Strengths
The opening is original and unlike other horror openings. They have followed the generic conventions of a horror making it easier for the audience to establish its genre. The titles are used correctly and are there for the correct amount of time and also very clear and easy to see.
Weaknesses
Within the text the camera angles were uneven, and several panning shots were clearly filmed handheld, and are ‘shaky’.
Fade to blacks are used which establishes a film trailer approach, and it comes to a closed narrative, when should be displayed as open.
The non-diegetic sound in the background (Cars) ruins the scene, when the female antagonist is speaking diegetic dialogue.
The storyline was to complex and was hard to follow.
Although the titles are used correctly, I feel the change in size was unnecessary and to improve this I throughout the opening all titles should be consistant throughout.
The costume choice was contradicting the character, as clearly from the opening she intends to kill and has killed, so a red t-shirt would be more appropiate. The character seems to be obessed with someone she loves, however this can be seen as a split personaly as well as being innnocent which links with the colour of her top however as she kills the female protagonist and the blood spilt on her top it contraticts the clothing worn.
Although the titles are used correctly, I feel the change in size was unnecessary and to improve this I throughout the opening all titles should be consistant throughout.
The costume choice was contradicting the character, as clearly from the opening she intends to kill and has killed, so a red t-shirt would be more appropiate. The character seems to be obessed with someone she loves, however this can be seen as a split personaly as well as being innnocent which links with the colour of her top however as she kills the female protagonist and the blood spilt on her top it contraticts the clothing worn.
A lack of continuity which also highlighted that it was very similar to a trailer.
The length of time that the shot of the first female protagonist shown is too short to establish hat she was doing, to improve this perhaps leave it for another 0.4 seconds.
The length of time that the shot of the first female protagonist shown is too short to establish hat she was doing, to improve this perhaps leave it for another 0.4 seconds.
Student Film 2
Strength
The non-diegetic voice over was effective and built up the tension.
The first female protagonist is shown in a negative lense, immediatley grabbing the audiences attention, I think that this is a great first shot to start the opening with. I feel the choice of clothing works, it connotes innocence.
The first female protagonist is shown in a negative lense, immediatley grabbing the audiences attention, I think that this is a great first shot to start the opening with. I feel the choice of clothing works, it connotes innocence.
Weaknesses
The voice over was cut short, I think that to improve the non diegetic sound could have been faded before we see the female protagonist.
A lack of continuity which also highlighted that it was very similar to a trailer.
It ended on a closed narrative when should have ended on an open. To elaborate this further, the opening feels like a short film it has a beggining middle and an end, although the generic conventions suited te genre, i feel this could be improved.
Student Film 3
Strength
Out of the three texts, I thought this one met the criteria by creating an opening scene leaving it on an open narrative rather than a closed.
Weaknesses
(One bad apple productions) This contrasted with the genre of the film, which made the text un-effective.
The female protagonist in the car was smiling in the two shot, so it lost its feel and was very unrealistic and unbelievable.
The wind screen wipers, changed position throughout the text which was un-effective and was not very realistic therefore discontinious.
The establishing shot was left for too long boring the audience watching, I feel that to improve they should have shortened it. The opening shot was unclear as the protagonists in the car were unclear and hard for the audience watching to establish what was going on. The natural lighting created an orange tinge to the frame, however the sun is unavoidable. When the male protagonist answers the phone, I feel his tone of voice was innapropriate, also the phone did not ring therefore it was unclear as to why he picked up the phone. The pan that followed him to the door was unsteady.
The establishing shot was left for too long boring the audience watching, I feel that to improve they should have shortened it. The opening shot was unclear as the protagonists in the car were unclear and hard for the audience watching to establish what was going on. The natural lighting created an orange tinge to the frame, however the sun is unavoidable. When the male protagonist answers the phone, I feel his tone of voice was innapropriate, also the phone did not ring therefore it was unclear as to why he picked up the phone. The pan that followed him to the door was unsteady.
