Iron Man...

The opening sequence of 'Iron Man'... 

Again this intro is partially made up of computer generated images therefore it's difficult to talk about camera angles and stuff, so I have written under some of the screen grabs and others I haven't! 

Even though the opening sequence to Iron man is mainly computer generated, it still looks really cool! 
Firstly a human pops up on our screen and the camera slowly zooms into his face, then with an element of fear on his face the opening credits jump from real life to graphics.

I like the way that the mans face turns from normal to pop arty/newspaper effect.

The way that the screen rolls from one scene to another, creates a flowing movement. Linking each new frame together.

Here is a medium shot of Iron Man. I really like the way that screen shakes throughout as if the camera were inside he actual robot. I'm not sure that I would be able to recreate this because it looks quite technical, and I wuoldn't know where to begin, but it does look really cool!!!
I also Like how the opening sequence is sort of mashed up and then sent into darkness.

Catch Me If You Can...

Opening sequence to 'Catch Me If You Can'...

Although it's a cartoon, this opening sequence is really cool. The character that appers, and looks shifty, and as the opening sequence unfolds the character is on the run from another stickman. The Graphics are amazing and the music is so fitting to the graphics. 

The title is made more than obvious during the opening credits, as the stickman moves through an airport, the other stickman follows, but with great difficulty. It's a chase.   

The retro animated intro to 'Catch Me If You Can' perfectly sets the scene and time period, of when it was filmed.
Basically because of the fact that this intro is entirely made up of cartoons, It is hard to talk about the use of camera angles and technical stuff like that, so I have just taken screen shots of the bits that I like and up loaded them.  

Opening Scene of Dirty Dancing...

                 

The opening sequence of 'Dirty Dancing'...

The camera first captures the car from a distance and films it getting closer and then driving past. The camera has such a smooth movement as it pans from left to right.

Here the camera uses a mid shot to introduces the two young female characters. The camera is far enough away to show the audience all they need to see at this point. It also captures their normality as they continue to do everyday things.

The Camera is then used to capture the relationship between a father and daughter. The close up on the pair shows the closeness between the two characters. The car continues to drive, and the music continues  to play as the narrater talks over.

The camera is then used to zoom in on a sign that is relevant, to the characters. The camera angle puts the views in the passengers perspective as the car drives along.

I like that way that as the camera gets closer to the sign it zooms right in and it sort of looks like the camera is trying to be part of the characters eyes, because it comes into focus as it gets closer and then becomes out of sight as they pass.

Again a close up is used, as the camera shows only the female character, 'Baby', it shows her importance of her character in the film. She is shown sat in the back seat, with a smile on her face, this helps to set the mood for the next part of the movie. 

I believe that the frequent use of close ups is because the characters are in such close proximity, as they are in a car together. 

Final Cut Pro...

Today I have been experimenting with the programme Final Cut Pro. It's a programme that aids you in editing footage that you have previously filmed. This was a simple exercise that we did during our lesson, in order to get us used to the programme. We played around with the different features and learnt how to use it concisely. We were all given some footage and we had to edit it so that it all flowed together. 

 This is a screen shot of the whole screen of Final Cut Pro. The different windows allow you to do different things 

This is the bar where you have the ability to cut, add and remove parts of the film that you don't want.

A History of Scotland...

I really Like the use of the close up on the face. It shows just a little more than a quarter however it still doesn't reveal the full face creating some mystery.

The way that the camera has captured the flame in front of the man looks really effective. I also like how the other candles in the room are not quite in full focus the flames are fairly blurry, I think that this helps to set an atmosphere and create a scene.

I love that the way that the camera zooms into the cliff/ rock face, I also think that the way that the centre of the landscape is perfect but the edges are blurred.

  I like the way that the camera pans round from left to right in this shot. I captures the grandeur of the castle and it's exclusivity, as the trees restrict our view.

 Just the sheer beauty of this shot, captures my attention. The long shot of the lake is stunning and the crispness in the camera, showing the reflections in the water and again the us of focus looks really effective.

 This is amazing! The camera captures this isolated island so well. with capturing the sea and again blurring the edges of the shot show how alone and distant this island is from normality.

 This cliff shot is so well done! I'm not sure that I have the budget to incorporate this type of filming in my final film however it looks great here. A helicopter must have been used in order to capture this type of angle, as it glides across the cliff face.

 I really like how the editing throughout has helped to inform and educate the viewers, with the use of the facts in the screen which slowly disintegrate as the camera pans to the next landscape. This editing also helps to set an atmosphere, it's about 'the history of scotland' therefore relevant facts about the locations shown on the screen help to set the mood.

The final camera work before the real programme starts is the camera tilting up the river from a birds-eye view. This type of shot helps to capture the essence of the countryside in all it's glory. Revealing the trees, fields, rivers and landscape.

Se7en...

The opening sequence to 'Se7en'...

I really like hoe the camera has shot a close up on the pages as some of the pages are in focus and some aren't. I think that this is a cool technique and I could do this in my task.

To be honest the fingers make me feel quite sick, because they are soooo dirty. but I love the closeness of the camera, as it captures every tiny bit of skin. Again they have used the peripheral de-focus technique where the closest thing is in focus and the things in the background are out of focus.  
I also like how the actors names just pop up in between clips. The black background and the white writing looks really simple yet effective and I like the twitching of the text. 

This screen grab is partially out of focus, however the blurred hand lurking in the background adds the creepy atmosphere and helps to build tension. 

The next screen grab that I like is the use of the close up on the pen, writing on the page. The camera captures the movement really well and I believe that I could do this myself.  


When the finger runs along the paper, it's the edge of the image of a girls face. This create a distressing and creepy mood, but I love the use of the camera angle. 

I believe that the next screen grab is so cleverly done, I understand that it wouldn't be hard to recreate however it just looks so cool! The shadow is really crisp and clean.

I don't know how this effect ids done but the way that the pen glides across the aper and then a larger version is visible above. 

Forrest Gump...

The opening sequence to 'Forest Gump'

As the feather falls it reveals the town from a long shot. The camera continues to follow the feather as it floats to the ground, almost completing a 180 degree turn of the camera. 

There in the top left hand corner of the screen, the main character is slightly revealed, but not brought to our attention, yet. This may not be an actual camera technique however, it introduces the character with out us realising. 

The shot where the camera is close up to the feather resting on the trainers, gives the viewers their first insight into the main character. It's a good shot as the feather has fallen from the sky and has floated down to the character in order to bring him onto our screens. This is a much more interesting way of  introducing a character, rather than just filming them straight away. 

Next the camera tilts up, giving a toe to head shot of 'Forrest', moving to just a simple mid shot of the character, revealing his identity as he gazes at the feather.

 This looks so simple to redo as the location would be easy to copy, a park bench with some greenery around and the camera movements would be easy also.  

The Camera still uses a mid shot of 'Forrest' keeping him in focus as his eyes wonder. The camera keeps the feather in shot the entire time as he opens his case and delicately place the feather inside his book. 

Keeping a mid shot of his hand movement until it zooms out as the bus sweeps across the screen, blocking our vision of 'Forest', for a moment until he reappears at the back end. The camera still zoomed out  shows a long shot of the location, 'Forest' and the bus.

Durham County...

Opening sequence to 'Durham County'...

In this films opening sequence I love the use of the monochrome colouring, and how red is the only colour to be enhanced throughout the entire opening credits.

I really like the way that the first bit you see is the woods. It gives a creepy atmosphere as the camera just glides through the branches. This could be simple to recreate in St.. Catherine's Woods.

The use of the monotone effect and the red being enhanced the presences of the doll. The camera aimed up gives the doll an air of importance. 

I also like the long shot of the county, it shows enough to inform the viewers of the location and gives a creepy feel.

I really like the way that the camera pans down to reveal a mysterious outline of a head. 

As it jumps to the basket, again the only colour appears to be red. This time it resembles blood, then the camera cuts back to the silhouette. I LOVE this shot, because part of the image is in focus and part isn't, I just think it looks really effective. 

I really love this shot of the roses floating on the water, this could be easily recreated, and depending on what type of final genre I go for, I may try to do this. 

This next shot creates an uncomfortable atmosphere as a male character is shown dancing with a floppy girls body. It leaves the viewers puzzled as the lighting doesn't reveal much. 

The final shot is the title 'Durham County' background looks gloomy and still mysterious. The bare, weathered trees and the pylons create an uncomfortable atmosphere.

I also like how the last picture on the screen fades into a bright white light. I think that I may use this in my final piece.