Actor: Ben

The actor I have chosen to use for the character of Ben is a 16 year-old boy called Scott. Although Ben is meant to be older than 16, Scott looks older than his age so this shall not pose a problem. He is also quite broad shouldered, which will be good as I want the character of Amy to appear quite petite to represent her vulnerability.

Scott lives very close to me so it will be easy to meet up for filming.

The look I have in mind for Ben is very casual and simple: jeans; trainers; tshirt; jumper; coat. The jeans are to be quite dark in colour but plain, and with grey trainers (most likely Nike or a similar brand). The tshirt should either be a polo or a standard plain white one, as it is only to be worn underneath a jumper. I have in mind a jumper which is dark blue, to be paired up with a grey hooded coat, cutting off at the hips and zipped up. I think his hair should be slightly gelled and his beard untrimmed.

My aim is to create a look for Ben which is casual and as one would expect of a typical teenage boy. It is also vital that his clothes are kept as simple as possible as in the opening scenes of Ben and Amy getting ready, one of the shots sees him putting on his jumper and coat.

Titles From Existing Films of Similar Genres

Before I settle on a font for my titles, I thought it would prove useful to have a look at existing titles from films of a similar genre to my film: romance. It would let me see whether there seems to be any similarities between the style and also get inspritation in case I find something which I would like to use in my opening.

The title from the film 'A Lot Like Love' has been kept extremely simple. The background is completely black with no decorative features. The text is a plain font in the centre of the screen so that it is the full centre of attention. The simplicity of this could represent the simplicity and blatant the character's love for each other is.

Similar to 'A Lot Like Love', 'Love Actually' also has the title on a plain black background. However, the text is at the bottom of the screen. This could connote that love is sometimes not all that obvious or easy to reach, although when it is recognised, there is no escaping it. The colour red stereotypically represents love, while the white connotes purity and innocence. 

In contrast to the other two films, 'The Notebook' does not use the black background. The title instead appears during the opening scene of the male lead rowing a boat. The way that this happens could suggest that the film is more about what is happening in the shot, rather than the title. The colour white, alike to 'Love Actually' represents purity and innocence.

From looking at these three titles, I have noticed that although in two of them the font style is very plain, 'The Notebook' uses a different style font completely. This shows me that there is diversity within the styles for titles in romantic films, which allows me to feel more comfortable in using a less simple font for my film's title.

'The Notebook' Opening Scene

The colour scheme throughout this opening is mainly oranges and blacks, reflecting the sunset which foreshadows the future events of the "sunset" of the characters' lives. It could also be a reference to the closing of Ally's brain, due to her illness. Orange also symbolises warmth, suggesting the warmth of someone's heart; connotating love and kindness.

The titles of the film are in a white font, representing innocence; purity; and something very obvious: seeing things in 'black and white'.

The boat on the river reflects the peace that these two characters so long for during the film. It also foreshadows and relates to the event further on in the film when Ally and Noah go on the boat together and re-find their mutual love for one another. However, it also has a haunting effect to it, which could be in reference to the haunting of Ally's parents upon her and Noah's 'young love'.

As the audience are unable to see who is on the boat, this adds to the haunting effect. It also creates a sense of mystery due to the audience not knowing who this character is, although by Ally standing by the window watching, there is the suggestion that he is a main character. It could also mirror the loss of identity that Ally suffers from by her illness.

A connotation of future events is presented when the birds are filmed flying across, linking to when Ally asks Noah if he thinks she was a bird in a past life: a small but significant moment in the film. Birds are also linked with freedom and innocence, mirroring the freedom and innocence both Ally and Noah felt during their summer together.

There are no close up shots during this opening scene, whereas a number of high shots are featured. This gives the representation of the audience being a bird, which is a running theme throughout the film. It also symbolises the vulnerability of people, both in the sense of love and falling victim to illness.

Level 1 Blog Analysis

As well as looking at just level 4 pieces of work, I also had a look at level 1 examples. This allowed me to compare the two and understand the different levels of research and work put in.

While analysing level 1 pieces of work, I noticed:

- Bad grammar

- Lack of organisation (the weather changed during the film)

- Few photos of location

- Lack of time management

- Not a consistent style within the blog

- Minimal research of existing films

- No specific examples of conventions of the chosen genre, although stated

- Missing a choice of potential locations

- No mention of mise-en-scene

- A basic understanding of shot types shown through photos, although not expanded upon

- A rushed and basic storyboard

- Standard English was not always used ('why' was written as 'y')

Level 4 Video Analysis

The site http://www.getaheadocrmedia.blogspot.com/, presents a number of blogs and films from other Media students which allows me to get a better understanding of how to meet the level 4 criteria.

I looked at one opening, which was graded a level 4, and compared it to the criteria:

Framing a shot, including and excluding elements as appropriate

The shots are framed very well; the character is always shot in the centre (unless otherwise appropriate for the scene) and the correct features of the actor are shown for the corresponding desired shot.
Using a variety of shot distances as appropriate

A wide variety of shots are used in this opening. For example, 11 seconds in there is a long shot, while at 35 seconds there is a close up.

Shooting material appropriate to the task set

It is clear from the storyline, mise-en-scene and all other material that this is a horror genre.

Selecting mise-en-scene including colour, figure, lighting, objects, and setting

The colour scheme appearing throughout the opening is of dark colours contrasted with a red, making it stand out and giving the impression of anger; danger; and blood. The setting is suitable to the genre; a church and graveyard has connotations of horror, while the urbanised area reflects the danger that the main character poses to so many people. The props relate to the storyline and are not unnecessary or out of place: a mobile phone is used when a phone call is taking place. The lack of characters make it easy to recognise the main character, which disallows ambiguity.

Manipulating photographs as appropriate to the context for presentation, including cropping and resizing

The designs for possible DVD covers have all been cropped, edited and re-sized relevantly.

Accurately using language and register

The pronunciation of words is clear and suited to characters (eg. the newsreader speaks with a clipped accent), while emotion is also reflected by vocal tone well.

Appropriately integrating illustration and text

Film titles have been included as necessary, in a suitable font size and style.

Showing understanding of conventions of layout and page design

Blogs are posted in chronological order and are presented in an easy-to-read layout, with titles.

Showing awareness of the need for variety in fonts and text style

The blog type has been left plain and simple, which makes it easier to read and forms a professional appearance. The film type is in the colour red with a shadow behind, which is well thought out as it could possibly be reflecting blood from the colour and schizophrenia from the shadow.
Using ICT appropriately for the task set

The editing and cutting of shots has been done effectively as there are no unnecessary clips that have been left in. Titles have also been added in through the use of ICT, while the colour saturation has also been adapted trhough ICT to suit the genre and storyline. The blog has been created through ICT.

Level 4 Assessment Criteria (48-60 Marks)

There is evidence of excellenece in the creative use of most of the following technical skills:

- Framing a shot, including and excluding elements as appropriate

- Using a variety of shot distances as appropriate

- Shooting material appropriate to the task set

- Selecting mise-en-scene including colour, figure, lighting, objects, and setting

- Manipulating photographs as appropriate to the context for presentation, including cropping and resizing

- Accurately using language and register

- Appropriately integrating illustration and text

- Showing understanding of conventions of layout and page design

- Showing awareness of the need for variety in fonts and text style

- Using ICT appropriately for the task set

Fonts - Titles/'December 2009'

I thought these two fonts (taken from http://www.dafont.com/) would be useful as the typewriter connotes a feeling of history and therefore, memory (a running theme throughout my film). The 'Rough Typewriter', with the unbalanced text guideline could mirror Amy's mind in the sense that she is not completely stable in herself. However, the 'Times New Yorker' seems to be much more matter-of-fact, which could display how the events have indeed happened and there is no changing them.