British Film Institution Visit

On Tuesday, my class went to London to visit the BFI (British Film Institution). I couldn't go on the trip due to an exam, but my classmates took notes so that I could understand what they were experiencing and how I should go about doing my coursework.They were given information by various amounts of people such as Pete Fraser, the Chief Examiner of OCR Media Studies, Simon Frame, and the writer and director of "Attack the Block" Joe Cornish. 

First of all Pete Fraser gave them information on how to improve and enhance out coursework. 

The key features in opening sequences are as followed:

• Genre
• Narrative (enigma)
• Character
• Atmosphere
• Setting

This allows us to create an opening sequence which will attract the audience straight away, and hopefully keep them watching. Every creator of an opening sequence thinks of things in general first and then elaborates on them more specifically, doing research at the same time as well. 

After speaking about opening sequences, my class watched numerous of past opening sequences in order to see what makes a good and bad opening sequence, taking into consideration the key features. The opening sequence is there for the audience to make a judgement on what they think the film is going to be about. My class were then given a list of six opening sequence that were common in which we should avoid doing for out final piece, these included:

• Saw - character/victim in a shed
• Scream - mysterious stalker 
• Se7en
• Lock, stock
• Someone waking up
• Flash back and forwards

They were then given information on problems which occur in an opening sequence:

• Making it look like a trailer
• Making it look like a short film
• Not many opening titles
• Poor lighting and sound quality
• Actors which were not directed correctly
• Making it complicated for the audience

Pete then told them about the steps we should take when filming our own opening sequence. 

Step 1: Take stock

- Building on skills, research and planning

- Time - giving yourself enough time to shoot and edit

Step 2: Setting up blog

Step 3: Build up skills

Step 4: Investigate

Step 5: Brainstorm Ideas

- Mood board

- Realism 

- Feedback

- Pitched

Step 6: Planning

- Experiment 

- Storyboard

Step 7: Shooting

- Costume, lightening, actors, movement, props and setting (CLAMPS)

- Rehearsing

- Keeping track or record of processing

Step 8: Editing 

- Screen grabs

- Audio and titles

- Foley

- Peer feedback and set a deadline

Step 9: Evaluation

- Evaluation of everything which has been filmed

Overall, I've learnt a lot from what the class has told me, the steps we have to make, to make our final piece realistic and what I should and shouldn't do whilst filming my opening sequence. I've also learnt that I should plan, learn from what others have done, avoiding creating an opening which is common, pay attention to detail and vary my blog.