Evaluation Activity 4 - 9 Keyframes

The titles that I have used at the very beginning of the film were there as part of the typography and visual effects that I have used in my film. Showing a variety of ideas for each of the production logos. Also the Titles in the whole film show each of the actors as their characters appear on scene. I chose the effect where the text has the black border because that way I could make sure that there was enough contrast between the text and the background so the audience could read them easily without having to strain their eyes to read and understand them.

The lighting I had for one of the scenes (Shot 6 - 8) was very useful, although I did not deliberately aim to use the lighting that I did, I was driving around with the actor trying to find to a location to shoot, and by the time it came to me and we had gone back to the house to pick up the rest of the equipment needed and then gone to the location that I had decided to use, the sun had gone down enough and so had given me a nice lighting set to film with.

The settings and locations that I used, although rather limited in themselves, are well used I think, Particularly for the scene of the detective on the roof top killing someone, and the last shot of him looking out over Cambridge. (Shot 9). Also the scene with 'Gregs' character, I think that the location suited the shot well, and I was able to get allot of cool angles with the camera.

I had allot of fun when trying to frame different things, and also trying to move the camera and still keep everything in shot. Especially Shot 4 on the picture above. I had to have a few different attempts at this, first of trying to get over a small area of broken up tarmac was difficult on my skateboard, and I almost fell off once or twice. I think that all in all, I managed to frame each of my characters in their shots, and keep all of my motion shots as steady as possible.

In term of transitions in my opening, I used mostly basic cross fades, to either black or the next shot. Which I think work well where I have put them in, other times I have used a simple cut to black, on these occasions I have used them because the voice over clip ends with something dramatic enough to cut strait to black, and add emphasis to the voice over. I think all of my transitions worked well.

Visual Effects were scarcely used in my film opening, the most effects that I used were in the titles, where they were completely computer generated. Using various textures and lighting effects I managed to achieve something that worked well and fitted in with my film opening.

The narrative in my film opening came in the form of a voice over, and although you can't actually see it in my 9 frames, it is there the whole way through, describing what is going on, and keeping the audience interested. Without the voice over, the whole video would make no sense, and the cuts to black would seem very out of place. I think that the voice over is an essential element of my film opening and so I am proud that it is in there.