Initial Plan For Opening Sequence

Trouble With Finding Actor To Play Guardian Angel

When talking yesterday my group had a lot of trouble trying to think of a person to play the role of the guardian angel as the role suggests that he should be wise and therefore if a sixth former was used to play the role then they would need to look a lot older than their age. If we can't find a sixth former that looks appropriate to play the role then we will need to look externally to try and find an actor, possibly asking family members of each member of the group etc.

Decision On Actor For Business Man

We have decided on a member of our group to play the role of the business man as he has access to business wear such as his sixth form clothes and he can also make himself look scruffy to fit the part of the business man at his lowest point. Joe will also be dedicated to the filming process as the final result will affect his grade too.

Decision On Style Of Opening Sequence

After talking to my group I have decided that our opening sequence will follow both of the characters' journey to work. It will show their actions at opposite ends of the scale, the classy guardian angel will wake up in a large fancy house whereas the business man will wake up in a dingy small bedroom. This choice of opening sequence leaves the opportunity for creative editing as the characters can be shown on the screen at the same time in different locations creating a 'split screen' effect  such as the one shown below.

Why I Chose My Production Company Name

What I Have Learnt From My Logo Research

After researching the logos of many popular production companies I have come to the conclusion that the style of a company's logo is usually closely linked with the style of film that the company is known for making. For example, the castle in the Walt Disney logo links closely to the 'Disney princess' element closely linked with Disney productions. Therefore I feel like it would be sensible to ensure that the logo for my own production company represents the action thriller genre that my film is based around.

Logo Research

Average Audience Member

How I established this:
Apart from the fact that the action genre is often associated with having a largely male based audience, I looked at other action films similar to ours to see the ratings breakdown in order to see which demographic liked action films the most in general.

James Bond: Casino Royale

This film gained the highest score from males under the age of 18, however, it also received high scores from males aged 18-29 showing that the main demographic that enjoyed this film the most was males from the age of under 18 up to the age of 29.






Payback






Overall, the highest ratings for this film came from males showing that males were clearly the demographic that enjoyed this film the most. The highest ratings overall (the same as Casino Royale) came from males under the age of 18 and males between the age of 18 and 29.





A Civil Action

Although this film did not achieve high ratings overall, the highest ratings that it did get given were from males aged between 18 and 29. This clearly shows that that demographic enjoys that kind of film the most  as, even though it was clearly considered to not be the best film within that genre, males between 18 and 29 still enjoyed it the most.





By looking at the demographics that enjoyed other films within the same genre as mine the most I was able to establish that the average audience member would be a male between the ages of 18 and 25.

Production Company Name

After brainstorming possibilities for the name of my production company I have decided on Guardian Studios.

I decided this because I feel like it conveys the intensity and the action of my storyline.

Colours

The business man is wearing a dull colour like brown to represent his boring life before the guardian angel came along. This will help the audience to understand his personality without the need for too much explanation.










The Guardian Angel is shown wearing black as this hints at the man's sinister nature and allows the audience to come to
their own conclusion on his intentions without much explanation being needed.

Ideas Of How To Interpret My Film Idea Into An Opening Sequence

I have thought of several ways to interpret my film idea into an opening sequence:

1. The first shot shows the lead character sat in a destroyed office looking downhearted. He flashes back to the trouble that his supposed guardian angel got him into back to where he is now.
2. The opening sequence is shown through the viewpoint of the guardian angel. He sees the dejected business man on the bridge and offers to help him however the audience know that his intentions are sinister.
3. The sequence begins with showing the River Thames through the viewpoint of the business man as he looks down from the bridge. He is then approached by the guardian angel.
4. The opening sequence is a montage of clips throughout the film, for example when the man gets in trouble, when the two initially meet and when the business man is at the height of his success.
5. From the view of the business man's boss, showing his rise from unsatisfactory employee to star of the business then back to where he started.

Each of these options offer different advantages, however, the main obstacle for my opening sequence is trying to convey the entire story in the space of 2 minutes while still leaving room for the story to be told in detail throughout the rest of the film. 

Ideal Actor for Main Character

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Rough Storyboard

Although this is only a rough idea for my opening sequence this is loosely the story line that it will follow. The main idea is of a struggling businessman being guided by an allusive guardian angel, however; he is soon led into all sorts of trouble as the guardian angel is not as good as he seems. The challenge now is trying to interpret this into my opening sequence.

Production Company Name Brainstorming

Further Production Choices

After making the decision that my opening sequence will be best suited for a large budget blockbuster I have been considering whether it is best to take the influence for that production company from pre-existing companies or whether to create an entirely new company from scratch.

Advantages of taking influence from a pre-existing company:

• There are pre-established logos to take influence from.
• Film styles from films made by that company have been established and can therefore be used to influence my own opening sequence.

Advantages of creating a new company from scratch:

• Greater potential for creativity.
• Gives the opportunity to add a personal influence to the film. 
• Does not restrict the creation in any way.

Based on these factors I have decided that the best option for my opening sequence is to create an entirely new company from scratch as this will allow me to be more creative and will mean that I am not restricted to one company's style.

Alternative Influences

It is worth considering that there are other forms of media that could also be an influence to my opening sequence.

TV Drama
Silent Witness is a British TV drama based around a group of forensic pathologists and their experiences on the job.

The focus of TV drama opening sequences is
 much different to that of films which is clearly 
 displayed in the opening sequence for Silent
 Witness. They clearly convey the main theme
 of the show to the audience through the
 showing of a skeleton encasing a body's vital
 organs as this closely links to the theme of
 pathology. There is little focus on the names in
 the opening sequence clearly showing that
 there is not as much focus in trying to convince
 the audience to continue watching the film as
 there is in film opening sequences and the
 focus is more on creating a clearer idea in the
 viewer's mind of what the main themes of the
 show are.

Spooks is also a British TV drama based around spies working for MI5 and their experiences and adventures.

Spooks has a slightly different opening sequence from Silent Witness  as its main emphasis is split between the introduction of the show's main characters and the introduction of the spy theme. They may do this as there are many main characters involved in the show so to avoid any confusion they clarify the main characters from the offset. They also however convey the spy theme to the reader by the way in which the characters are shown engaging in activities associated with the theme. This may not be particularly useful for my film as there are not a multitude of characters involved however some elements may be.

The Wire is an American TV drama based around the Baltimore drug scene as seen through the eyes of the drug dealers and the law enforcement officers.

The opening sequence of The Wire clearly focuses on introducing the theme of drug dealing and corruption to the audience. These opening credits could be considered to be fairly similar to the style of film opening sequences as they introduce not only the actors but those in charge such as producers etc. which is uncommon in TV dramas. The main theme is conveyed to the audience through the displaying of the area in which the show is set including people who appear to be participating in illicit activities such as drug dealing. It also, however, shows the innocent such as children going about their everyday life. 

Initial Costume Ideas

Basic Outline of my Idea

Basic Outline of Idea by emmaoox on GoAnimate

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Initial Casting Thoughts

Famous actors who would be appropriate for the role:

Bradley Cooper

As he has acted in films such as Limitless, which is an influence for a film, he would be ideal to play the role of our poor man who is living in terrible conditions.

Shai LaBeouf

Shai would be a good choice of actor for our rich guardian angel character as he is versatile and able to play a variety of roles. He also fits the description in regards to his appearance for the rich man.

Further Opening Title Analysis

Casino Royale

00.00  START
00.08  Albert R. Broccoli's & EON Productions Limited Presents
00.11  Actor: Daniel Craig
00.15  as Ian Fleming's 'James Bond 007'
00.18  Casino Royale
00.22  Actress: Eva Green
00.25  Actor: Mads Mikkelsen
00.29  Actor: Giancarlo Giannini
00.33  Actors x3
00.42  Actors x2
00.48  Actors x2 & Stuntman
00.53  Actor: Jeffrey Wright 
00.57  Actress: Judy Dench
01.01  Associate Producer and Production Executive
01.05  Camera Operator: Roger Pearce
            Second Unit Assistant Director: Terry Madden 
            Script Supervisor: Jean Bourne 
            Publicity and Marketing: Anne Bennett
            Promotions: Keith Snelgrove
            Assistant Producer: David G. Wilson
01.13  Sound Recordist: Chris Munro
            Electrical Supervisor: Eddie Knight 
            Stills Photographer: Jay Maidment
            Makeup Supervisor: Paul Engelen
            Hairdressing Supervisor: Christine Blundell 
            Wardrobe Supervisor: Dan Grace
01.19  Visual Effects and Miniature Supervisor: Steve Begg
            Supervising Art Director: Simon Lamont
            Property Master: Ty Teiger
            Construction Manager: Stephen Bohan 
            Post Production Supervisor: Michael Solinger 
01.27  Unit Production Manager: Jeremy Johns
            Second Unit Production Manager: Terry Bamber
            First Assistant Director: Bruce Moriarty
01.32  Casting: Debbie McWilliams
            Stunt Coordinator: Gary Powell
01.36  Special Effects and Miniature Effects Supervisor: Chris Corbould
            Main Title Designed by: Daniel Kleinman
01.41  Second Unit Director: Alexander Witt
01.44  Costume Designer: Lindy Hemming
01.57  Editor: Stuart Baird (A.C.E.)
02.06  Director of Photography: Phil Meheux (B.S.C.)
02.10  Production Designer: Peter Lamont 
02.22  Music by: David Arnold
02.28  'You Know My Name'
            Performed by: Chris Cornell
            Written and Produced by: Chris Cornell & David Arnold
02.38  Executive Producers: Anthony Way & Callum McDougall
02.52  Based on the Novel by: Ian Fleming 
02.58  Screenplay by: Neal Purvis & Robert Wade & Paul Haggis
03.06  Produced by: Michael G. Wilson & Barbara Broccoli
03.13  Directed by: Martin Campbell
03.18  END

Analysis

Of all of the opening titles that I have analyzed, this one includes the names of the most people with over 55 names being shown. This clearly displays the large scale of production in the well-known James Bond films as it would be unlikely that a small independent film would have the funds to involve so many people and firms in their film. This opening sequence follows the fairly traditional format of showing the name of a well-known actor (Daniel Craig) as the first actor name shown with the most well-known name (in this case, Judy Dench) being shown last out of the actors. However, it could be considered non-traditional in the sense that the name of the director, who is not particularly internationally well-known, is shown last.  As the theme songs for James Bond films are usually songs that go on to be chart successes (particularly in the UK) the name of the singer, writer and producer are included towards the end of the opening title sequence. The opening sequence could be considered to be a contrast to the rest of the film as no logical narrative appears to be being followed and the cartoon-like style presentation of the characters do not seem consistent with the rest of the film. The clubs, spades, aces and hearts that are also shown flying across the screen during the opening sequence link to the film's title 'Casino Royale' creating a connection between the film and the unusual opening sequence in the minds of the audience. For a large budget blockbuster film, 'Casino Royale' does not have the names of many well-known people in it's opening sequence; this may be because the James Bond franchise is so well known and therefore the aim of the opening sequence is not to attract people to the film (as is the case with most other films) as a loyal fanbase has already ben established.

            
The Transporter

00.00  START
00.04  Europa Corp.
00.13  A Europa Corp Production
00.20  Actor: Jason Statham
00.26  Actress: Qi Shu
00.32  'The Transporter'
00.38  END

Analysis

Compared to other opening sequences that I have analyzed, The Transporter is very short, only showing the names of the production company, the main actor, the main actress and the film name. It is also different in the sense that it is comprised of clips from the film (particularly when naming the actors) with the names shown being incorporated into this. It is difficult to say whether the names shown were shown in a specific order due to the shortness of the sequence but it does follow a traditional format to a certain extent as in the production company is shown first as this is likely to be known by the audience with the actor's names coming after and the film title coming after.