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. 

Panic Room

The opening sequence to 'Panic Room'...

The why that the camera has used a long shot over the city looks really cool, I’m not sure that I would be able to get a long shot of my filming destination but I really like how they have added it into their film. I also love the way that the staring names are the main focus of the screen, as it shows how powerful their name is. The use of the camera angles are really effective as they just pan from one name to another.

The music creates tension but it gives an overall feel for the importance of the actors names. The camera creates a sweeping effect. as the camera pans from one name to another. The Names have been added to look as if they are part of the city.

The main actresses name has been really extenuated by the boldness and the tension in the music. The whole of the opening is very atmospheric.

I really love the way that the names have been edited in, especially when the film title is about to appear, and you can see it mirrored in the windows of the sky scraper. I just think this looks really good!!

As the camera pans round to the right it reveals the film title and it creates such an atmosphere. The title looks so grand and important, as it's floating above street level in line with the high-rise blocks.

Then the camera tilts up to reveal the Empire State Building in the distance, giving the viewers a sense of where they are.

This is a very basic concept yet it’s brilliantly executed.

The Taxi Driver

Opening sequence of 'The Taxi Driver'

This is the Taxi driver. I love the use of the music to begin with, creating tension as the title is revealed. The close up of the smoke is really cool and I am going to try and introduce this into my film. 

The Taxi then mysteriously drives out of the smoke, and then the scene fades into darkness later revealing the character. The Camera angle doesn't quite give away the fact that it's a taxi but you don't get many yellow cars with stripes down the side. Also the clue's in the title! 

I really like the way that the camera has filmed close up to the characters face, just showing their eyes and nose. this creates a mysterious air about the character, as we don't officially know what he looks like. You can see the characters eyes twitching, which looks effective. I may try to incorporate this type of technique in my film. 

Later we come to learn that the character at the beginning is driving, hence the name 'Taxi Driver'. When we first see this character, his face phases from light to dark to bright red. this is due to the cars headlights driving towards him.

Then the camera fades from the face into darkness and then onto the windscreen. The rain has distorted the view, making the bright street lights blurry, and creating a really cool effect. Again the camera has been used in the position of the driver, putting the viewers in the characters position.  

Although the car is shown to be moving in slow motion, the surrounding nightlife is distorted as if it  were taken at speed. The camera has been shot from the drivers seat, giving the viewer the feeling of being in the drivers seat.

Gattica...

The opening scene to Gattica..

I really Like this opening sequence because it's so simple yet so effective. To begin with there is almost no noise, whilst the quotes create a historic atmosphere. 

I really like the close up on the nails, hair and skin and the repetitive sounds as the particles drop to the ground!

As the music progresses and the movement and noise of the the hair falling in slow motion  an atmosphere is created. This looks great on a normal TV, but I bet it would be even better  in 3D at the cinema!!! 

I love how the camera is so close up to the Particles that you feel like they are right in front of you. I also love how the camera is close enough to capture the hair bouncing back up after hitting the ground.

At this part of the opening sequence, the title appears, with what resembles snow falling. The 'Snow' is just out of focus. I like how later on the 'snow' comes into focus and is revealed as skin particles. 

I love this next bit when the camera continues to pan to the right, showing all of the skin, hair and nails beginning to build up. 

Then a character is introduced, but not fully. There is an element of mystery, as the camera never shows the full face, just certain parts.