Institutional Research: Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World

Institutional Research: Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World (Wright, 2010)

By Seth Tumwa

This task enabled me to learn that many credits can be used in the opening of a film and they do not have to be in any particular order. The number of credits can range from 20 or even more than 30 as this opening shows. I also leant that the main title of the film does not have to appear right at the start of the sequence or even at the end, it can appear in the middle of the sequence and credits can continue afterwards if necessary. 

Institutional Research: Reservoir Dogs (Quentin Tarantino, 1992) 

By Maximilian Mayo-Dell

Through Reservoir Dogs, i have learnt that most films contain around 20 titles in the 

opening two minutes since they have to get all the important people to be mentioned 

before the scene starts. It also showed me that the directors name doesn't have to come 

at the end but it ca also be shown at start. I think the opening is effective for the film 

since it keeps the audience wanting to watch more and gives some context to what type 

of film its going to be. 

Preliminary Task

Our preliminary task was to show different camera angles and also demonstrate good use of continuity editing within our piece. I worked with Max and Catherine and i believe that we worked well as a team and were very quick to prepare and assign roles. Max was in control of the Camera work and was very open to suggestions from both myself and Catherine about what shots we should use. Catherine and I featured in the short piece. 

We planned out what we would do by first brainstorming any ideas we had between us for a short storyline, where we should film and who was in charge of what. Our initial idea was a simple one, for the scene to be someone waiting to go in for an interview then show them speaking with the interviewer. We chose to film in an empty classroom. 

What went well?

I believe our use of camera angles was effective as we used a range of angles that were appropriate and useful.

Close up 1 

I think that our use of close ups were the most effective as they showed Catherine's facial expressions and conveyed how she was worried about the job interview she was about to have (close up 1). 
This is shown further through the images on close ups 2 and 3 that show Catherine's hands/feet shaking that again convey her nervousness. 

Close up 2

Close up 3

A shot reverse shot is used effectively to show the conversation between myself and Catherine, however we also use an over-the-shoulder shot effectively as it clearly shows the conversation between the interviewer and interviewee. Also the 180 degree rule is not broken here which helps to keep the realism of the scene in addition to effective continuity editing that keep the whole conversation continuous. This helps to give the clip more of a professional feel.

Here we see another good use of editing where Catherine opens the door and the scene fades out, then fades back in to show her opening the door and then entering  the room. This was shot form several angles to first show her worried facial expression, then show her hand on the door, then her hand opening the door and finally a shot from within the room to show her entering.

-Production Skills-

Rule of Thirds

The theory of rule of thirds is that if you place points of interest in the intersections or along the lines that your photo becomes more balanced and will enable a viewer of the image to interact with it more naturally. Studies have shown that when viewing images that people’s eyes usually go to one of the intersection points most naturally rather than the center of the shot – using the rule of thirds works with this natural way of viewing an image rather than working against it.

Close up- Successful shot:

This shot proved successful as Seth's eyes are specifically located on the upper horizontal line which allows an audience to focus on is facial expression rather than background images.

Close up- Unsuccessful shot:

  In contrast, this image of Seth displays an unsuccessful use of the rule of thirds. Seth is not positioned closer to one of the image as seen previously and so our eye is not forced to follow Seth but the brick wall. Therefore the viewer is not captivated and so will not linger on the image.

Landscape- Successful Shot:

This is photo successfully portrays the rule of thirds as we ensured Catherine stood within the left vertical line which makes her the focal point of the image despite background distraction.

Landscape- Unsuccessful shot:

Alternatively, this shot displays a photo which incorrectly follows the rule of thirds as Catherine is standing outside of the central box and is not aligned with a horizontal or vertical line, meaning that the viewer's eyes is not drawn to her but instead the bench at the bottom of the shot.

Preliminary task

Preliminary Task - By: Maximilian Mayo-Dell

Camera: Maximilian Mayo-Dell
Actors: Seth Tumwa and Catherine Moriarty

At the beginning of our preliminary task, we discussed various amounts of different ideas 

of where we could film our task, what types of camera angles and movements to use at 

different points of the conversation and how we could stick to the 180 degree rule. 

Before we went out to film, we created a short storyboard to stick to and give us an idea 

of how we should start filming.

Example of a Storyboard

Camera Shots:

Close Up Shot

Long Shot 

Medium Shot

In my opinion I believe that we succeeded in producing professional camera shots and 

angles. We stuck to the rule of thirds so that it portrayed a greater interest in 

the scene. Another thing aspect we achieved well was keeping to the 

white balance and not using artificial light. We also used shot reverse shots to 

the conversation so you could see the point of view from both actors. 

Improvements:

We could have made the camera flow more fluently rather than it be really statics as it 

makes it look really bad and not professional which was what we were trying to achieve. 

What we did improve while filming was the sound by changing the distance and the 

amount the sound is picked up on the camera to give a clearer and more professional 

shot. 

Continuity Editing: 

Its is important for continuity editing to make the finished video flow and look like it is 

one continuous motion. This makes the finishing product look professional and not stop-

and-go material. 

-FILM OPENINGS- 

Institutional Analysis

The opening sequence of 'This is England' (Shane Meadows, 2006) depicts  strong British iconography of the 1980's such as the 1982 Falklands war, the invention of the computer and skinhead culture.