchstone Pictures, Pixar, Marvel, and most recently Lucasfilm. Disney specialises on making films for the art from, rather than the money, and they don't make films as often, making every film special. Their films are enjoyable for both children and their parents, giving them an enormous turnover. They are one of the most renowned film production companies in the history of the business; Walt Disney now holds 15.3 percent of the US/Canadian market share. With highly successful movies like Pirates of the Caribbean, National Treasure, Meet the Robinsons and Enchanted, there's no doubt that Disney will continue to play a key role in the industry for years to come.

Columbia Pictures

Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. (CPII) is an American film production and distribution studio that is part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film studios in the world, a member of the so-called Big Six. It was one of the so-called Little Three among the eight major film studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. It was founded in 1918 as Cohn-Brandt-Cohn Film Sales by brothers Jack and Harry Cohn and Joe Brandt, released its first feature film in August 1922. It adopted the Columbia Pictures name in 1924 and went public two years later. The name is derived from "Columbia”, a national personification of the United States, which is used as the company's logo. They have a good partnership with Steven Spielberg - the leading film director in Hollywood, and this is a major reason for their success. They are consistently ranked as one of the highest-grossing film studios in the world. As with Warner Bros, they make a very wide range of films, and will make anything that will sell. It comprises 12.9% of the US/Canadian market share but still remains a big player in the business. Some of this company's recent successes include Casino Royale, The Da Vinci Code, the Spider-Man series and Step Brothers.

Universal

Universal Pictures is another of the very well-known film institution, mainly due to the fact that they have a big theme park in America. They were founded in 1912 by by Carl Laemmle, Mark Dintenfass, Charles Baumann, Adam Kessel, Pat Powers, William Swanson, David Horsley, and Jules Brulatour and were one of the first film institutions. It seems that only the film institutions that were around at the genesis of film making have made it to being the most successful, which makes sense as they've had time to grow. They make very high-budget movies, and have been highly successful across the years. They also own Illumination Films and Working Title films, which are key companies in their film making machine. Working Title acts as Universal's attempt to get money out of the British, by giving them about $40-$50m to make a high quality product. This has worked well over the years, producing classics such as 'Love Actually' and 'Notting Hill'. The films tend to include a mostly British cast, but with a few American actors in, in order to appeal more widely to an American audience. Steven Spielberg also uses Universal a lot. 12.2 % of the US/Canadian market share belongs to Universal Studios, which continues to make millions for the film industry. With major hits like the Bourne series (Bourne Identity, Bourne Supremacy and Bourne Ultimatum), The American Pie series, Knocked Up, American Gangster and The Incredible Hulk, it's very clear that Universal Studios knows what it takes to make money in this industry.

20^th Century Fox

The company was founded on May 31^st, 1935, as the result of the merge of Fox Film Corporation, founded by William Fox in 1915, and Twentieth Century Pictures, founded in 1933 by Darryl F. Zanuck and Joseph M. Schenck. 20^th Century Fox has distributed various commercially successful film series, including Star Wars, Ice Age, X-men, Die Hard, Planet of the Apes and Fantastic Four. Television series produced by Fox include The Simpsons, M*A*S*H, The X-files, Family Guy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, How I Met Your Mother, Glee, Modern Family and 24. Among the famous actresses to come out of this studio were Shirley Temple, who was the their first film star, Betty Grable, Gene Tierney, Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield. The studio is also contracted the first African-American cinema star, Dorothy Dandridge. 20^th Century Fox is a member of the Motion Picture Association (MPAA) and is owned by News Corporation as they also own the Fox Television channel. It is a highly successful film company which makes up 11.9% of the US/Canadian market share.

Horror Analysis - Scream

Horror Analysis

 The opening scene to Scream follows the generic codes and conventions of a horror film from the start, with the suggested main character being a young, blonde female. This immediately implies that she is vulnerable as well as a ditsy stereotypical blonde, implying whatever happens to her will be partly due to her own unintelligence. This is shown by her frantically running around the house locking herself in, rather than trying to escape, and her playing with large knives in a knife rack, oblivious to the danger – another generic convention. The female main character is a strong genre indicator in itself as the role of the helpless teenage girl being stalked by a killer is common in many horror films. The main antagonist is introduced through a conversation on the phone with the young female character. His dark humoured personality is shown as the dialogue begins light-heartedly however slowly descends into dark tones and evil threats. This conforms to the genre stereotypes as it sets a dark tone to the film, illustrating its sincere nature as well as helping to build tension and suspense due to the antagonist’s identity being hidden. It is made obvious that the female character is being prosecuted over the phone in order to show the power imbalance within the two genders – this conforms to the horror genre as stereotypically it is men that have more power/take advantage of women. The use of props effectively aids the tension building process as the diegetic sound of the popcorn popping uncontrollably signifies that main character is running out of time and losing control as well as the sound of the popping making you jump. The typical location is used, with a large, secluded area being the base of all the action. The suspense created by the scene is also helped by the location, as the empty house at night with an unknown entity lurking somewhere outside making the character seem very fragile as the house itself provides the only protection from the evil that waits. This helps to emphasise the main character’s helplessness and creates the scare factor as the audience are able to realise that no one is around to save her, as well as making them feel unsafe in their own home. Dramatic irony is used as the audience know what will happen before the character does, enabling them to interact with the film as well as build suspense.  

 

The bold, block titles illustrate the horror genre as the writing is very strong and harsh, making it stand out against the plain black background. This along with the limited colour scheme produces a bare feeling, implying that the film will be unnerving and uncomfortable. Sound plays a large factor in this opening scene, with the chilling sound of the phone ringing, a sharp knife blade slicing and a female scream being heard in the first 3 seconds. This helps to set the tone and theme of the film, suggesting that as the plot progresses a gruesome, horrifying act will take place, conforming to the conventions of the genre. The chilling sound is used as a sound bridge, meaning it is heard as the titles play and then carries through into the next scene as the female victim answers the phone. This helps to keep the continuity of the film and makes is easily understood as well as implying that the voice on the phone will play a large role in the film, which helps to identify him as the main antagonist. Music also builds in sound and speed as the tension builds, helping to reach a climax and make the audience feel uncomfortable. The loud sound of the phone ringing is used as a contrast against the silent background, reinforcing how alone and helpless the main character is as well as making the audience jump every time the phone rings. A number of different camera techniques are used in order to help build tension and suspense, and scare the audience. A tracking shot is used to follow the main character around the house, making it look like someone is following her. It also displays her frantic actions, portraying her emotions and showing how terrified she is, making the audience feel scared for her. An establishing shot and panning shot are also used to set the scene and display the surroundings in order to help establish the genre and illustrate the typical isolated location making the character look vulnerable. Point of view shots are used effectively from both the main character and the antagonist helping to build suspense and intrigue the audience as his identity is still unknown. It also adds to the scare factor as it helps to build a climax, showing how time is running out for the main character as the antagonist gets closer. Finally a number of close up shots are used to allow the audience to interpret the character’s emotions. These types of shots help to keep the plot moving and build a sense of dramatic irony which helps to increase the scare factor within the audience as it is made clear to them the danger the character is in, making them scared for her. Like all horror films, the pace of editing increases as the climax builds, helping to create a sense of lack of control and panic.

Horror Analysis - A Nightmare On Elm Street

Horror Analysis

 Nightmare on Elm Street both subverts and conforms to the generic codes and conventions of the horror genre. In the opening two minutes, the audience are introduced to the suggested female victim and the suggested male antagonist, however the gender of the antagonist is unclear as only his hands are in shot, keeping his identity hidden. This conforms to the genre as typically there is a female victim who is made to look helpless and vulnerable, and a powerful male antagonist who takes advantage of the female victim in whichever way he chooses – typically resulting in an abduction or brutal murder. The hidden identity of the antagonist is also a strong indicator of the horror genre as it helps to build suspense and scare the audience as it creates a feeling of the unknown. Typically the female victim is young, blonde and pretty, as seen in many other films of the same genre, such as Scream. This helps to make the plot more realistic and believable as it implies the character is a ‘typical blonde’ and therefore produces reasoning behind her immature decisions, putting her in further danger, such as choosing to hide in the centre of the danger rather than escape. The use of location conforms to the genre as it is somewhat scary, in an abandoned warehouse, in the dark. In a similar way to many horror films this makes the female victim look defenceless and exposed to the danger that is inevitably lurking. The location is big and dark, making the victim look smaller and trapped, as well as making it harder for both the audience and the character to see what is going on, increasing the scare factor. The abandoned warehouse with all of the tools and equipment is less stereotypical to the generic horror film and more stereotypical towards the slasher films which result in more gruesome, violent activities – hence the knives and various tools. As previously mentioned, the lighting is dark and unclear, making it difficult for the audience to determine the activities of the antagonist, making them feel slightly uncomfortable and very wary of him. The heavy sound of the antagonist’s breathing also worries the audience as it suggests the activities taking place are strenuous as well as dangerous, making them fearful and slightly panicky. The dark clothing of the suggested antagonist and light clothing of the suggested victim are clear indicators, making obvious to the audience which character is the victim and which is the villain.

 

The use of sound is important as little happens in the first two minutes so it is important for the audience’s attention to be grasped. The discordant, eerie music makes the audience feel uncomfortable, and as it grows louder it causes the audience to jump. The non-diegetic sound of a male screaming/shouting and his evil laugh scares the audience and makes the antagonist seem threatening which worries the audience. The dubbed sound of him working on his tools emphasises the danger of them and suggests he has bad intentions. The non-diegetic sound of the weather is unrealistic as the film is situated within a warehouse, however it is a common sound effect used in horror films as stormy/bad weather often connotes negative feelings. The heavy sound of the female breathing and emphasised scream also adds to the audience’s discomfort and makes the whole opening scene unnerving. Camera shots are cleverly used in order to hide the antagonist’s identity, with close ups only focussing on his hands and the work he is doing. This suggests to the audience that the antagonist is dangerous, and clearly unhinged, making him even more threatening. Close ups are also used on the female victim to introduce her to the audience and to display her emotions. A long shot is used to follow her actions as she runs towards the camera and also display the surroundings around her, introducing the audience to where the plot will take place, helping to set the scene. The long shot effectively makes the female victim look small and vulnerable in comparison to her surroundings, and also suggests to the audience how she is scared and lost, shown by her emotions – this makes the audience fearful for her. The editing pace is slowed when the antagonist’s hands are in shot, allowing the audience to take in the full extent of his work, displaying all his dangerous tools. Although the editing pace is slowed when the antagonist is in shot, it is relatively slow throughout with little happening, which intrigues the audience as nothing is given away. The antagonist also has much more prevalence than the female victim, suggesting that the plot will revolve around him and his actions. The titles subvert from the horror genre as the font is soft and round which is unusual as it isn’t scary - this may be because the film is old fashion. On the other hand, the way the title of the film jumps out conforms to the genre as it creates a cliff hanger and makes the audience jump. The colour scheme is also generic as it is relatively plain with black, white or red suggesting danger and setting a dark tone to the film.