Concise but effective

 Our next task for our portfolio project is to analyze a posting from years before. This will help us understand different ways our blogs are able to look like and different ways i am able to write them.

The blog i chose is https://stephaniebmedia.blogspot.com/2020/02/credit-scene.html. 

The blog post works well because it stays focused on a clear, creative goal. The writers explain exactly how they plan to use objects in a car, like trash or tools, to display the names of the crew. By jumping straight into their plan, they show they have a specific vision for how their film should look and feel. Even though it is short it explains everything needed to know.

The writing is very easy to read because of how it is organized. Instead of long, dense paragraphs, the authors use simple headings and short sections. This makes it easy for anyone to skim the post and quickly understand their main points without getting lost in too much detail.

A major strength of the post is how it uses real-world examples. By looking at how famous movies handled their opening scenes, the authors show they are thinking like professionals. They identify exactly what they like about those films and explain how they will use those ideas in their own project.

Ultimately, the blog is effective because it is practical. It ends with their plan to move forward with their "items in the car" idea based on what they learned. It’s a great example of a progress report that is short, professional, and stays focused on the work itself.

Film Credit Sequences Mystery/Thriller

 Last post I analyzed and discussed the film opening fro three films in the mystery/thriller genre which is the genre me and my partner have chosen for our own film opening for our portfolio project. The films were Knives out (2019), Carry-on (2024) and Murder mystery (2019). In this post i am going to analyze and discuss their credit sequences. 

First I am going to start with Knives Out. The opening and closing are designed to feel like the front and back covers of a classic mystery novel. The film begins with a punchy, bold title "KNIVES OUT" appearing right as the body is discovered, which tells the audience that the clues have begun. The font choice is a sharp, "serif typeface" that feels both modern and traditional, mirroring the protagonist Harlan Thrombey’s career as a crime novelist.

At the end of the film, the credits do not just roll over a black screen, they scroll past beautiful, high-resolution photographs of the Thrombey mansion’s many decorations. These still shots highlight the strange statues, the "Circle of Knives" centerpiece, and the clutter of Harlan’s life. This sequence serves as a "cooldown" for the viewer, highlighting the setting and inviting them to look at the house one last time for any clues they might have missed. It reinforces the "Whodunnit" style by treating the setting as a character in its own right.

Next is Carry-On, the credit sequences are used to maintain the high-tension energy of a "Techno-Thriller". The opening credits are "integrated" into the film, meaning the names of the actors appear on screen while the actual story is moving forward. As we see the chaotic flow of an airport on Christmas Eve, the credits appear over the  movements of baggage belts and security lines. This forces the viewer to feel the same pressure as the main character from the very first second.

The closing credits are even more thematic, using stylized X-ray imagery as a background. The names of the cast and crew are displayed over digitized scans of personal items, suitcases, and electronics, colored in the signature orange and blue of airport security monitors. This visual choice reminds the audience that in this genre, danger is often hidden in plain sight. It leaves the viewer with a lingering sense of paranoia and technical scrutiny, perfectly capturing the "ticking clock" nature of the story.

Lastly is Murder Mystery. This is a Comedy-Mystery, so its credits are designed to be "fun" and "breezy" rather than dark or intense. The opening titles often use a travel-inspired aesthetic, featuring bright colors and graphics that look like postcards or luxury vacation brochures from Europe. This choice immediately tells the audience that the movie is an adventure meant for entertainment, setting a lighthearted tone even before the first crime occurs.

The closing credits lean further into this "vacation" vibe. They often feature upbeat music and animated sequences or snapshots of the main couple, Nick and Audrey, on their chaotic honeymoon. Instead of focusing on the grit of the investigation, the credits celebrate the characters' relationship and the beautiful scenery of locations like Monte Carlo. This ensures that the audience leaves the film feeling happy and satisfied, proving that in this sub-genre, the fun of the journey is just as important as solving the murder.

These credits sequences have gave me more inspiration into how me and my partner will create the credit sequence for our own film opening.

Film Openings Mystery/Thriller

 To help us have inspiration and better understanding on what our blog post should look like I have watched 3 film openings in the mystery/thriller genre and i’m going to talk about them.

The first film opening i watched was Knives Out. As soon as it begins it feels like a very important puzzle. By starting with the discovery of a body in a grand, eccentric mansion, the film establishes that the setting is just as much a character as the people. It uses visual cues to tell the audience that this is a psycological mystery. It focuses on the aftermath of a crime, making the viewer to look backward to find the truth. This is a classic mystery movie. It pays homage to the "Golden Age" mysteries of Agatha Christie. This film opening tells us the problem right away and detailed which helps the audience start guessing and figure out who did it right away.

Knives Out (2019)

The second film opening i watched was of Carry-on. It’s starts in a familiar, but stressful environment which is the airport. It taps into common anxieties about security. It’s all about a threat. It shows a tension between people and a problem. No one knows who caused it. This is a a “Hostage Thriller”, meaning the situation is high-stakes and very nerve wracking. Unlike a mystery where we look for a killer, this film is about high-speed tension. It relies on a single moment that changes the hero's life forever to start a timed scenario.

Carry On (2024)

The third and last film opening i watched was of Murder Mystery focuses on character development rather than the crime itself. By spending time on the couple’s everyday lives and their desire or adventure, the film makes the eventual feel like an exciting disruption rather than a tragedy. It uses the "Invitation to Danger" trope, where a chance encounter leads to a new exciting world. The simple, bright, and comedic opening tells the audience that while there will be a mystery, it is meant to be fun and lighthearted. This is a “Comedy-Mystery”. It takes the serious parts of a murder mystery and develops the plot with laughs and contrasts a very serious life or death situation with their casual personalities.

Murder Mystery (2019)

These three film openings helped me get inspiration and a better understanding of the different types of mystery/thriller films. Although they all are mystery/thriller they each have different qualities that makes them all be different from one another. This give me more ideas and a wider range of options for my own film opening

Project Completion Schedule

 It is very important to be organized for a large project. To do so me and my partner Meliyah have decided to create a detailed schedule for our whole project. We have a breakdown of all the steps we have to follow and also a weekly schedule so we can stay on task and finish everything on time.

Breakdown

1. Brainstorming

• Research and analyze different film openings from our chosen genre (mystery/thriller)
• Research and analyze  three credit sequences fm our chosen genre (mystery/thriller)

2. Planning

• Come up with plot and concept of film opening
• Create few variations of film opening
• Create storyboard
• Choose locations and dates to film
• Find music 
• Find actors (if needed)

3.Production

• Choose costumes suitable for each scene
• Film scenes
• Record foley sounds
• Record Voice overs

4. Editing

• Edit scenes together
• Add any necessary effects if needed
• Re record foley or voice overs if needed

5. Revision

• Review and make sure everything looks good and ready for submission

6. Critical Creative Reflection

• Create reflection
• Edit and review CCR

Weekly Schedule

The day I’m writing this post is the start of week 2 so i am going to write this starting with week 2. Week 1 I researched different genres for inspiration for our project genre.

Week 2 (1/26-2/1)

• Research and brainstorming
• Watch film openings from chosen genre
• Discuss movie opening plot ideas with partner
• Come up with one idea

Week 3(2/2-2/8)

• Create storyboard and decide shots
• Find filming locations
• Set filming dates

Week 4 (2/9-2/15)

• Complete storyboard
• Find costumes and mis-en-scene elements 
• Possibly start filming
• Record foley and voice overs

Week 5 (2/16-2/22)

• Filming
• Start editing process
• Choose and create title and credits for film opening
• Choose music and effects needed
• Create logo and title for production company

Week 6 (2/23-3/1)

• Keep editing
• Have meeting with teacher for opinion
• Make any changes needed on film opening
• Re record foley if needed

Week 7 (3/2-3/9)

• Finish editing
• Research for question #1-#4 for CCR
• Research for CCR
• Create reflection

Week 8 (3/10-3/17)

• Finish CCR
• Review and edit CCR
• Review and edit film opening if needed

So Now…

This is the schedule we are going to try to follow throughout all the weeks. It will help us have a good time management throughout the project so we can finish everything on time in an efficient and effective way. I will update if anything changes from this schedule, if we have any setbacks or if we are able to work quicker than expected.

Porfolio Project Genre #2

 After looking into the Coming-of-Age genre, the next genre I am researching for my Final Portfolio Project is Drama. Drama is a broad genre that relies on realistic characters, emotional themes, and intense internal or external conflicts. While Coming-of-Age focuses on growing up, Drama focuses on the how people deal with life’s hardest challenges.

The target audience for Drama is generally very large, mostly consist of older teenagers and young adults. Since the themes are often more serious, the audience usually looks for a story that feels "real" and emotionally moving. They want to relate to one of their own life’s struggles on screen.

Drama centers on emotional journeys.Themes often consist of Injustice and Morality,Grief and Loss,
Social Issues (like poverty, or discrimination) and Internal Conflicts. These themes allow the audience to empathize deeply with the protagonist, as the stakes feel grounded in reality rather than fantasy. Something important about drama is its atmosphere and setting. Filmmakers often use low-key lighting and shadows to represent a character’s heavy mood or secrets. Close-ups and extreme close-ups are essential as they capture every expression and tear, forcing the audience to relate to the character's pain. Although  Drama can be dialogue-heavy, it also uses silence and "empty space" to build tension. What is not said is often just as important as the script. Dramas usually use a melancholic or orchestral score. Piano or string instruments are common to guide the audience’s emotions without distracting from the acting.

Institutional Conventions
In Drama, the actor’s performance is the primary "selling point." Casting often involves actors known for their range and ability to portray intense emotions. Drama posters are usually minimalist and serious. They often feature a single, high-detail shot of a character’s face or a , desolate setting that represents the tone of the film.

One movie that is in the drama genre is Parasite. It discovers the dynamics between poor and wealthy families in Korea.

Parasite (2019)

Another drama movie would be Little Woman. It involves interpersonal conflics and working through gender roles.

Little Woman (2019)

Portfolio Project Genre #1

 It is now the start to my Final portfolio Project. All the posts until now have helped me learn and understand different lessons and techniques for this Portfolio Project. From now on all my posts are going to showcase my research, planning, brainstorming and behind the scenes of my final 2 minute film opening I will be creating.

I am first starting with developing what genre my film will be, one genre i am interested in is coming of age. Coming of age is a genre i have watched for a very long time and the lots of the films are very interesting because they are targeted to you specific age range. The coming of age target audience is teenagers and young adults (ages 12-mid 20s). Coming of age films have different content for different ages since the age range is large.

Its  content focuses on themes such as self-discovery, family relationships (parent-child),peer pressure, gaining independence, sexual awakening and more. All these themes relate directly to people’s everyday life and can be something someone is experiencing allowing the audience to be engaged to the film more. Along withy the themes specific techniques are used to be able to get the topic across. Coming of age films are very dialogue driven, using internal monologues and conversations between characters to further develop the character. For visuals, everyday landmarks are the way to go. Highschools, bedroom scenes, parties, driving, etc. are often used to convey familiarity to the audience. Close up shots to evoke emotions are essential for showcasing the character’s personality and emotions they are going through.  Lastly for soundtracks, it is important to use nostalgic popular music tailored to the target audience.

Institutional conventions: Coming of age casts adolescents and young actors to convey reality. Film posters emphasize frienships, usually with a group of friends and a protagonist “leading them”, or being excluded by them in some sense. O ther posters constitute a family or sibling relationships as well.

One Popular coming of age film is mean girls which includes a friend group excluding the protagonist and we take a journey to discover the protagonists self identity through the use of funny jokes and sacarsm of their generation.

Mean Girls (2004)

Another example of a movie can be Parent Trap. This movie relates to more of a parent-child relationship and family dynamics.

The Parent Trap (1998)