Final Cut Express First Impressions

When initially looking at the final cut express software, i thought it seemed fairly simple and basic. After practice, it became clearer to me that using the program requires logical steps. YouTube videos can be found and information is easily obtained regarding using different aspects of Final Cut Express. I found the ways it edits videos clever and effective, the only confusion i had at first was how to import the shots and then how to export them when i had completed editing.

Media Language in other Shane Meadows Film- A Room for Romeo Brass

Film covers

A room for Romeo brass (1999) 

Budget - not available
Gross - $18,000 (USA)
-Failed to get a UK cinema release

Idents- Alliance Atlantis Communications

Film opening- 5:40

Many low budget indie films are funded by companies. A room for Romeo Brass was funded by the BBC and The arts council of England. The lack of editing in the first shot, an extreme long shot showing the rural area, which lasts for 1:10, gives the perception that it is going to be a drama. The director is introduced as 'A Shane Meadows Film', this emphasizes the directors importance in the making of the film and reflects the auter theory. An audio bridge is used to link the Non- digetic music which is played- it is up beat and gives a happy feeling, this contrasts with the setting that is dull and a run down area (this is showing the mise-en-scene.

Media language in 24/7

Film cover

Budget: unknown.

Gross: £175000

Opening- around 4 minutes
Idents- BBC films and Scala

The film starts with a long shot for about 30 seconds and it is made obvious quickly that it is going to be a serious drama. The first thing you notice, along with the seriousness, is that the film is black and white. Only one star named at the beginning of the film, along with the directors name shown as 'A Shane Meadows Film'. The background is bleak and as the next shot appears so do more names. they are bold and in capital letters so stand out well against the darker background. The next shot is showing emotion of an older man, it shows the condition he is in and causes the audience to empathize with the character. The lack of dialogue makes it difficult for the audience to understand the narrative enigma of the film opening. it is the voice over that follows that indicates the accents of the characters and therefore perhaps a clue towards the location.

This is England

This is England (Shane Meadows -2006)


Budget: £1.5mBox Office: £1.3m $320,000
Length of opening: 3.25

Producer, Shane Meadows, focuses on the social realism genre where by social issues are taken and then incorporated into the film. Certain aspects of the film are based on the personal experiences of the director. He has also directed some short films such as Deadmans Shoes, A room for romeo brass and 24:7 .The company idents that contributed to the production of the film were Warp Films, Film 4, Screen Yorkshire, EM Media, Big Arty Productions and UK Film Council.


Media language

Mis-en-scene is used to sets the mood of the film, the montage of American and UK TV and film  from the 1980's creates the setting as well as exposition which helps to establish the time period of the film . Footage from the UK which is seen as global news and significant to British ways are shown, such as remembrance days, racist attacks and campaigning for women's right.The writers and directors views on people such as Margaret Thatcher become clear from this opening scene. A sense of crime is felt with the shots of riots and skin heads. Establishing shots are used to set the scene, for example a panning shot of the old fashioned buildings and car. The majority of shots used in this film opening are medium close ups and close ups of the main character. 

Vodcast- Media Language for 8 Film Openings

In groups of 4 we had to create a vodcast. We each compared the 2 film openings we had each and then collectivly compared all 8. We looked at different conventions and spoke about which films included the particular convention and then the differences with the videsos that did not. We each concluded with an overall look at the 2 movies we had looked at each and the particular conventions within those. The main problem with our completed Vodcast is that we did not include any screen shots so it technically is not a vodcast and is really just a video.

Completed Swede and Reflection

The class was split into two groups and each group was to make a swede. Our group chose the film Taken, everyone in the group was familiar with the plot of the film and we found it easy to choose which scenes we could re-create. The film was made in school by Jake, Curtis, George, James, Dec, Dom and I. Linked below is the completed swede.

We did 5 scenes from the film to create our swede. The conversation between Kim and her father in a cafe, Kim leaving to go to Paris, the kidnapping scene followed by the telephone conversation between Bryan (Kim's father) and the kidnapper. And then lastly the fighting scene.

My favourite film

my favourite film is Taken (Pierre Morel, 2008)
here is the trailer

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priomo poster

Brief

VIDEO: (i) preliminary exercise:

continuity task involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down on a chair opposite another character, with whom he/she then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180 degree rule. [we tackle this with an exercise in ‘sweding’…]




(ii) main task: the titles and opening of a new fiction film, to last a maximum of two minutes.