WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD

This week we produced a film opening in the style of 'table-top' filming. The brief was to produce one to produce one continuous shot, followed by small live action element within the opening. 

RESEARCH

As a class we viewed other succesful film opening sequences that followed the similar 'table top' style.

This included films such as Delicatessen (1991, Jean-Pierre Jeunet) and To Kill A Mockingbird, which we both analysed and took notice of the inventive camerawork that evoked a story and theme. For example, Delicatessen was successful in changing the level in which the camera was from the different props, as well as the direction the camera moved. Moreover, the music used also illustrated the French theme as well as being chilling and suspenseful. The credits are are also impeded into the different props on screen, which creates a more unique and artistic sequence. 

On the other hand, To Kill A Mockingbird was successful in the movement of the camera. For example, the camera moved with a rolling ball. Moroever, the blend between the humming child and the main orchestral soundtrack are done seemingly. 

Throughout the research we also delved into past media student's work, to help inspire us to create an original title sequence using props that were elements of our film narrative's mise-en-scene. 

PLANNING

Before the filming could commence, we had to set up the different props in a desired order upon the table. Each prop and the order in which they were placed would help create the films narrative. 

Moreover, we also considered different music tracks to play during the opening. I decided to go with What A Wonderful World by Louis Amstrong. This was due to how it contransted with the pressing and more serious topic or theme I was going for. Our opening sequence carried the themes of war and chemical weapons use, whilst the song portrays themes of happiness and talks about the bueaty of our world. 

FILMING

The filming cold follow once the route in which the camera would follow was set up and practiced. The sequence starts off with the camera zooming into a passport that rests upon a case. A hand then comes in and closes the passport, before the camera moves down and to the side, over different posters illustrating various countries. The camera then zooms and rests upon the picture of a child, before a 'communist' style flag comes down upon the picture. The placing of the flag signifies the start of war and the change of theme. The camera then moves over war newspapers and war uniform. A hand then comes in to pick up and examine a letter. The sequence ends witht the camera falling upon chemical weapon calculations, which is then obscured by a hand placing down a mask. 

The live action sequence was fairly simple, consisting of a close up of a person carrying a case, scene from the waist down. The man then walks for a short period of time before coming to rest and taking out a file. He then presents the content of the file which we see to be the chemical weapon calculations.