Editing and soundtrack

During our editing process we experimented with many ideas. First of all we had to make sure we had all the footage in the correct order to make sure it had a flowing and easy following mini storyline in the opening sequence. We then cut unnecessary footage from these clips which were not needed. We then played around with speed levels to make a slow motion and double speed. We did this by decreasing the time from 100 to 50 and then increasing the time from 100 - 300. We used this for making the bump between the 2 main characters to show love at first sight and to stand out as it is an important introduction to whats going to happen with the characters. This is a classic convention used in teenage romantic comedy films. We also experimented with fades on the titles and clips to make it more professional and sound levels to make sure the background noise on clips was minimal with the dialogue sounds increased to make sure the audience can hear it properly. We did this by moving the sound bars up and down to make sure we had the appropriate level. This took a lot of time but we feel we have done this well.

Lee, Claire and Tom did alot of the editing but with contribution for ideas by everyone in the group. We all contributed and created our soundtrack.

Our soundtrack was produced in Garage band. We used acoustic guitar, drum kit and clavinet. These instruments are popular for teenagers and used in many of these genre films. We have made a simple beat with a cheesy clavinet bouncy rhythm to portray a getting ready for school and happy feeling for the audience. We did feel the sounds are restricted to make a professional backing track so we have added a song by the doors called hello i love you because the lyrics, strangely, basically perfectly depict the higher class of Felicity and the un-importance of Zach and how a romance would become of it all. 'Hello i love you wont you tell me your name?' and 'She holds her head up high, like a statue in the sky'. We feel very happy with our edit and soundtrack.

Changes...

From our animatic we have changed the idea of having the polaroid pictures. This idea was going to be polariod pictures (well known and regularly used nowadays) relating to the main characters, Zach and Felicity. This was going to have a voice over with it to introduce and explain themselves to the audience. For example, picture of a lipstick would be related to Felicity to show her always applying make up to look good for college. We decided not to do this as it would ruin the pace of the opening and not fit in with the other footage in our film opening. Instead the main characters are introduced to Zach on the phone to his mum, checking he has his packed lunch etc and Felicity telling her younger brother to keep well out of her way in college. This still introduces the character types in the film and leaves questions to the audience about what will happen between them throughout the film.

Also, we have found some problems with the footage we flimed when editing it. These problmes maybe wrong camera angles or not leaving enough footage after the shot has been taken which we can work around with to make sure there are no continuity errors, which we have in our opening. We are re-shoot 3 shots, which is the bumping in toghether and Zach staring at Felicitys breasts becuase of contunuity problems. Re-shooting this means we have a more proffessional film opening. This will not effect our deadline beucase we are well planned and very nearly edited.

Filming

On Thursday 12th February, we shooted most of our footage. After all the re-scheduling, this went really well and we work effectively and productively. We shooted all what we planned to shoot, which was the introduction to mise-en-scene, introducing characters, conversation with 2 main characters. We all shared the roles of filming, but Dave mainly filmed as Me, Claire and Tom were in the film, but we all discussed what shots we would use. We used low angle, pan, long shot, close up, medium shot, match on action and high angle. We were very pleased with the shots because we had planed what we wanted to do. We then planned to film on Friday 13th February, but with poor weather conditions(snow) we were unable to do this, so we have rescheduled for Tuesday 24th, where we will shoot the scenery shots to introduce location around Cambridge. We feel this would ruin the continuity and spoil the mise-en-scene as we already have footage when it was sunny.

Here is some test footage which helped us get an idea for shot types and angles. Firstly we experimented with handheld and pan on the tripod in the walking shot. We preferred the pan on the tripod but would make it so you can see the face of the character aswell. We may use handheld shot to vary it. We also shot a few scenery shots to get an idea of moving images and what mise-en-scene we will go to and use. We also tested with the shots of bumping in to each other to see the best way to film things to make sure continuity and editing is at its best.

Credit titles

A Moonrise Productions
Starring..
Billy Millet
Hannah Shilby
Gretal Blick
David Vorne
Casting by Joe Reynolds
Directed by Vanessa Blackwell
Produced by Geoff Crowley

These will be put across the opening sequence in our chosen font.

Analysis of opening sequence to Golden Compass; An adventure sotry for younger audiences

Golden Compass is a popular adventure following an orphan living in a fantastical parallel universe, where Lyra's friend is kidnapped and she travels north to rescue him. Their are many conventions used in the openng sequence to portray the style of the genre. The titles are first visible, which are a golden, magical glittering, in a childlike font. This instantly helps identify the narrative as an adventure or fantasy. A voice over is played over the squence, which is spoken like it is telling a story to children. This appeals to the younger audience and helps describe the narrative. The theme of an adventure revloves around a compass, which is over exagerated making it look more fantasical, attracting the younger audience. A compass is for going on an advneture so this realistic object but turned in to fantasy to appeal to the audience. The character type is a children herion, which the audience can relate to becuase they can see the story unfold in the eyes of child. The audeince are aware this is the main character becuase the camerawork zooms in from a long shot to close up to the girl with the compass. While this shot happens, the voice over is telling the audience "there is only one who can read it", giving clues that she is going to be the main character to follow. The music throughout is very whimsical, which adds to the magical visuals shown and keeps the young audience comfortable becuase it is gentle and easy to listen to. On most shots there is golden dust which visually helps to unfold the themes of child fanstasy.