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Introduction

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Hello! I'm Tilly and this is Amy! 

This blog is going to outline our Media A Level project, starting with our pitch and preliminary task until our final project, a 2-minute film opening of our own design.

 The final project will incorporate the conventions of film openings, such as establishing the setting, genre, primary characters, aesthetic, establishment of enigma and, most likely, it will include opening titles. We will also include various camera shots, camera angles, camera techniques (e.g. handheld camera adds tension, verisimilitude and can create POV shots) and a diverse cast. We also hope to create enigma and interest in the film. 

We have chosen to explore the family adventure movie genre. As we don't have the technology to create CGI animated children's films (or the budget), we will be attempting a live-action children's film instead. Examples of this type of film include 'Home Alone (1990)', 'Cheaper By The Dozen (2003)', or 'Ramona and Beezus (2010)'. These films are particularly successful due to their use of comedy (mainly slapstick), family values and heart warming narratives in combination to make them relatable and endearing, as well as the potential to create sequels and spin-offs.
In our project, we will also be using the idea of a children's imagination as the premise for the narrative.The film will begin with our main characters playing in a park. Using cuts we will compare the reality of the scene with what the characters imagine is happening in the scene. For example, one of the characters is pretending to be a superhero, so in shots where they are playing pretend, he will be wearing a superhero cape as a physical representation of what he believes is actually happening. This is a visual technique often used by children's television, e.g. 'Mona the Vampire (1999 - 2003)' or 'Lizzy McGuire (2001 - 2004)', but is also utilised in children's films, such as 'Bridge to Terabithia (2007)', 'Spirited Away (2001)' and 'Alice in Wonderland (adaptions from 1903 onwards, mostly recently 2016)'. This is an idea that's not limited to family films however, as the concept in used in darker films such as 'Pan's Labyrinth (2006)' and 'Ted (2012)'.

From this experience, we hope to gain valuable knowledge on cinematography and editing, as well as how to construct an interesting and believable narrative. We also hope to use new techniques and learn from our mistakes as we move along with our project. Finally, we aim to make an aesthetically pleasing, gripping, humorous and genuinely intriguing opening that will endear audiences and give us important experience in the media industry.

Comments

  1. Ben Escott10 March 2017 at 09:03

    Is Ted supposed to be a product of Mark Wahlberg's mind?? I think it's an interesting choice of genre but not easy to pull off. Sme of the films you've mentioned are fairly special effects heavy which may make life difficult. Home Alone style might be an easier direction to go in.

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