AICE Media Film Opening Storyboard

To summarize, the planning process took a while to think of many ideas for a genre and what to base the opening around. Ultimately, as a partnership, Cori and I decided to do a sports story. We eventually agreed that doing a basketball story would be much easier based on location and the ability to get better quality shots. Together we brainstormed ideas in which the opening ended with a serious injury that could prevent the main character from ever playing again. We also needed a backstory so we decided to have the main character sign his letter of intent. 

Film Opening Brainstorming

Film Opening Brainstorming Notes

- Mix of close ups and long shots

- Possibly include background music

- Show titles of important roles and movie title

- Establish a plot

- Use multiple different camera angles

- Include different editing techniques or mise en scene

        There are various elements to include in a film opening; many of which were shown in the given examples that I listed. One of the most important features to me is to include some way of introducing the important roles in making the film, such as stating the director and lead actors. I felt myself interacting more with the openings that had background music to set the mood. Another feature to set the mood is by using different camera angles and perspectives that the audience can interact with. For instance when a subject is walking you can have an angle in front, behind, up close, to the side, etc. In most examples the plot was shown throughout the introduction, but some did not introduce the plot until the last few seconds of the opening. For example, the "Dare to Thrill" opening introduced some teenagers taking a car on a ride and in the last 2-3 seconds they found something surprising in the trunk. Using these different techniques can enhance a film opening and draw the audience in. 

Week 1, Quarter 3: What Inspired Me

What Inspired Me to Create a Film From This Genre

       The genre of drama in film is expanded into so many other genres. Drama could be involved in an action film, a horror film, or even a sci-fi film as well. This wide variety of different genres involved with drama is a main reason why my partner and I decided to do this genre. Drama is intended to be less humorous of a movie and more serious in the plot. While their may be humor in drama films, the primary purpose is to tell a serious situation or story. There are three films that I would like to use as examples of drama films that helped inspired my partner and I in choosing this genre.

       First off, the first film that came to mind when my partner and I thought of drama was "Forest Gump." This film is arguably one of the most well known and highest grossing drama films of all time. The film starring Tom Hanks tells a story about a boy/man with a mental illness and how he overcomes obstacles and how his life progresses. Many dramas have similar openings where there are flashbacks to the past that tell the story. The opening of the film shows the viewers a falling leaf that travels throughout the city and lands at Gump's feet at the end of its path. This is metaphorical for the movie as the leaf goes through a journey as Forest Gump does. He is shown waiting at a bus stop telling his story to strangers sitting with him on the bench. 

      Another example of a drama is a recent film that has tremendously grown in popularity over the past month. The new Netflix horror/drama film, Birdbox is a great example of a drama film. The movie begins when Sandra Bullock, the main actress is instructing two children to keep their blindfolds on and to do everything she says. From her tone, the viewers can tell how serious the situation which classifies this as a drama. The movie flips back from scenes from the present of her and the kids and the past of how everything came to be. The shots that were set in the past explain the reason for how the three got there and why they needed to always keep their blindfolds on.

      The last film that I am using as example of a drama is the Blindside, also starring Sandra Bullock. The Blindside is a film based on a true story about the struggles an NFL player, Michael Oher went through as a kid. Many dramas are based off a true story as this film is. The movie begins by showing an real football clip of when NFL star Joe Theisman was injured on a play that ended his amazing football career. With a Bullock voice-over, she explains how the quarterback is the highest paid player on the team and the second highest player is typically the left-tackle because he has to protect the quarterback. This sets up the story for Michael Oher's struggles as a student/athlete.