Former Student Work

 

Roll Call:

The story which the students decided to share in this opening was well thought out and interesting as well as the students thoroughly strengthened their mis èn scene by having a specific setting in a interrogation room and decorating the scenery to portray that. It was well paced, had clever editing. For example, the camera shots effects for the mugshots was unique. The opening also had acting that wasn’t badly executed. Furthermore, they had quality sound as there was voiceovers and the interrogation room had mics installed for better sound quality. There were several camera compositions used such an establishing shot that zooms out in the beginning of the opener. Overall, it had mainly strengths than weaknesses because it was a film opening that obviously put in a lot of effort. One weakness I’d point out is that the camera was bit shaky at times but that might be intentional if the students where aiming for a documentary or real time effect.

New Everything:

This movie opener used several different techniques of film. For example, there was a variety of shot angles and cuts to go from one scene to the next or to provide a different view of the same shot which commonly done in Hollywood films. Furthermore, the sound techniques were also well planned as there was a foley sound used for when the character was walking around in his house, also when the guy was walking and put on his headphones music started to play in the background synchronous to what we are seeing. Moreover, at the end of the opener there were heartbeat sound effects to reveal that the character is nervous and was anxious about introducing himself to his new school/ classmates since the beginning of the opening. Overall the opening was mediocre despite having a really simple concept. A weakness id point out is some editing transitions that where used specifically the, wipe or ripple dissolves. I felt as if they didn’t contribute to the story in any aspect and most Hollywood movies don’t particularly use these transitions.

Dreamland:

Dreamland was visually appealing as the first half of this opening was various shots of a general aesthetic with flowers, rose petals, a character laying down holding a flower, with serene music in the background. The editing was also interesting as there where she had reverse clips that I thought where visually appealing. The usage of a contrast cut was eye catching as it brings attention to the beginning where it is peaceful and calm to the character going to a cvs to buy a bunch of medical drugs. This can give the audience a light grasp of what is going on in the characters life and an insight into the stability of their mental health. The fast cut editing of her grabbing a variety of drugs adds to the nature of instability as she spirals down a path of buying anything that is presented to her. The static shot of her walking away at the end leaves the viewer to ponder what will happen to her after this which aligns with the goals of a movie opener. My critiques would be to utilize more sound techniques specifically when she was in the drug store to add more suspense and tension in the scene. 

Dear lover:

This movie opener had a captivating story to start off a movie which is significant. The editing was done well as it starts off with establishing shots to give a general impression of the setting. There are several types of camera shots used in this movie opening such as close ups, over the shoulder, eye-line shot, and etc.  We see a character and then a fade to black with a voiceover to let us understand that the first shot is a not in present time. This movie opening utilized flashbacks which is creatively done. We get to see what the characters have endured in their past lives and grasp a better understanding of their backgrounds. As we are getting introduced to their story, the main character who seems to be telling her story to us, she has dialogue that leaves the audience wanting to find out what happened to the two characters later on, but the movie opener fades to black there. That was creatively well done as it allows the movie opener to end and to go into dwell into other aspects if this was a film. Overall, this was a well display of a movie, the voiceover quality of the person asking the main character the question was not that good and essentially made it seem less like a Hollywood film production 

Dare to thrill:

The usage of cuts in this movie opening mirrors an actual Hollywood film production. For example the cuts while they are walking up the stairs where there’s a long shot of it them walking up zoomed out, low angle shot, behind their backs shot, and etc. Furthermore, the shots of the car getting started and the speed going up on the dashboard added to the heightened effect of the movie opener. They used music to create the thrill mood and fast editing to show how fast the car is going. They used multiple scenes of the car going fast such as from another car in the highway, or the car going by the cameraman fast. The usage of synchronous audio of the car tires screeching on the road also enforced how fast the car was actually going. The opener ended with the upbeat music stopping and the group of friends discovering something grotesque in the trunk and running away. This is good for the movie opening because it leaves the audience to ponder what was in the trunk and further details to details that led up to whatever took place in that trunk. My critique in this movie opener would be too utilize other types of editing transitions as there were not cuts, and they could have utilized more intriguing transitions that would make this movie opener look more dynamic.