I had authorised absence the last week of term hence the lack of a couple blogs. In today's lesson we watched a documentary on the beginnings of films. Its raised the valid argument of whether the audience should be seduced into the action and plot of the film being slowly teased or if it should be a straight up in your face experience instantly grabbing the audience. It was said that 'instant arousal' is advantageous in the sense that it automatically has the audience 'on alert'. However it can be argued that an explosive beginning sets high expectations for the audience after it, and is hard to top later on in the film. The more seductive approach was said to be risky in that the audience may stray when not automatically clinched but that a build up forces the audience to control their thirst for thrill and creates anticipation.
In the documentary it was shown that its is traditional to have an establishing shot that pans the scene then is directed to the character to be introduced as this sets the atmosphere and setting foe the scene.
It also showed how directors did not let credits disturb the mood they where trying to create but rather used it as a part of the opening. An example that stood out to me was the opening to the film 'seven' where they used discreet titles but in a way that added to the pshycotic events we see on scene.
I learnt the technical name for starting the film form its end and working backwards toward the start which is film noir.
The documentary also showed how the camera work in the opening of the shinning helps to create atmosphere. in that it follows the car that's on screen like an eagle in pursuit of its prey suggesting the car is heading to trouble and the fact that what usual is breathtaking scenery is being ignored as we see the the car heading deeper into the dark mountains.
At the end of the lesson we watched the openings of last years as students. The 1st was of a piece called final rush. I liked this one because it relied on a wide range of camera shot to create tension as opposed to fancy editing or dialogue. A camera shot i really thought was unusual and interesting was a pan of the reflection in a building window of the character walking that met up with the actual character. it really stood out to me. The second was of a group who's piece involved some excellent editing. They had an opening like that of seven and doe it justice.An thrilling tense atmosphere was create from the outset wit a slow pan of a graveyard.