2. In what ways does your media product
use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?
(i.e. of film openings)
3. Title
We named our film “Dead End” and decided to include it in our opening after looking at different film openings as
some do not include the title, yet we decided to do so as it is common to in social realist films.
4. Setting / location
We did a high angle shot of a busy high street to set the location of our film. We wanted the location shot to be of a
high street represent street life. We also wanted the location shot to bring an urban edge to the film.
5. Costumes and props
We gave out main character ‘George’ a very dull and scruffy costume to represent her
character and to add to her homeless and helpless state. We put her in a grey hoody which is
associated with youth and street life. We also put her in jogging bottoms to make her look
scruffy. We chose to give her espadrille style fabric shoes as these at time may look like socks
and look improper shoes with no real structure.
6. Camera work and editing
We used a variety of camera angles. Here we used a hand held reverse shot to see the character, her facial
expressions and emotions and also see her surroundings in the background. We saw this camera angle on
a music video and we liked the point of view of the character which it presented in this unique style.
7. Title font and style
We went for a simplistic font when creating our title. We decided to use a
black background and a white font to create a sharp and edgy look. Also
the simplicity of this title makes it more effective.
8. Story and how the opening is set up
The opening starts with a shot of a road sign reading Marlborough right and Hungerford left. We
then jump straight into a tracking shot of a roadside of houses in the snow. This sets the location
and feel of the film. The weather in this shot is cold and snowing and is starting to get dark, this
sets a cold tone to the film.
9. Genre and how the opening suggests it
This shot is of a silhouette walking down a dark alley way off a main high street. This
character seems mysterious and dark, this suggests the genre to be a social realism as
the hooded character sets a mysterious and edgy tone.
We also feel the music, which is upbeat yet mysterious suggests the genre.
10. How characters are introduced
In our opening, before the scene selected we have already seen this character yet
know very little about her other than her appearance. In this scene we see the
character sat on a pavement and begging for money. We now understand that this
character is homeless and living on the streets. This is where the montage links
together and the main character is truly introduced.
11. Special effects
Over the montage of our film we edited over a grey tint effect. This enables a dull feel to the
montage. When the scene with the dialouge is rolling there is no grey tint, this presents that the
grey tinted montage is in the past and is dark and unhappy and therefor the lighter scenes are
present day.
