Final Video

Audience Research

Please visit this URL for our audience research:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_149751291739735&ap=1

Script & Shot List

Frame one: Establishing shot of the Mise En Scene.

Frame two: Hero walks towards the camera (only background noise and footsteps).

Frame three: Walking away from the camera.

Frame four: Close up of half the hero's face. With the villain following behind.

Frame five: Still a close up of the the hero's face, looking over his shoulder.

Frame six: Close up of the villains eyes.

Frame seven: Close up of a grin, showing revenge.

Frame eight: Close up of villains angry eyes.

Frame nine: Long range shot behind the hero.

Frame ten: Mid shot of the back of the hero's head.

Frame eleven: Close up of the back of the hero's head.

Frame twelve: A shot of the villains weapon.

Frame thirteen: The villain raises the weapon.

Frame fourteen: Then 'thud' the pipe hits the hero's head.

Frame fifteen: Hero is on his knees, holding his head.

Frame sixteen: Hero is lying on the floor, half knocked out.

Frame seventeen: Close of the hero's face,  in grimacing in pain.

Frame eighteen: From the hero's perspective.

Frame nineteen: Close up of villains face. The Hero is sinking in and out of  conciousness.

Frame twenty: Blank Frame (in and out of conciousness).

Frame twenty one: FLASHBACK (the title of the film itself).

Frame twenty two: Blank frame (in and out of conciousness).

Frame twenty three: **One Year Early** flashes across the shot.

Frame twenty four:  Blank frame (in and out of conciousness).

Frame twenty five: Villain running from side view.

Frame twenty six: Hero running from side view.

Frame twenty seven: Half view of hero and half view of villain.

Frame twenty eight: Back to hero running on his own.

Frame twenty nine: A view of the villain behind fence

Frame thirty: Villains face close up, with a worried look.

Frame thirty one: Villain other side of fence, mid shot.

Frame thirty two: View of Villain holding on to fence from behind.

Frame thirty three: Side view of Hero catching up with Villain.

Frame thirty four: Side shot of Hero capturing Villain.

Frame thirty five: Title 'Flashback' (to be continued)

Storyboard & Animatic

Synopsis of the opening scenes.

The characters consist of one villain and one hero. First scene is an establishing shot, where you discover the Mise En Scene.  The hero is walking to his own pace in it. The next scene is where the villain attacks the hero from behind. Then, through the villains eyes you can see the hero lying beaten on the floor. Then a flashback happens showing what happen 3 months earlier, to provoke the violent reaction of the villain on his victim the hero.

Planning the film

The Villan played by Clint Morgan Webb and Hero played by Adam Stock will be the characters presented in the film opening.


The opening scene will be in the Worcester woods. We have choose to film here due to the emptyness and it will add effect, also focusing on the characters.


Props needed: Fake cap gun, fake blood, spare t-shirt. This creates a simple Mise En Scene.

Research + Planning: Genre Theory

Neale declares that 'genres are instance of repetition and difference'. He adds that 'difference is absolutely essential to the to the economy of genre.

The title sequence to 'Lord Of War' is not a typical 'Action' movie. The production behind it makes it more of a serious film, it is not stereotypically 'Action' like 'Rambo' or 'Terminator'. The narrative is slightly political and legislative. 

Research + Planning Narrative theories

Dexster has lots of close ups in the title sequence. This helps make up the Hermeneutic code. It brings a element of mystery to the opening sequence. The main character Dexster does menial tasks within the title sequence. Just doing a normal morning routine. It's the way it is shot that makes it mysterious. It makes the audience wonder why they are following him.


The second code is Porairetic Code. It suggests that something unpleasant is going to happen at some point. The audience again view this as mysterious. They might guess whats going to happen next.


The final code it Semantic code. The images don't quite mean what they might mean if filmed differently, in Dexsters case  this makes him look sinister just making a full English breakfast. The audience might view this as a odd approach making them more interested.



Title Sequence Analysis: Lord Of War

Visit this URL to watch the title sequence of 'Lord Of War':


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHn1zogeyO4

'Lord Of War' is an action thriller. I am analysing this tile sequence in particular, because it mirrors my chosen genre 'Action'. Action films are where main characters are put into sequences of challenges that require physical feats and extended fights, stereotypically aimed at a male audience. 

The cast is made up of American, Russian and African actors. However, the main actor is 'Nicolas Cage' who is American. It is a Hollywood production so the crew is mainly American.  This suggests the film's target is a western audience. 

The main character is Yuri Orlov played by Nicolas Cage, an American gun-runner (illegal arms trafficker) of Russian origin. 

The title sequence starts with the main character describing his intentions. Then cuts to a Russian factory that makes and ships ammunition to foreign places (e.g. Africa, Liberia). The historical period is early 1990's.

Within the title sequence it follows the journey of the single bullet and you see it from the bullet's point of view. The viewer sees the bullets life unfold from a piece of metal, to a killing projectile.  Through the barrel the bullet travels and finds it's human target.  

The tone and mood during the portrayal of a simple act of a manufacturing process, is active and involves the audience from the offset. The music is quite upbeat; this helps provoke fascination and interest. However, as the bullet travels out of the factory and is placed into the hands of a soldier, who in return loads it into a AK47, it fires reaching its final designation, a young soldiers forehead on the opposing side. This lowers the mood and tone creating a disturbing and somber conclusion. 

Buffalo Springfield's song, 'For what it's worth' is the theme song for this opening title sequence. It is very engaging, and is food for thought.  The lyrics explore Buffalo Springfield’s outlook on war.

Nicolas Cage lets us know that ‘there is a gun for one out of every 12 people on the planet’, he jokes, ‘How do we arm other 11?’ This question intrigues and sets up the plot for the audience. It is an unexpected question and causes us to glimpse into the dark humor of the main character. 

After watching the title sequence the expectations of the narrative is warfare and death fueled by illegal arms deals. The dark thrills of war, however, contrasts with lighter comic moments, as at the start, this will mostly likely carry on throughout the movie.  

Genre: Action

Main Coursework Introduction

The task is to create the opening two minutes of a movie sequence of our choice. I am working with Sean Beatson on this task. The genre we will be focused on is 'Action'.