MAKING FILM OPENINGS: AN AS MEDIA STUDY DAY

BY HIBA HASSAN

SAUL BASSBEFORE SAUL BASS• ALL TITLES WERE AT THE

START

AFTER SAUL BASS• THE CONVENTIONS

CHANGED

• THE GRAPHICS ARE KEY IN SETTING THE AUDIENCES

EXPECTATIONS

• HE MADE THE FONT STYLISH

CONVENTIONS• 2-4 MINUTES LONG• AT THE START OR AFTER A PRE-TITLE SEQUENCE• STAND ALONE OR OVER A SEQUENCE• GOOD LIGHTENING DEPENDING ON THE GENRE• SOUND• MISE EN SCENE• FONT• COLOUR• FRAMING

WHAT TO AVOID• INCONSISTENCY IS KEY: IT CAN CAUSE CONFUSION: “SUSPENSION OF

DISBELIEF” • SHOOTING IN TOO MANY LOCATIONS• FORGETTING TO LEAVE NEGATIVE SPACE FOR TITLES• HAVING THE FONT TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL• RUNNING OUT OF TIME TO CREATE EFFECTIVE TITLES

MOST COMMON PROBLEMS• LOOKS LIKE A TRAILER OR A SHORT FILM

• NOT ENOUGH TITLES• POOR SOUND AND POOR LIGHTING

• POORLY DIRECTED• ACTORS NOT IN COSTUME

• CONFUSING• COPIES STUDENT CONVENTIONS NOT AN ACTUAL FILM OPENING

MOST COMMON STUDENT OPENINGS

MAKING THE BEST FILM OPENINGS

MAKING THE BEST FILM OPENINGS

STEP 3 – BUILD UP SKILLS•SOUND

•CAMERAWORK•EDITING

MAKING THE BEST FILM OPENINGS

MAKING THE BEST FILM OPENINGS

STEP 6: PLANNING• PEOPLE, PLACE, PROPS, COSTUME• REHEARSING, DIRECTING• EQUIPMENT• JOBS ON THE DAY• KEEPING A RECORD OF THE

PROCESS• GIVE MORE TIME THAN YOU THINK

MAKING THE BEST FILM OPENINGS

STEP 8: EDITING