Shot List

Specific Location	Shot Number and Shot Details	Props in the shot and where	Character(s) in scene
1,2,3 Outside Aaron’s house	Establishing shot. Camera pans buildings and stops when it reaches Aarons house. Aaron walks out of house when camera stops panning.	Hat	Aaron
4 In front of the gate	Mid shot. Aaron walks up to gate	Boom box, hat	Aaron, Aaron’s friends.
5	Over the shoulder. Aaron opens gate with key	Boom box, gate key, hat	Aaron, Aarons friends
6	Camera goes in between Aarons friends “Long shot”, See Aaron open gate and walks through.	Hat	Aaron, Aarons friends
7	Foreground shot, camera behind Aaron’s head see Aarons friends in foreground standing with boom box	Boom box, hat	Aaron, Aarons friends
8	Camera zooms in for close-up of Aaron walking towards his friend while the other friend walks towards him	Hat, Boom box	Hat, Boom box
9	Cuts to close-up of the boom box and shows a hand turning the volume dial up. Then cuts to a close-up of the sub-woofer on the boom box	Boom box	Aaron’s friend
10	Longshot of Aaron and friends walking out the alley. Camera is behind them	Hat, Boom box	Aaron, Aarons friends
11	Long shot, cuts to the opposite side and shows Aaron and his friends walking out of the gate.	Hat, Boom box	Aaron, Aarons friends
12	Camera is tilted on the floor. Characters walk by showing lower body.	No props	Aaron, Aaron’s friend
13	Camera pans left to right Starts of showing park and continues to pan past the characters faces. Mid shot	Boom box and hat	Aaron, Aarons friends
14,15	Close up of placing the boom box down.	Boom box	Aaron friend
16	Over the shoulder shot. Aaron informing friend to be careful Starts to rap	Boom box hat	Aaron and friend
17	Switches to mid-shot behind Aaron, friend raps also,	Hat	Aaron friend
18	Mid shot, a Whole group starts rapping.	Hat, Boom box	Aaron, Aarons friends
20	Close-up of Aaron’s friend rapping in a comical way as he dances.	No props	Aarons friend
21	Mid-shot shows whole group rapping and dancing in a satirical way.	Boom box, hat	Aarons and his friends
22	Film title.

Feedback

The initial draft of our storyboard had to undertake several adjustments in order for it to improve. Several aspects of the feedback our group received suggested that we lacked a wide range of camera shots. Therefore our group members decided to include more interesting shots. For example we incorporated several close-ups, long-shots, mid-shots, establishing shots and over-the-shoulder shots. This change helped to improve are basic comical storyline into a more appealing and engaging one.  The group’s main focus was to adjust the way in which the titles appeared. Our first vision was to present the titles on a blank screen; in-between each frame. However, this idea prolonged the movement of the characters and the actions which occurred on screen. As a result each shot didn’t correspond with the next and so the storyboard lacked a consistent flow. 

I realised that this wouldn't be beneficial for the audience because it created confusion and inconsistency. After the teacher’s feedback, we decided to completely change the way in which the titles appear on screen. We collaborated that if would be more effective if the titles appeared on the actual moving image in each shot. Also the group also confirmed the titles should remain in the same mid-right potion. Are group found that consistency was a key aspect we needed to include, in order to present clear readable titles to are audience. Another improvement which the feedback suggested was to include small aspects of comical dialogue when the characters were interacting; to ensure the audience are aware if the genre of the film. It also adds understanding to the personalities of the characters. After hearing this suggestion the group decided to incorporate a scene where the characters would ‘rap’ against one another in an amusing way. This idea helped tie up the end of the title sequence by aiming to further engage the audience and make them laugh.

The feedback are group received really help to put our storyline into perspective, and encouraged us to re-think the ending of our title sequence so it would interest the audience. Altogether I think our re-drafted storyboard provides a visibly clear story but remains appealing and relevant to our chosen gene, comedy.

Storyboard Final Draft

 

Storyboard Draft One

 

Assessment 4 Moodboard

Assessment 4 on Prezi

The Final Idea

The final storyline we decided to go with was idea four, out of our six initial ideas.  As a group we deliberated that this idea considered an entertaining storyline for our target audience; young adults. Our idea provides an unrealistic, but mature plot which adds to the idea of a comical genre. This is an example of the type of film our audience would find comical throughout. The film’s title sequence will uses typical conventions of a comedy film. For example, a possible idea of a title sequence could include: The film begins by setting the scene ‘London, united Kingdom’; a preview of writing will inform the audience of the location and the year. This will create understanding of where the film is situated and where the action will take place. The sequence will include a strong sense of Mise-en scene, which will be integrated throughout the title sequence.

 The typical conventions of a comedy genre include: High key lighting, as it emphasises the characters emotions and feeling. It will be used throughout the title sequence to represent the genre of the film; a family comedy aimed particular at young adults. This could also be portrayed through the use of vivid colours and family orientated locations. For example a family home, or work place.

Another possible convention our group could incorporate in our title sequence is:  on-screen sound. Dialect could be immediately preformed by the characters. This would be effective for this particular genre because a sense of laughter will be created by the humorous conversation displayed.  For example the main character, James and his friends or family.
The brief of our selected storyline consist of our main character James (MC Don), a man around the age of 25; who desires to fulfil his lifelong dreams of becoming a famous, international recording artist. James is particularly aiming to achieve his world wide name throughout the hip-hop industry. He disarmingly travels to Hollywood to have a meeting with a top record deal, the company denies James of any potential or talent and so he is put down miserably.

  James continues on his travels home, back to the UK after being turned down and has what he explains as a 'massive breakdown'. However comically, his breakdown only lasts an hour and then he soon gets back on his feet trying to achieve his dreams alone and making it broad for others. We chose this story as our final idea as we thought we could expand on a great comical story line while including several conventions of a typical comedy film.

Six Initial Ideas

1) A young girl babysits for the night, but things doesn’t always go according to plan when the kids take over.

2) A mischievous monkey escapes a zoo and causes mayhem in Manhattan.

3) An irresponsible man is forced into a troublesome situation, when he has to look after a foster child for a while.

4) A wannabe hip-hop artist goes on a journey to follow his dreams, but will he get his big break?

5) A teenage girl starts her first day at school after being home schooled all her life. How will survive in the American high school?

6) A young boy gets lost on his journeys in Disneyland, and has the adventure of his life.

Target Audience Research

The typical target audience of a Comedy genre is men and woman, aged between 20 to 40 years old. These particular groups of people come from working class families. They may have occupations which array from teachers, nurses or receptionist, altogether they are family orientated individuals who enjoy watching comedies with members of their family.
  During the course of the film an obstacle tends to get in the main characters way. Most comedy films are set in day to day. Although some comedy films could take place in exceptional places, especially if they are a satire or spoof movie.

  Adults may have commonalities of going to work e.g. in an office, so the setting of the film may relate and therefore interest them.

 The hobbies and interest of this targeted audience may also be projected throughout comedy genres. In general the hobbies and interest of adults who come from a working class family include: Sports, Gardening, reading, watching television (family orientated shows), going to the cinema, and other interest associated with their family members.

There are three main particular comedies in which further categories this particular target audience.  
 These are: Rom-com, Action Comedies, and animated comedies. Rom-com's would generally be watched by females, between their teen years or early adulthood. A Rom-com is a hybrid genre in which a romance story generally emerges and is presented in a comedic way. There is an archetypal formula that Rom-com’s follow in terms of narrative; this is because an insight of emotions and thoughts are presented through introducing a Narrator.

For example films such as ‘A Cinderella story’ and ‘the ugly truth’ contain strong aspects of love and happiness, which particularly interest young females.

However, Action Comedies would particular interest males. This is because they display violence and conflict in a comical approach, these aspects appeal to males because they enjoy the tension and excitement action comedies contain.

Animated comedies however are particular aimed at children. Films such as ’Daddy-Daycare and ‘The cat in the hat’ include unrealistic settings and characters e.g. a talking cat’ which entertains the young audience, aged between 7 to 13 years old.

Cat in-the Hat Opening Sequence Analysis

The opening title sequence of ‘The cat in the hat’ doesn’t use typical conventions of a comedy film. The film begins by setting the scene of a city called ‘Anvill’. A long shot camera angle captures the image of a small city. Unlike most comedy films the scene had been set through the voice of the narrator.

 Non diagetic sound has been used to notify the audience about the location and where the story will be situated. There is a strong sense of Mise-en scene integrated throughout the title sequence. For example a preview of the small scale city advances to an office building. A zooming camera technique magnifies towards ‘Humberfloobs real estate’.

 The title sequence continues with a chaotic office, in which is complete with many colourful dress characters.  High-key lighting is used throughout the title sequence to represent the genre of the film; a family comedy aimed particular at children. This is portrayed through the use of vivid colours and the costumes in which the characters are clothed in.

 Contrasting to a typical comedy sequence, dialect is immediately performed by a character. This is effective as it gives the audience an insight to the characters personality. The female character conveys worry and confusion. We learn this not only through her dialect but her body language and facial expressions. The female is conversing on the phone while behaving in a fidgety and nervous conduct. This suggests the rest of the film is a continuation of overcoming the present inconvenience of ‘not having a babysitter’.

The titles of the film appear in the centre of the frame. The titles are presented in a fairly big font, this encourages young children as well adults to read the titles. White, simple font is used as it engages the audience to pay attention; this allows recognition to the producers and creators of the film. Using big, bright, readable font that contrast with the background images provides credibility to those behind the creation of the film. Altogether the position of the titles is used to highlight the significance and message they deliver.

 The opening title sequence can represent different groups of people. For instance the use intense colour and animation resembling scenery; represents a cartoonish atmosphere, this is particularly aimed at children. Whereas, the immediate introduction to an ‘office’ can relate to adults, as they have commonalities of this occupation. Also the problem in which the character confronts could suggest a sense of realism. For example adults may face similar problems of ‘not having a babysitter’. The film offers a comical but realistic storyline, which interest both adults and children.

‘DreamWorks’ are the production company in which created ‘The Cat in the hat’. They are an example of a cross media convergence. This is because DreamWorks is an American film studio which develops, produces, and distributes films, video games and television programming. The audiences acknowledge this successful organization and are enthralled by all the products DreamWorks produce.

The suitable audience for this title sequence is an array from toddlers to children. The family comedy is portrayed to highlight a young audience, this is presented through the location; an imaginary city named ‘Anvill’ and also through the choice of characters. For instance the main character of the film is an unrealistic talking cat. The title sequence includes a Narrator in which exemplify the storyline of the film; he talks in rhyme to engage the audience, and uses simple vocabulary to ensure the young audience understands him. The audience remains interested throughout the title sequence because of its luminosity; there is a significantly bright collection of colour used in the title sequence. This in some sense stuns the audience, as the colour projects magic and enchantment. 

Bruce Almighty Opening Sequence Analysis

                                    

The opening title sequence of ‘Bruce Almighty’ doesn’t use typical conventions of a comedy film. The title Sequence begins by immediately introduction three characters. The positioning of the frame suggests difference in power and authority; the main character in the foreground is conducting a news report about the characters in the background. 

Unlike a typical comedy title sequence, dialogue is preformed promptly, even prior to setting the scene. This ensures the audience is uninformed to what the plot concerns, although the title sequence indicates the occupation of the main character. Suggesting the rest of the film is a continuation of the man’s livelihood in relation to his occupation as a ‘new reporter’.

 There is little information received about the location, I think this is effective for this particular title sequence because it magnifies the characters personality rather than where he lives. On screen sound provides the audience with clear visuals to where the sounds come from. Immediately introducing dialogue is effective for this particular genre because a sense of laughter is created by the humorous conversation displayed. Along with the characters facial expressions and body language; the audience can read the characters emotions and the relationship he has with the other characters. For example the main character seems nervous and tense from the annoyance of the interviews getting there lines wrong. As a result the character rolls his eyes and throws the microphone.

High key lighting is used throughout the title sequence to present the main character in an optimistic approach; the character is lit up in a comical way to enhance his vulnerability. No shadows are present in this scene, but instead bright light is used to capture the amusing personality of the character. The lighting suggest the film is a continuation of capturing the characters interesting and funny dialogue.

The titles of the film sequence do not continuously appear in the same position, but instead appear in several. For example the titles appear in the middle of the screen, on the lower left of the frame, and then the titles appear on the lower right. I think the font and size of the titles are so unadorned the same position is not necessary, as the titles are readable for the audience. The titles entail white, straight and undeviating style font which clear and legible for the audience to read.

 The opening title sequence represents different groups of people. For example the occupation of a ‘New reporter’ can relate to adults. The topic suggests a serious and proficient tone. However, the humorous commentary in which the character makes can relate to both adults and children, and altogether entertains the audience.

‘Universal pictures’ are a production company in which created ‘Bruce Almighty’. There are an American film studio, and one of the six major movie studios. The importance of showing that Universal pictures created this film is the significance of their success. The audience is interest to know this because it influences them to watch the film; as it was created by a cross media convergence. The company has preformed marketisation of their brand across the world, and so represents a successful company who produce first-class film.                                                                        

 The suitable audience for this title sequence would be adults. I think the characters occupation is a key factor which suggests the film is appropriate for adult viewers. Children wouldn’t find the title sequence interesting because it lacks a traditional comedy sequence. The title sequence introduces characters and dialogue straight away, so the audience is aware the commentary overpowers the visual images. The title sequence also includes adult humor in which is not suitable for children. The audience remains interest throughout the title sequence because it presents realistic situations in a comical light.