AS Coursework Checklist – Film Opening (There should be a least one blog post about each stage) 1. Choose who you are going to work with and name your production
company, design a logo for your production company. 2. Create your blog on either www.blogger.com, www.wordpress.com
or www.tumblr.com. 3. Send the URL of your blog to Mrs B, so she can put it on
www.mrsblacksmedia2.wordpress.com. 4. Research films from the ‘thriller’ genre and come up with a list of
identifying traits of the genre – things you will need to include. 5. Research the opening sequence of several thriller films. Each
member of the group should do a full textual analysis of at least 2 openings (cinematography, editing, sound and mise-en-scene). 6. Pick another film opening from the thriller genre and choose the 9
key screen shots from it (see www.artofthetitle.com for inspiration). Annotate the 9 shots describing why they are the key shots and what you can take from them as inspiration.
7. Create a mood board, scan or photograph it and upload it to your
blog, write a short entry on why you have used what you have on the board. 8. Audience research – research which films people think have good openings, what attracts people to films and what puts them off. Blog your findings. 9. Go to http://www.uktribes.com and http://www.findyourtribe.co.uk and use them to define your perfect audience member. (Have some fun and find out what tribe you are too). Create a complete picture of your audience member, from clothes to the food they eat, music they listen too. You can get a friend to dress up in the appropriate costume and take photos. 10. Research the institutions that might produce, distribute and exhibit
your film. 11. Define the key elements you must include in your opening to conform to the expectations of the genre you have chosen, the audience you have chosen and what is expected of a film opening. Make a check list.
12. Create a story arc for the whole of your film; write a brief synopsis.
Remember most films have 5 ‘acts’, and most conform to normal story patterns. 13. Create a storyboard (either drawn or photo-strip) 14. Create an animatic of your storyboard. 15. Create a shot list and shooting script. 16. Plan locations and take location shots. Blog your reasons for
choosing these locations. Seek permission to use the locations.
17. Cast your film and take casting shots. Blog your reasons for
casting who you have.
18. Plan and collect all props and costumes. 19. Shoot your film 20. Make a rough edit and check that you have all the shots you need. 21. Do any re-shoots and pick ups needed. 22. Complete finished edit.