Accident Sequence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=S9AgwCGg35Q

What techniques did you specifically use to create continuity (narrative flow) in your accident sequence?

In this sequence we used a variety of shots including a Master Shot; it was a wide shot pan of the scene from our first character across to the other character. We used this shot to establish setting on the field and it helps the audience have a better understanding of where the characters are stood in relation to one another.

We also used Reverse Shots; for this we used extreme close ups of both of the characters' faces to show the emotion of each character and show the differences of character between the bold striker and the useless goal keeper.

To create a better narrative flow throughout the sequence we kept to the basic 180 degree rule which stopped us from crossing the line between the two characters in the scene.

Finally, we also used Match on Action in this sequence from when the ball was kicked by the striker in one shot out of the frame, to the next shot where it came back into the frame on the correct side so that it looked as if the ball really was flying in one smooth action.

In hindsight, what could you do to improve the continuity (narrative flow) of the sequence?

I think that for the most part this sequence had a good narrative flow considering it was a very short class task. However, looking back on the scene I would have perhaps taken out the first shot of the feet and maybe put it in further on in the scene as I feel this is the only shot that didn't seem to flow particularly well, and maybe sharpen up the ending but I think that the idea behind it worked very well.

Film opening scene- continuity sequence.

 

 

Trainspotting.

 

I have chosen to analyse the opening scene of Trainspotting as it is a very good example of a well constructed continuity sequence. Trainspotting is a British black comedy/drama film which was made in 1996, directed by Danny Boyle.

 

The main focus of the opening scene is our main character running through the town, away from some policemen. It is effectively, a chase scene. It is a scene from later on in the film but it was used in the opening scene to foreshadow what happens later on in the film. We are introduced to the characters with close ups of their faces and their feet, these shots show us that they are running away from someone/something and have probably committed a crime as they have objects flying from their pockets. There is a tracking shot in this scene which makes it clear to us as an audience which character is the main focus and who is talking in the voiceover. As we are introduced to the characters the shot freezes on their profile and their name appears on the frame so we can tell which character is which. This helps a lot with clarifying the main group of characters from the very beginning and assists with the narrative flow.

The setting changes to a football pitch where most of the characters are playing a game which is a good way of introducing a group of characters at the same time. The camera moves to follow the players as they try to play football. The cuts in this scene have been continually fast paced which is then suddenly changes to a panning shot of the main character laying on the floor in the empty apartment. In this scene, the main character (Ewan MacGregor) is very chilled out which creates a very relaxed atmosphere which grows to be a very uneasy and negative atmosphere towards to the end of the scene when it becomes clear to us that his drug habit has lead to him having a wasteful and seemingly pointless existence.

Film Still Analysis.

 

This is a high angle shot of the character looking up at the camera so the audience's eyes are drawn to look at the eyes of the character in the centre of the shot. The character is the main focus of the shot and the background is not overly detailed. We can see she is in a tight space which looks like two storage containers side by side. We cannot see much of the landscape, so our knowledge of the setting is limited; however we do know that she is outside because of the natural light and the debris on the floor. The light hits the character's face and gets darker further away from the centre of the image.

 

She looks desperate to get out of the situation which she seems to be stuck in. Her arm is reached out as if she's waiting to be pulled up and saved. The camera is positioned so it seems that it's from the view of another person who is going to pull her up. Yet we do not know what or who she is escaping from, or why she is in that position in the first place which adds mystery to the still shot. 

 

 

Film opening analysis.

Opening Credit Sequence:

Opening Scene:

The opening sequence of The Breakfast Club starts with the opening credits on a plain black screen with gold text whilst 'Don't You (Forget About Me)' by Simple Minds plays on top. It's an iconic 80s song and once the credits finish, a quote from one of the biggest 80s icons - David Bowie - comes on screen. The quote makes the viewer think about what it meant and how it would relate to the film. As the quote is primarily about children and their relationships with adults and the rest of the world, we understand that the film could possibly be a coming-of-age film about the importance of youth which relates to the lyrics of 'Don't You (Forget About Me)' playing in the background.

In the opening scene we first meet the five main characters when we are introduced to them through a narrative description of them as "a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess and a criminal" which sets the stereotypes of the characters we are about to meet in the film. When the narrative ends we visually meet the main characters as they pull up to school individually alongside their parents. We are given an insight into each character immediately by seeing their relationships with their parents and we can automatically tell which character is supposed to fit each stereotype through the way they dress, their body language and what they say.

It's clear from the film opening that the plot will revolve around these five teenagers and that one Saturday detention in school, but we are yet to know what will happen between them. From the narrative we know that in the end they are somewhat united as they entered alone but at the end they're referred to as 'us', making us interested in how they came together to form 'the breakfast club.'

The narrative at the beginning of this film shows us that the story of these five teens will be from their point of view. The opening is over a short period of time as it shows them all arriving to their Saturday detention, early in the morning. The narrative used at the start however, is from the end of the film, put at the beginning to give us an insight into what will happen to these characters as the story unfolds.

Before we are introduced to the characters on-screen, the camera shows different shots though an empty, classic American high school. The opening scene sets the time and place for the movie as we are told that it's in Illinois, USA and due to the music, styling of the characters and opening quote, it is obvious to the audience that the film is set in the 80s.