Intertextual Links

In our film opening we are planning on including a few intertextual links to other films, in this post i am just going to expand on what ideas we have...

• In Trick Or Treat, (1986),  (Charles Martin Smith) at the beginning of the film there is a scene where the central protagonist is lying on his bed, writing in his diary. He is giving the audience exposition and background information about what is happening with him and his position in life. At the same time we get exposition also from the mise-en-scene around his bedroom with figures, (rock and metal) band posters and also the way that he is dressed. 

• We thought we could also fit this into our film, where the central protagonist is in his bedroom lying on his bed writing in a diary and the audience would also get lots of exposition from the mise-en-scene and his surroundings. It's a good was for the audience to get exposition and be informed on the situation that's he's in. 

• We also look at another  scene within the opening of the film where the central protagonist see's the girl that he likes, she waves and he thinks she is waving at him however she's waving at her friend behind him and the central protagonist gets very embarrassed.  We filmed this scene but decided not to use it because it was awkward framing and was hard to film because it had to be at lunch time in the busy sixth form centre, and also our cast wouldn't cooperate with us. We decided to keep a very small scene where Nick got pushed into the lockers by Kate's boyfriend (the jock). 

Codes and conventions of RomCom's (from watching films)

I have been looking at the opening's of rom coms (by watching the openings of some films) as this is the genre we have decided to do for our film opening. Here is some research that i have done looking at common codes and conventions that appear with romcoms. 


P.S. I Love You,  (Richard LaGravenese), (2007). 

• Non diagetic music, guitar upbeat and happy
• Produced by Warner Brothers and Alcon Entertainment these are repeated again in writing over a black screen
• Establishing shot of a city then it pans down into possibly the central protagonist
• A males is approaching the female he is walking quickly up the stairs after her, they have an argument then make up and are friends again. 
• 12:30 for the self contained opening scene to finish, then the tittle appears with the main actors names.

10 Things I Hate About You, (Gil Junger), (1999).

• Touchstone pictures twice with two different animations, Mad chance and Jaret Entertainment production 
• The title comes in straight away after the production credits
• Pans across a sunny city
• The names of the main actors appear on screen over the picture
• Pans in onto two cars, with some of the main characters in them
• Establishing shot of the school
• Teenager in a head teachers office
• The opening scene in 3:30 seconds long

Marley And Me,(David Frankel), (2008).

• Production companies: 20th Century Fox, Regency, they are then repeated against the black background - 28 seconds of tittles
• Voiceover with non diagetic music. Someone is walking their dog your immediate reaction is that this is the central protagonist
• Then the music changes pace the action on screen freezes to show the main character
• Then there is a shot of a couple running along a road in the snow, then it cuts to them sat on the edge of a bath
• It then pans out through the window as they kiss it's also snowing, then it fades to white
• The music then changes by picking up paces, panning across sunny places with the music 'Shiny happy people' 
• The credits and tittle are against what's happening on screen
• It takes about 3 minutes to get to the self contained 'first scene'

The 40 Year Old Virgin, (Judd Apatow), (2005)

• Universal production company logo, also repeated against black in writing with non diagetic music
• Shot of houses to establish the location, central protagonist in bed, montage of him getting ready for the day doing exercise, making breakfast, having a bath etc, through this we find out he is a perfectionist, there is then a few shots of him travelling to work on his bike
• There are diagetic sounds but non diagetic music
• The opening scene is 2 minutes 50 seconds.
• However within this we don't see any signification of romance or love with the central protagonist 

Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason, (Beeban Kidron), (2004).

• Working Tittle production company edited as the music is non diagetic, other companies:  Universal, Studio Canal, and Miramax, repeated on the screen again over the black background 
• Slow motion effect used
• Link between the two central protagonist, with the novelty jumpers
• Intertextual reference to The Sound Of Music 
• 1 minute 10 seconds of tittles
• establishing shot of the village to ground the location
• 3 minutes for the opening scene to take place

The Breakfast Club
1985, John Hughes

• Non digetic sound of a song whilst credits are shown.
• Credits shown for 1.48
• Yellow writing on a black background isn't too formal.
• Quote, smashes into pieces which leads into the first shot- FX.
• The first shot is a high school, this is clearly where the film will be set.
• The voiceover provides exposition, as well as the still shots of different things.
• The voiceover is presumably our main protagonist.
• The main people are all in cars with parents, this suggests the film is going to be about students who dont want to have to go to school.
• The end of the opening sequence is at 4.41

The Ugly Truth
2009, Robert Luketic

• Upbeat, well known pop music
• Set in a city in America
• Helicopter- high budget
• Subtitle prodives exposition
• Working woman is the central protagonist
• Credits last 3.00

The Time Travellers Wife
2009, Robert Schwentke

• Credits last 45 seconds
• Music is digetic
• Family scene - mum dad and child.
• American, city, christmas time
• Main protagonist introduced

When in Rome
2010, Mark Steven Johnson

• Upbeat, pop music
• Water, Statues, Rome = love
• Postcards are used as exposition
• Main protagonist = small, blonde, pretty, american working woman
• Just split up with partner
• Credits = 45 seconds

Falling Up
2009, David M Rosenthal

• Upbeat music
• New York
• Titles done in fancy ways
• Credits = 2.30
• Main protagonist = male, white, america, fat

Leap Year
2010, Anand Tucker

• Opening shot- womans shoes. Working woman
• Upbeat music, sets tone
• Setting- Boston. Busy city
• Career shown, high flying
• Main protagonist shown  as happy with her partner.
• Credits- 3.25 

Anamatic and audience feedback

This is our anamatic ....





It's only very simple but it gives an idea as to what we are looking at doing in our film opening, please leave any useful feedback.

Location Scouting

We are currently looking at ideas of locations where we could film our film opening, there will be some pictures uploaded very soon so watch this space.



Original Video - More videos at TinyPic


Our 2 main setting are going to be in and around the school so you can gain exposition about the characters and their background and also in the characters bedroom. Although we eneded up not using most of these locations this video gives you an idea of how we looked for possible locations around school and also different camera angles.

The codes and conventions of the romcom genre

Here are the typical codes and conventions that are used in romcoms...

• A romcom stands for/ means romantic comedy and is therefore a hybrid genre
  

• It appeals to an audience of usually young teens to adults depending on the amount of swearing, violence, sex and nudity etc... Typically romcoms are more for girls but the comedy part of the film makes it appeal to boys as-well 

• The plot normally consists of 1 boy and 2 girls, or 2 girls and one boys, and usually ends up with "Mr/Mrs right" being together and a happy ending. It fits in with the stereotypical idea of 'love

• There is white often competition between the 2 males or 2 females fighting for the 1 male/female. This is usually an area where the comedy is brought into the film.

• The central protagonists are usually good looking (apart from the stereotypical 'geek' or outsider) and are big stars that are recognized not only in the UK but internationally. However sometimes companies introduce new actors if they think they are good, this can sometimes put people off from going to see a film because they don't know if the actor is very good.

• Gay couples are rarely used in romcoms but that's possibly because it's not the 'norm' and most of society are in or looking for a heterosexual (male and female) relationship.

• The music varies quite a bit in romcoms. It's generally upbeat and in a major scale throughout, but when there is a 'romantic moment' the music slows down as the pace of the action on screen slows down. When the characters relationship or life isn't going as they would like it to go the music is usually in a minor scale and is more reflectful. In most romcoms there are moments where the characters life and relationships isn't going very well and this type of music is used.

• Romcoms are usually set in big well known cities so there is a lot of scope for the narrative and events that happen in the story.

The group and our initial concept

I have decided to work with Steff, we think we would both work together, co-operate with each other and try out best in the coursework and it helps that we can rely on each other. 


We originally decided to merge both of our pitch ideas together, as they were both social realist but then we realised that they didn't really suit and fit to the typical codes and conventions of a typical social realist film. 


So then we re-thinked and decided we wanted to do a romantic comedy as we could bring out themes from teen dramas and their lives and issues that they face day to day. Our idea is to have 1 stereotypical male about 16/17 years old, he likes a girl that's in his year but she is really popular and doesn't normally talk to him. He gets her number and texts her saying to meet him, and uses post it notes as a trail for her to find him, she debates and tackles the issue of whether or not to meet up with him and finally does. She finds this really cute and a great way of getting to know him better and meeting up so by the end of the film they are in a relationship. 

Initial ideas for the pitch

This post will just outline some initial thoughts and ideas for the opening of a feature length film, i will then choose one of these ideas and pitch to the rest of the class to share my ideas.

1. Someone running away from home - this would be a social realist film, including a montage of shots showing someone getting hit by one of their parents,  and then she runs crying up to her bedroom, grabs a bag and hurriedly packs some things, creeps out the front door and there are shots of her walking the streets then it would go to the opening tittle of the film
2. My second idea is to begin with a car crash, and then cut to a police interview, where they are talking to the victim's friends and witnesses, this would be a teen drama and the rest of the film would be them finding out who was driving the car and that they were drunk etc
3. My third idea is when a group of friends go on a 'night out' and the events of that, someone's drink gets spiked and they pass out and become really ill. The rest of the film would be about their friends trying to take them to hospital, but they are really drunk and no one is around to help them, this would be a teen drama but could also link in with the horror genre as no-one is helping them.

The idea in red is the idea that i finally chose to use as my pitch to the rest of the class. I thought the pitch went well and that i got my ideas across in the way that i wanted.