Wednesday 25 November 2009
Character Profile
'Little Blue'
Little Blue is our main character in the story, she is only known as Little Blue though out the film to keep to a fairy tale theme, we decided this while studying story's like Red Riding Hood.However, if we were to name her we would call her Lucy Mills, simply because we felt it suited our image of her
Little Blue was born to love, she easily feels other peoples sadness and can empathise.She does all she can to change it and them cheer up.
She's 10 years old
Born September 15th 1999
A Virgo, making her a an energetic, talkative child.Who is reliable and hard working.
And was born under the Chinese year of the Rabbit, which makes her lucky, a symbol of mercy, elegance, and beauty.
She is kind, speaks gently, is peaceful, quiet and a loving person.Her family include, Father, Mother and Step SisterShe's a active girl and loves to play active games like Skipping rope
She is currently in Year 6 and absolutely loves her school, her classmates, teachers and love for learning makes it one of her favourite places to be.For her hobbies she likes nothing more than to read her vast collection of books, Cinderella being a favourite and drawing colourful pictures.She also enjoys her skipping rope and tennis with her Father and friends.She can be very laid back, and takes things as they come along, and has a relaxed nature about her work and life, although she always tries her best when doing it.
Some of her likes are...Food - Sweets, Lemon pie and butter cream cakeColour - Blue (of course)
Music - the piano music her father listens to Season - Winter and Autumn, because she likes the leaf colours and jumping in leaf piles.Also because she loves snow and ChristmasPass time - she enjoys her bubble baths and can spend hours in the tubHer dislikes...Food - Eggs , seafood and pumpkin (she will refuse to eat one bite of it)
Colour - grey and dark greenMusic - pop music (to loud)
She also dislikes when others are inconsiderate or laughs at other misfortuneHer only fear is being lost or alone.
She was most scared when she was separated from her family at a theme park.Her sister was first to find her.
Opening Sequence Script
Int. Corridor. DayBlack screen fades to view of ceiling, a light hangs down. Moves gently down and across to the right until a wooden door is seen in the centre of the frame. A glow from the cracks in the door begin to show and grow brighter as we move closer toward it, as we move forward the handle begins to turn and the door slowly opens. As the door is opening we continue to move forward into the room.I
Int.Bedroom. DayA fairytale like room is revealed to us. Pink walls, flower patterns and toys fill the room, a tall bookcase stands to the left. We look across to the bookcase, we see a close up of the books. Fairytale books are lined up across the self, some battered some new. We follow on to the right to the table in the room centre. An open book lies across it, along with sweets and coloured pens. We see a close up of the pens and move along past the table. We next see the bed, with a teddy bear on the end. As we get closer to the foot of the bed a LITTLE BLUE walks to the bed side and picks up a blue bag. She walks away and reveals form behind her a picture frame. We look closer to the frame on the bedside table as it closes in on the picture of a family. From left to right we see the FATHER, LITTLE BLUE, and MOTHER and further away STEP SISTER. Then fades to a blue screen. Fades to blue screen and title ‘Little Blue’ appears.
Int.Bedroom. DayA fairytale like room is revealed to us. Pink walls, flower patterns and toys fill the room, a tall bookcase stands to the left. We look across to the bookcase, we see a close up of the books. Fairytale books are lined up across the self, some battered some new. We follow on to the right to the table in the room centre. An open book lies across it, along with sweets and coloured pens. We see a close up of the pens and move along past the table. We next see the bed, with a teddy bear on the end. As we get closer to the foot of the bed a LITTLE BLUE walks to the bed side and picks up a blue bag. She walks away and reveals form behind her a picture frame. We look closer to the frame on the bedside table as it closes in on the picture of a family. From left to right we see the FATHER, LITTLE BLUE, and MOTHER and further away STEP SISTER. Then fades to a blue screen. Fades to blue screen and title ‘Little Blue’ appears.
Wednesday 18 November 2009
Script
Int. Corridor. Day
Black screen fades to view of ceiling, a light hangs down. Moves gently down and across to the right until a wooden door is seen in the centre of the frame. A glow from the cracks in the door begin to show and grow brighter as we move closer toward it, as we move forward the handle begins to turn and the door slowly opens. As the door is opening we continue to move forward into the room.Int.Bedroom. DayA fairytale like room is revealed to us. Pink walls, flower patterns and toys fill the room; a tall bookcase stands to the left. We look across to the bookcase; we see a close up of the books. Fairytale books are lined up across the self, some battered some new. We follow on to the right to the table in the room centre. An open book lies across it, along with sweets and colored pens. We see a close up of the pens and move along past the table. We next see the bed, with a teddy bear on the end. As we get closer to the foot of the bed a LITTLE BLUE walks to the bed side and picks up a blue bag. She walks away and reveals form behind her a picture frame. We look closer to the frame on the bedside table as it closes in on the picture of a family. From left to right we see the FATHER, LITTLE BLUE, and MOTHER and further away STEP SISTER. Then fades to a blue screen. Fades to blue screen and title ‘Little Blue’ appears.
Ext. establishing shot of outside of school
STEP SISTER: Oi! (Throwing a scrunched ball of paper at LITTLE BLUE)
LITTLE BLUE turns around in disappointment; she isn’t shocked, as if this has happened many times.
STEP SISTERS FRIENDS: (2 of them giggling devilishly in amusement, they each stand aside the step sister)
LITTLE BLUE: o go away I haven’t got any lunch money for today.
STEP SISTER: (Toots)
Well you know the drill.
STEP SISTERS FRIENDS approach LITTLE BLUE, STEP SISTER is at the middle front of the two, looking like a leader, and their facial expressions turn bitter and ugly.
STEP SISTER: get her!
(She bares her teeth at LITTLE BLUE)
LITTLE BLUE gasps and runs away from the bullies
Camera tracks LITTLE BLUE running into a valley
Ext. Valley, outside
LITTLE BLUE pants for air as she hides behind the bins in the corner of the valley, she bends forward resting her hands on her slightly bent knees she leans her head forward looking down regaining her breath. Suddenly a noise is heard; sounds of crackling leaves through heavy but slow footsteps get louder. LITTLE BLUE jumps up thinking it’s the bullies, she throws her right foot first to sprint away. A hand touches LITTLE BLUES back.
Whispering with a croaky voice
Old witch: they’re gone, they’re gone
LITTLE BLUE turns around, are settles still.
Tell me, why so blue?
LITTLE BLUE breaks out into a roar of whiney crying and tears.
i-i cant take this no more, she wont stop bullying me, her and all the other mean girls. I don’t know w- w- why (her voice weakens and crumbles down)
OLD WITCH: hush hush child, don’t worry.
…who might these bullies be?
LITTLE BLUE: (looks down) my step sister and her friends
Old witch: oh child..
She gently drops her right hand into her pocket, and slips out 3 pebble sized sweets each wrapped in see-through creased wrappers. All three different colour’s luminous blue, red and yellow.
LITTLE BLUE: (curiously) what’s that?
OLD WITCH: It’s the sweetest thing
LITTLE BLUE, looks at the lady for more answers, her eyes shift side to side
LITTLE BLUE: huh?
OLD WITCH: give it to those horrid girls and horrid they shall be no more.
But… do not eat them, and do not let anyone but the bullies eat them or it will go horribly wrong
LITTLE BLUE: what will go wrong?
OLD WITCH: the magic!
A shuffling of leaves is heard behind blue,
Blue jumps again and turns instinctively, no one is there, she puts her head back to the front. The old lady is gone. In dead silence blue stands alone with three pebble sized sweets lay wraped inside LITTLE BLUES closed fist.
LITTLE BLUE gasps in shock
staring down at her hand lay out with sweets on it
LITTLE BLUE: whispers to herself
Oh my, how did it get there?
The scene closes, cutting away to the next scene
Int. bedroom, day.
LITTLE BLUE is in her step sisters bedroom, cleaning and rushing around tidying all her sisters belongings. Her sister storms in.
Step sisters mouth extends open like a lion
STEP SISTER: get out get out! What do you think you’re doing!
LITTLE BLUE: I- im just tidying you’re-
STEP SISTER: things. My things! Oh look at you, acting like some kind of angel! Just stop it, seeking all my attention as usual.
LITTLE BLUE: (holds her head down, and runs out the room)
Ext. establishing school, outside, daytime
Int. Classroom, daytime.
The classroom is busy with children all fiddling in their seats, chattering of children is heard, giggling too. We then focus on three girls sitting at one table, the step sister in the middle. The step sister is whispering in her friends ears, an evil grin gradually grows on all their faces as they whisper and giggle, they focus there eyes on LITTLE BLUE sitting on the table in front of them. The step sister reaches out for little blues bag slouched beside the back of the chair. The sister quietly takes the bag without LITTLE BLUE noticing. The girls giggle louder as they rummage through the bag, when findings the 3 colourful sweets they take it out, the two friends unwrap the sweets straight into there mouth while the step sister takes her time she takes her sweet beginning to unwrap it.
STEP SISTER: ooo Blueeeeeeeeee!
To LITTLE BLUES shock she jumps to grab the sweet off, no no don’t eat it.. it’s it’s-
FRIENDS: go on get your sweet revenge!
The step sister picks the sweet from the wrapper, moving it closer towards her mouth.
LITTLE BLUE: it’s magic sweets, no, its dangerous!
Black screen fades to view of ceiling, a light hangs down. Moves gently down and across to the right until a wooden door is seen in the centre of the frame. A glow from the cracks in the door begin to show and grow brighter as we move closer toward it, as we move forward the handle begins to turn and the door slowly opens. As the door is opening we continue to move forward into the room.Int.Bedroom. DayA fairytale like room is revealed to us. Pink walls, flower patterns and toys fill the room; a tall bookcase stands to the left. We look across to the bookcase; we see a close up of the books. Fairytale books are lined up across the self, some battered some new. We follow on to the right to the table in the room centre. An open book lies across it, along with sweets and colored pens. We see a close up of the pens and move along past the table. We next see the bed, with a teddy bear on the end. As we get closer to the foot of the bed a LITTLE BLUE walks to the bed side and picks up a blue bag. She walks away and reveals form behind her a picture frame. We look closer to the frame on the bedside table as it closes in on the picture of a family. From left to right we see the FATHER, LITTLE BLUE, and MOTHER and further away STEP SISTER. Then fades to a blue screen. Fades to blue screen and title ‘Little Blue’ appears.
Ext. establishing shot of outside of school
STEP SISTER: Oi! (Throwing a scrunched ball of paper at LITTLE BLUE)
LITTLE BLUE turns around in disappointment; she isn’t shocked, as if this has happened many times.
STEP SISTERS FRIENDS: (2 of them giggling devilishly in amusement, they each stand aside the step sister)
LITTLE BLUE: o go away I haven’t got any lunch money for today.
STEP SISTER: (Toots)
Well you know the drill.
STEP SISTERS FRIENDS approach LITTLE BLUE, STEP SISTER is at the middle front of the two, looking like a leader, and their facial expressions turn bitter and ugly.
STEP SISTER: get her!
(She bares her teeth at LITTLE BLUE)
LITTLE BLUE gasps and runs away from the bullies
Camera tracks LITTLE BLUE running into a valley
Ext. Valley, outside
LITTLE BLUE pants for air as she hides behind the bins in the corner of the valley, she bends forward resting her hands on her slightly bent knees she leans her head forward looking down regaining her breath. Suddenly a noise is heard; sounds of crackling leaves through heavy but slow footsteps get louder. LITTLE BLUE jumps up thinking it’s the bullies, she throws her right foot first to sprint away. A hand touches LITTLE BLUES back.
Whispering with a croaky voice
Old witch: they’re gone, they’re gone
LITTLE BLUE turns around, are settles still.
Tell me, why so blue?
LITTLE BLUE breaks out into a roar of whiney crying and tears.
i-i cant take this no more, she wont stop bullying me, her and all the other mean girls. I don’t know w- w- why (her voice weakens and crumbles down)
OLD WITCH: hush hush child, don’t worry.
…who might these bullies be?
LITTLE BLUE: (looks down) my step sister and her friends
Old witch: oh child..
She gently drops her right hand into her pocket, and slips out 3 pebble sized sweets each wrapped in see-through creased wrappers. All three different colour’s luminous blue, red and yellow.
LITTLE BLUE: (curiously) what’s that?
OLD WITCH: It’s the sweetest thing
LITTLE BLUE, looks at the lady for more answers, her eyes shift side to side
LITTLE BLUE: huh?
OLD WITCH: give it to those horrid girls and horrid they shall be no more.
But… do not eat them, and do not let anyone but the bullies eat them or it will go horribly wrong
LITTLE BLUE: what will go wrong?
OLD WITCH: the magic!
A shuffling of leaves is heard behind blue,
Blue jumps again and turns instinctively, no one is there, she puts her head back to the front. The old lady is gone. In dead silence blue stands alone with three pebble sized sweets lay wraped inside LITTLE BLUES closed fist.
LITTLE BLUE gasps in shock
staring down at her hand lay out with sweets on it
LITTLE BLUE: whispers to herself
Oh my, how did it get there?
The scene closes, cutting away to the next scene
Int. bedroom, day.
LITTLE BLUE is in her step sisters bedroom, cleaning and rushing around tidying all her sisters belongings. Her sister storms in.
Step sisters mouth extends open like a lion
STEP SISTER: get out get out! What do you think you’re doing!
LITTLE BLUE: I- im just tidying you’re-
STEP SISTER: things. My things! Oh look at you, acting like some kind of angel! Just stop it, seeking all my attention as usual.
LITTLE BLUE: (holds her head down, and runs out the room)
Ext. establishing school, outside, daytime
Int. Classroom, daytime.
The classroom is busy with children all fiddling in their seats, chattering of children is heard, giggling too. We then focus on three girls sitting at one table, the step sister in the middle. The step sister is whispering in her friends ears, an evil grin gradually grows on all their faces as they whisper and giggle, they focus there eyes on LITTLE BLUE sitting on the table in front of them. The step sister reaches out for little blues bag slouched beside the back of the chair. The sister quietly takes the bag without LITTLE BLUE noticing. The girls giggle louder as they rummage through the bag, when findings the 3 colourful sweets they take it out, the two friends unwrap the sweets straight into there mouth while the step sister takes her time she takes her sweet beginning to unwrap it.
STEP SISTER: ooo Blueeeeeeeeee!
To LITTLE BLUES shock she jumps to grab the sweet off, no no don’t eat it.. it’s it’s-
FRIENDS: go on get your sweet revenge!
The step sister picks the sweet from the wrapper, moving it closer towards her mouth.
LITTLE BLUE: it’s magic sweets, no, its dangerous!
Sunday 15 November 2009
'Little Blue' Treatment
First Treatment
Little girl, wants to be accepted, she’s different and unique, kind and easily liked. She wants to be accepted by her step sister. Who is driven by jealously and envy because of the love the little receives instead of her. In the end the little girl’s compassion and unconditional love shows the sister how wrong she’s been, and she changes her ways, with a new found love for her sister.
• Little girl is loved by mother and father
• Step sister is jealous
• Bullies little girl with friends
• Witch finds her crying, offers to help – gives name little blue
• Witches give her sweets to earn steps sister love
• Little girl tries to gain acceptance by herself, but fails
• Step sister shuns her more
• Witch decides to teach sister a lesson
• Little girl stops her
• Step sister realises how wonderful her little sister is
• They make up
• Witches job is done and leaves
• Happy end
Little BlueTagline‘Love turns sorrow into happiness’Or ‘The sweetest thing’
Pitch
The story of little blue is one of loss, envy and unconditional love. As this sweet little girl offers her love to someone who only offers hate in return, she tries to close the every growing gap between sisters, using a little magic along the way.TreatmentLittle Blue tells the tale of a little girl’s want of her stepsisters love. We begin our story with little blue being doted on by her parents, hand in hand, laughing and smiling her beloved smile, her blue coat making her stand out from others. Her sister hangs behind the loving scene, looking any where but the trio. / - other idea - with little blue, running from room to room, retracing discarded pens and papers from around the house preparing for school. Her parents help and laugh on at their precious daughters rushing, an older girl is still in her room, laying on her bed she frowns at the echoes of laughter and motherly cooing outside her door. Her father calls to her and as she rises from her bed she looks longingly at a picture of a woman by her bedside, getting up and closing the door behind her. As the story continues while the stepsister ignores little blue at home it’s rather the opposite at school, the stepsister along with her friends terrorise the little girl, to her the little girl has everything that should be hers, after her mother was ripped away from her the girl took away her father too. Why should she have to be the one to feel so alone? After a confrontation from the girls little blue runs away and hides away, while crying her unstopping tears an old lady approaches her, she asks why a lovely little girl should be so blue, as the girl confesses her sisters actions the lady comforts her, and presents her with some sweets, but no ordinary sweets, she asks little blue to give these to her sister, and she will love her. However little blue is unsure to give her step sister the sweets, she feels a simple token will not be enough to earn her sisters love. As she attempts to help her sister as much as she can, from completing her chores to taking the blame for her sister purposeful bad behaviour, however this only angers the step sister as her little sisters tries to not only look better for completing her jobs but also taking credit for her tries to gain attention. The stepsister friends take little blues bag, finding the sweets, they tempt the sister to eat them while little blues tries in vain to take them back. The sister argues back, once again she tries to take something all to herself, but before the step sister can join her friends in eating the sweets they suddenly turn of her, becoming furious and jealous of the step sister, as they continue to abuse her little blue stands up for her sister, confessing how wonderful her sister is in her eyes, stopping the girls insults. So touched by her little sister outburst she realises how wrong she’s been and confesses her own horrid treatment of her sister was her blaming her for her mothers death and fathers remarrying, and she was the one who had isolated herself. At this the witch appears revealing the spell on the friends reflected the step sisters own foolish feelings, and it was only little blues love that could cure both the friends and the sister.
Little girl, wants to be accepted, she’s different and unique, kind and easily liked. She wants to be accepted by her step sister. Who is driven by jealously and envy because of the love the little receives instead of her. In the end the little girl’s compassion and unconditional love shows the sister how wrong she’s been, and she changes her ways, with a new found love for her sister.
• Little girl is loved by mother and father
• Step sister is jealous
• Bullies little girl with friends
• Witch finds her crying, offers to help – gives name little blue
• Witches give her sweets to earn steps sister love
• Little girl tries to gain acceptance by herself, but fails
• Step sister shuns her more
• Witch decides to teach sister a lesson
• Little girl stops her
• Step sister realises how wonderful her little sister is
• They make up
• Witches job is done and leaves
• Happy end
Little BlueTagline‘Love turns sorrow into happiness’Or ‘The sweetest thing’
Pitch
The story of little blue is one of loss, envy and unconditional love. As this sweet little girl offers her love to someone who only offers hate in return, she tries to close the every growing gap between sisters, using a little magic along the way.TreatmentLittle Blue tells the tale of a little girl’s want of her stepsisters love. We begin our story with little blue being doted on by her parents, hand in hand, laughing and smiling her beloved smile, her blue coat making her stand out from others. Her sister hangs behind the loving scene, looking any where but the trio. / - other idea - with little blue, running from room to room, retracing discarded pens and papers from around the house preparing for school. Her parents help and laugh on at their precious daughters rushing, an older girl is still in her room, laying on her bed she frowns at the echoes of laughter and motherly cooing outside her door. Her father calls to her and as she rises from her bed she looks longingly at a picture of a woman by her bedside, getting up and closing the door behind her. As the story continues while the stepsister ignores little blue at home it’s rather the opposite at school, the stepsister along with her friends terrorise the little girl, to her the little girl has everything that should be hers, after her mother was ripped away from her the girl took away her father too. Why should she have to be the one to feel so alone? After a confrontation from the girls little blue runs away and hides away, while crying her unstopping tears an old lady approaches her, she asks why a lovely little girl should be so blue, as the girl confesses her sisters actions the lady comforts her, and presents her with some sweets, but no ordinary sweets, she asks little blue to give these to her sister, and she will love her. However little blue is unsure to give her step sister the sweets, she feels a simple token will not be enough to earn her sisters love. As she attempts to help her sister as much as she can, from completing her chores to taking the blame for her sister purposeful bad behaviour, however this only angers the step sister as her little sisters tries to not only look better for completing her jobs but also taking credit for her tries to gain attention. The stepsister friends take little blues bag, finding the sweets, they tempt the sister to eat them while little blues tries in vain to take them back. The sister argues back, once again she tries to take something all to herself, but before the step sister can join her friends in eating the sweets they suddenly turn of her, becoming furious and jealous of the step sister, as they continue to abuse her little blue stands up for her sister, confessing how wonderful her sister is in her eyes, stopping the girls insults. So touched by her little sister outburst she realises how wrong she’s been and confesses her own horrid treatment of her sister was her blaming her for her mothers death and fathers remarrying, and she was the one who had isolated herself. At this the witch appears revealing the spell on the friends reflected the step sisters own foolish feelings, and it was only little blues love that could cure both the friends and the sister.
Sunday 8 November 2009
Research & Planning (Analysis Of 3 Opening Sequences Of Chosen Genre)
Labyrinth
The labyrinth starts off with opening credits running through one by one on the screen, along with music in the background. When the title appears on the opening credit a shiny twinkle effect is placed on the title ‘labyrinth’ similarly to the way a star in the sky would twinkle, a similar effect of this is used in the film, it also has the sound effect of a twinkling star and sounds magical. Already we can relate this magical effect to the codes and conventions of a fantasy genre as the fantasy genre is very likely to contain these kind of elements, gives a sense of the film being out of this world and tells us the film has magic in it. Also, as each credit fades in and out of the frame, an owl flies through and in my research I have found owls have long been a part of human folklore and legend. Also, that they have held a variety of symbolic roles in culture and have represented misfortune, death, prosperity and wisdom. This indicates another key code and convention of the fantasy genre being used in subtle ways from the very beginning of the film to follow the fantasy genre and brings in a magical fantasy atmosphere to it. I can also suggest that the use of the owl in the opening credits indicates its significance and the importance of its role throughout the film, that your always being watched and the idea of being watched is relevant to the whole film. The first shot if the opening sequence is an establishing long shot of a field of grass and a pole on the right hand side with an owl on it, we then see a girl from far running into the frame from the left hand side. This gives us a chance to first focus on the owl, again this hints its importance and the theme of always being watched, we are then focused onto the next thing in the frame, which is the girl running into the frame from the left hand side towards the right. Later on during the sequence another indication of the fantasy genre is shown, this is when the camera tracks to the girls bedroom. The camera pans through a part of the girls bedroom to her, as the camera is panning we can see teddy bears and stuffed toys, a fairy music jewellery box (with the sound of it being played in the background), we can also see a puzzle game that has features like a maze and you have to get the ball through to the end without letting it fall into the traps ( the holes) the game we see in the frame is like a foreshadowing of the real event that happens later on in the film, the game is also called Labyrinth and directly links to the film and it’s title and is a clue of the narrative. The camera keeps panning through and we come to a line of books, ‘wizard of oz, snow white and Grimm’s fairytale’, this gives a sense of a childish feel to the movie, a sense of imagination and that the girl is in a fantasy world, along with the fairy music in the background, it sets the childish atmosphere and this follows the key code and conventions of the fantasy genre’. After it pans through the books we lastly see a stone statue of a goblin, this emphasizes the character of the girl and the fairytale world she lives in, as goblin is part of folklore and folklore is usually seen in the fantasy genre. The goblin also becomes an important character later on in the film and is seen constantly throughout, so hints are given to prepare us for what is going to happen although not much is given away therefore we are kept at interest and want to watch on.
The opening sequence overall was up to my expectations, it gave many hints of the film as a whole and led up to the story quite swiftly whilst keeping me deep in interest. The music was used very cleverly, at times the music would be slow paced, it would also speed up at other times, and then go slow paced again, the way the music was used allowed me to be put in a state of comfort, then discomfort then comfort again, which gave the effect of making the viewer feel uneasy, and sensing at the back of the viewers mind something bad will happen. They use this effect of comfort and discomfort through use of speed with the fairy music, and is almost like a threat to the fairy music as if something is coming in the way. Fairy tales end in happy endings most of the time and are make-believe but the threat is that it is going to become real very soon in the film.
Jumanji
The soundtrack of Jumanji is herd even before the movie has started; during the ‘tri star logo’ the music is being played. It creates an intimidating effect on the viewer. After the opening credits, it moves onto the first shot which is an establishing shot of a dark forest at night, it looks misty and has that mystical atmosphere, we then see two young children in the frame, one child looking slightly older then the other, they look scared and frightened and are up to something, we don’t know what. A whole in the ground in dug and a chest is revealed by the child, they pick it up and throw it into the hole in the ground and cover it up. Now because I have watched this film I can say that the 2 children in this opening sequence is like a foreshadowing of the characters later on in the film, because I know later on in the film there are two main child characters that lead up to a similar situation as seen in the opening sequence. So in a way for the first time viewers it hints out a similar situation to come in later on in the film. We then hear dialogue in this sequence, ‘what if someone digs it up? May God have mercy on his soul’ this gives us a clue about the narrative of the film because that ‘what if’ actually does happen’. We also hear a sound of drumming in the background similar to a heartbeat; we hear this when there is a close up of the chest, makes it sound as if something is alive in there, a sense of life in the box. The opening sequence is not really up to my expectations as it doesn’t tell me enough about the film, there isn’t much t suggest it is a fantasy genre, it seemed a bit boring and plain and not that exciting as I would expect. Although It could be argued that the reason less clues are given in the opening sequence is so the plot is not given away and so the viewers are left to wonder and watch on.
Night at the museum
Night at the museums opening sequence begins with twinkly fairy like music which gives a magical feel to the film instantly, it then smoothly gets louder and more involved with the opening sequence and everything featured in it. The music has trumpets and classical instruments played almost sounds like an orchestra. We then see different establishing shots of the city, one shot looking at a number of buildings lined up and another shot of the busy roads; I know this is a city of America as we can see the typical yellow American cabs drive by. Also when it had shown the first shot of the buildings, it looked like an early morning showing the city at dawn, it follows through landscape shots all the way to the museum, once it gets to the museum it is dusk, and the sun has gone down. A shot of the museum alone is featured at night, but inside is a glorious kind of glow coming from inside with rays of light escaping from the windows. The light is golden/yellow colored and makes it look magical. It gives a sense if life inside, and this is a key clue to the narrative of the film. There are many shots in the opening sequence of the different things in the museum, suggest the museum and all it contains is very important to the film and narrative of it. The title is linked very well to the opening sequence, the whole time changing of dusk and dawn is clearly shown, and this hints the narrative. Also, a shot of the museum at night is shown followed by many more shots of everything inside it and this completely links to the title.
The labyrinth starts off with opening credits running through one by one on the screen, along with music in the background. When the title appears on the opening credit a shiny twinkle effect is placed on the title ‘labyrinth’ similarly to the way a star in the sky would twinkle, a similar effect of this is used in the film, it also has the sound effect of a twinkling star and sounds magical. Already we can relate this magical effect to the codes and conventions of a fantasy genre as the fantasy genre is very likely to contain these kind of elements, gives a sense of the film being out of this world and tells us the film has magic in it. Also, as each credit fades in and out of the frame, an owl flies through and in my research I have found owls have long been a part of human folklore and legend. Also, that they have held a variety of symbolic roles in culture and have represented misfortune, death, prosperity and wisdom. This indicates another key code and convention of the fantasy genre being used in subtle ways from the very beginning of the film to follow the fantasy genre and brings in a magical fantasy atmosphere to it. I can also suggest that the use of the owl in the opening credits indicates its significance and the importance of its role throughout the film, that your always being watched and the idea of being watched is relevant to the whole film. The first shot if the opening sequence is an establishing long shot of a field of grass and a pole on the right hand side with an owl on it, we then see a girl from far running into the frame from the left hand side. This gives us a chance to first focus on the owl, again this hints its importance and the theme of always being watched, we are then focused onto the next thing in the frame, which is the girl running into the frame from the left hand side towards the right. Later on during the sequence another indication of the fantasy genre is shown, this is when the camera tracks to the girls bedroom. The camera pans through a part of the girls bedroom to her, as the camera is panning we can see teddy bears and stuffed toys, a fairy music jewellery box (with the sound of it being played in the background), we can also see a puzzle game that has features like a maze and you have to get the ball through to the end without letting it fall into the traps ( the holes) the game we see in the frame is like a foreshadowing of the real event that happens later on in the film, the game is also called Labyrinth and directly links to the film and it’s title and is a clue of the narrative. The camera keeps panning through and we come to a line of books, ‘wizard of oz, snow white and Grimm’s fairytale’, this gives a sense of a childish feel to the movie, a sense of imagination and that the girl is in a fantasy world, along with the fairy music in the background, it sets the childish atmosphere and this follows the key code and conventions of the fantasy genre’. After it pans through the books we lastly see a stone statue of a goblin, this emphasizes the character of the girl and the fairytale world she lives in, as goblin is part of folklore and folklore is usually seen in the fantasy genre. The goblin also becomes an important character later on in the film and is seen constantly throughout, so hints are given to prepare us for what is going to happen although not much is given away therefore we are kept at interest and want to watch on.
The opening sequence overall was up to my expectations, it gave many hints of the film as a whole and led up to the story quite swiftly whilst keeping me deep in interest. The music was used very cleverly, at times the music would be slow paced, it would also speed up at other times, and then go slow paced again, the way the music was used allowed me to be put in a state of comfort, then discomfort then comfort again, which gave the effect of making the viewer feel uneasy, and sensing at the back of the viewers mind something bad will happen. They use this effect of comfort and discomfort through use of speed with the fairy music, and is almost like a threat to the fairy music as if something is coming in the way. Fairy tales end in happy endings most of the time and are make-believe but the threat is that it is going to become real very soon in the film.
Jumanji
The soundtrack of Jumanji is herd even before the movie has started; during the ‘tri star logo’ the music is being played. It creates an intimidating effect on the viewer. After the opening credits, it moves onto the first shot which is an establishing shot of a dark forest at night, it looks misty and has that mystical atmosphere, we then see two young children in the frame, one child looking slightly older then the other, they look scared and frightened and are up to something, we don’t know what. A whole in the ground in dug and a chest is revealed by the child, they pick it up and throw it into the hole in the ground and cover it up. Now because I have watched this film I can say that the 2 children in this opening sequence is like a foreshadowing of the characters later on in the film, because I know later on in the film there are two main child characters that lead up to a similar situation as seen in the opening sequence. So in a way for the first time viewers it hints out a similar situation to come in later on in the film. We then hear dialogue in this sequence, ‘what if someone digs it up? May God have mercy on his soul’ this gives us a clue about the narrative of the film because that ‘what if’ actually does happen’. We also hear a sound of drumming in the background similar to a heartbeat; we hear this when there is a close up of the chest, makes it sound as if something is alive in there, a sense of life in the box. The opening sequence is not really up to my expectations as it doesn’t tell me enough about the film, there isn’t much t suggest it is a fantasy genre, it seemed a bit boring and plain and not that exciting as I would expect. Although It could be argued that the reason less clues are given in the opening sequence is so the plot is not given away and so the viewers are left to wonder and watch on.
Night at the museum
Night at the museums opening sequence begins with twinkly fairy like music which gives a magical feel to the film instantly, it then smoothly gets louder and more involved with the opening sequence and everything featured in it. The music has trumpets and classical instruments played almost sounds like an orchestra. We then see different establishing shots of the city, one shot looking at a number of buildings lined up and another shot of the busy roads; I know this is a city of America as we can see the typical yellow American cabs drive by. Also when it had shown the first shot of the buildings, it looked like an early morning showing the city at dawn, it follows through landscape shots all the way to the museum, once it gets to the museum it is dusk, and the sun has gone down. A shot of the museum alone is featured at night, but inside is a glorious kind of glow coming from inside with rays of light escaping from the windows. The light is golden/yellow colored and makes it look magical. It gives a sense if life inside, and this is a key clue to the narrative of the film. There are many shots in the opening sequence of the different things in the museum, suggest the museum and all it contains is very important to the film and narrative of it. The title is linked very well to the opening sequence, the whole time changing of dusk and dawn is clearly shown, and this hints the narrative. Also, a shot of the museum at night is shown followed by many more shots of everything inside it and this completely links to the title.
Thursday 5 November 2009
Research & Planing (Fantasy Genre)
Fantasy Genre
Fantasy films are films with unique themes, it usually includes magic, supernatural events, make-believe creatures, or exotic fantasy worlds. Fantasy films exceed the bounds of human possibility and physical laws. Fantasy films are often in the background of the imagination, dreams, or hallucinations of a character or within the vision of the storyteller. Fantasy films often cosist of many factors like magic, myth, wonder, escapism, and the extraordinary. They may appeal to both children and adults, depending on the film film.
The boundaries of the fantasy literary genre are not well-defined, and the same is therefore true for the film genre as well. Categorizing a movie as fantasy may then require an examination of the themes, narrative approach and other structural factors of the film.
Films that depent on magic primarily as a gimmick, e.g. the 1976 film Freaky Friday and its 2003 re-make in which a mother and daughter magically switch bodies, may technically qualify as fantasy but are nevertheless not generally considered part of the genre.
Fantasy films are films with unique themes, it usually includes magic, supernatural events, make-believe creatures, or exotic fantasy worlds. Fantasy films exceed the bounds of human possibility and physical laws. Fantasy films are often in the background of the imagination, dreams, or hallucinations of a character or within the vision of the storyteller. Fantasy films often cosist of many factors like magic, myth, wonder, escapism, and the extraordinary. They may appeal to both children and adults, depending on the film film.
The boundaries of the fantasy literary genre are not well-defined, and the same is therefore true for the film genre as well. Categorizing a movie as fantasy may then require an examination of the themes, narrative approach and other structural factors of the film.
Films that depent on magic primarily as a gimmick, e.g. the 1976 film Freaky Friday and its 2003 re-make in which a mother and daughter magically switch bodies, may technically qualify as fantasy but are nevertheless not generally considered part of the genre.
Tuesday 3 November 2009
Research & Planing
Opening Sequence to Step Up
The very first shot is of a group of girls and boys in dance costumes, ballerina costumes, this immediately suggests the theme of the film which is dance, ballerina is a accurate dance, which requires a lot of talent and it is portrayed as something very classy, the lighting is natural coming from the window behind, it shines through as the students are settling and warming up to dance, the natural light suggests optimism and hope. I can connote that these are students enter the frame they are all chatting, also you can see some students carrying big bags and backpacks again looking like students, lots of different voices are heard in the background, and it has that school like atmosphere, busy, so from this I can suggest they are teenager students. The setting is of a dance room, it looks neat and tidy and professional, gives a sense of classiness. The 2nd shot is in complete contrast to the first shot, a group of teenager are in the frame, chatting, voices are heard in the background and many conversations are going on at the same time, however, the difference is the setting, which is on the streets, it does not look professional or neat and tidy, or shows any evidence of class, the costumes worn is street wear, hoodies, chains and joggers, fits the stereotypes of gangs and other types of youth. Then it cuts back to the shot of ballerinas, they start dancing, very elegantly and fast, the dancing is smooth and choreographed, it looks rehearsed and professional, this suggests the good lifestyle these people have, the elegance and smoothness of there dance could link to there smooth and flawless lifestyle, also, at the same time a soundtrack is being played, the music has violins, which is a classy instrument, compiled with a mixture of beats, so it contrasts classy music with urban type music, a artist starts rapping when it then cuts to the street dancers dancing, we can tell the street dancers are dancing on a street and this links well as the setting links to the type of dance they are performing. Also the setting of the street dancers, is of a neglected looking street, the background is messy, with tires and ropes scattered about, shows the difference between the ballerinas and the street dancers. The fact that the street dancers are not wearing uniform but general clothes shows the unprofessionalism. However the two types of dancers both share a similarity, there talent in dancing, although its very different both types of dancers, it is still equally both impressive. This is effective in the opening sequence as it shows both equally good types of dancers, but also shows how different they are which hints out the conflict of the two ‘cultures’. The rapper in the music is rapping about dancing, ‘show off that body you got’, he says this at the same time were seeing the dancers dancing which makes it contrapuntal to what is going on, the whole dance theme.
It then cuts away to an establishing shot of the street, buildings are seen in the background and it looks very ‘ghetto’, it then pans towards a car pulling up on the road side, the car looks old and scrappy, very cheap car, this suggests the type of lifestyle they live which is poor. It then starts tracking into the house party, and music rises as we get closer towards then inside the house, rap music is being played and is contrapuntal to the people and setting, which is the streets, and the house has a lot of graffiti on the walls, so we sense a sort of gang culture which again links to the rap music. It then shows a guy street dancing in the house to the music, which relates back to the theme of dance. A fight then breaks out and a gun is pulled out on the guy. Immediately we are introduced to conflict within the street culture, and these are stereotypical aspects of gang culture; gang violence and street crime. It links to the type of lifestyle of these youth and introduces us with a problem, which makes us think and wonder about.
The very first shot is of a group of girls and boys in dance costumes, ballerina costumes, this immediately suggests the theme of the film which is dance, ballerina is a accurate dance, which requires a lot of talent and it is portrayed as something very classy, the lighting is natural coming from the window behind, it shines through as the students are settling and warming up to dance, the natural light suggests optimism and hope. I can connote that these are students enter the frame they are all chatting, also you can see some students carrying big bags and backpacks again looking like students, lots of different voices are heard in the background, and it has that school like atmosphere, busy, so from this I can suggest they are teenager students. The setting is of a dance room, it looks neat and tidy and professional, gives a sense of classiness. The 2nd shot is in complete contrast to the first shot, a group of teenager are in the frame, chatting, voices are heard in the background and many conversations are going on at the same time, however, the difference is the setting, which is on the streets, it does not look professional or neat and tidy, or shows any evidence of class, the costumes worn is street wear, hoodies, chains and joggers, fits the stereotypes of gangs and other types of youth. Then it cuts back to the shot of ballerinas, they start dancing, very elegantly and fast, the dancing is smooth and choreographed, it looks rehearsed and professional, this suggests the good lifestyle these people have, the elegance and smoothness of there dance could link to there smooth and flawless lifestyle, also, at the same time a soundtrack is being played, the music has violins, which is a classy instrument, compiled with a mixture of beats, so it contrasts classy music with urban type music, a artist starts rapping when it then cuts to the street dancers dancing, we can tell the street dancers are dancing on a street and this links well as the setting links to the type of dance they are performing. Also the setting of the street dancers, is of a neglected looking street, the background is messy, with tires and ropes scattered about, shows the difference between the ballerinas and the street dancers. The fact that the street dancers are not wearing uniform but general clothes shows the unprofessionalism. However the two types of dancers both share a similarity, there talent in dancing, although its very different both types of dancers, it is still equally both impressive. This is effective in the opening sequence as it shows both equally good types of dancers, but also shows how different they are which hints out the conflict of the two ‘cultures’. The rapper in the music is rapping about dancing, ‘show off that body you got’, he says this at the same time were seeing the dancers dancing which makes it contrapuntal to what is going on, the whole dance theme.
It then cuts away to an establishing shot of the street, buildings are seen in the background and it looks very ‘ghetto’, it then pans towards a car pulling up on the road side, the car looks old and scrappy, very cheap car, this suggests the type of lifestyle they live which is poor. It then starts tracking into the house party, and music rises as we get closer towards then inside the house, rap music is being played and is contrapuntal to the people and setting, which is the streets, and the house has a lot of graffiti on the walls, so we sense a sort of gang culture which again links to the rap music. It then shows a guy street dancing in the house to the music, which relates back to the theme of dance. A fight then breaks out and a gun is pulled out on the guy. Immediately we are introduced to conflict within the street culture, and these are stereotypical aspects of gang culture; gang violence and street crime. It links to the type of lifestyle of these youth and introduces us with a problem, which makes us think and wonder about.
Sunday 1 November 2009
Research & Planning
My Fairytale
Little Blue & The Magic Sweets
There was a nicknamed little blues Her favorite colour was blue and she was known in the town for her blue droopy coat and blue hat with a ribbon on it. She was always bullied by the pretty girls at school for her freckles and the glasses and for being a geek and not a pretty girl with looks like them, the bullies were jealous because everyone liked her, little blues was not the prettiest of girls but she had the most beautiful personality, whereas the bullies were mean and no one liked them. One day on the way home the bullies followed her making remarks, little blues ran from them took a short cut through a town that nobody usually went through, it was said to have been haunted, so the bullies didn’t go through there. It was a ghostly town. Blues went through the town which was dark and dingy, walking through the town she came past a magic shop, she went in, and an old lady stood in front of her with an jar of sweets. Take this, it looks pretty but don’t eat it, it’s the opposite of pretty and show its ‘true colour’ of whoever eats it. Little blues was confused, she took the sweets and quickly and shoved it in her school bag and walked away. Next morning she went to school, but forgot to take the magic sweets outside her bag as she didn’t intend to use it on the bullies. In class she was sitting at the front, the bullies were behind her, sneakily they took little blues bag and went through it scribbling over her work and messing it up, when they suddenly found the jar of sweets, it was glistening and colourful and looked beautiful, it twinkled like diamonds, so they stole it. At lunch time they ate the sweets, little blues realized her sweets were gone then saw them eating them and attempted to stop them as it was magic sweets, they didn’t care and carried on, bad mouthing little blues calling her mean names, suddenly the girl stopped giggling and saying mean things to little blue, there was a silence, then, there voices became witch like and there faces became freckled with straw like hair, all three girls noses turned into a nose like a trout, there eyebrows became bushy and there faces became puffed up, they became hideous, school children gathered around laughing and pointing, the three girls couldn’t take it and ran away and never came back. Little blues was never bullied again.
Little Blue & The Magic Sweets
There was a nicknamed little blues Her favorite colour was blue and she was known in the town for her blue droopy coat and blue hat with a ribbon on it. She was always bullied by the pretty girls at school for her freckles and the glasses and for being a geek and not a pretty girl with looks like them, the bullies were jealous because everyone liked her, little blues was not the prettiest of girls but she had the most beautiful personality, whereas the bullies were mean and no one liked them. One day on the way home the bullies followed her making remarks, little blues ran from them took a short cut through a town that nobody usually went through, it was said to have been haunted, so the bullies didn’t go through there. It was a ghostly town. Blues went through the town which was dark and dingy, walking through the town she came past a magic shop, she went in, and an old lady stood in front of her with an jar of sweets. Take this, it looks pretty but don’t eat it, it’s the opposite of pretty and show its ‘true colour’ of whoever eats it. Little blues was confused, she took the sweets and quickly and shoved it in her school bag and walked away. Next morning she went to school, but forgot to take the magic sweets outside her bag as she didn’t intend to use it on the bullies. In class she was sitting at the front, the bullies were behind her, sneakily they took little blues bag and went through it scribbling over her work and messing it up, when they suddenly found the jar of sweets, it was glistening and colourful and looked beautiful, it twinkled like diamonds, so they stole it. At lunch time they ate the sweets, little blues realized her sweets were gone then saw them eating them and attempted to stop them as it was magic sweets, they didn’t care and carried on, bad mouthing little blues calling her mean names, suddenly the girl stopped giggling and saying mean things to little blue, there was a silence, then, there voices became witch like and there faces became freckled with straw like hair, all three girls noses turned into a nose like a trout, there eyebrows became bushy and there faces became puffed up, they became hideous, school children gathered around laughing and pointing, the three girls couldn’t take it and ran away and never came back. Little blues was never bullied again.
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