The Basics Of Film Making:

This video will help us understand the different techniques and what we can do to make our opening interesting and different.

Editing Techniques

Shot Reverse Shot - The Fault In Our Stars

Shot reverse shot is used in this clip so that we can see both sides of the conversation. We can also see how each of the characters react to what the other person says in more detail than a split screen.

Split Screen - When Harry Met Sally

Like shot reverse shot a split screen is used so that viewers can see both sides of the conversation but at the same time. By using a split screen a movie can show two different thing at different places happening at different or the same time. 

Parallel Editing - Silence of the Lambs

Parallel editing allows the audience to see two different sets of action unfolding at the same time. In this clip one within the house, and one outside the house. Towards the end of the clip, we can see another set of action with Clarice. We are made to feel that the police are intercepting on the house of the Cannibal, but in actual fact it is Clarice who is outside the Cannibal's house. The effect of parallel editing is that all three events are linked together and it causes tension to build.

Montage - Big Hero 6

Many action movies have that very important 'suiting up' montage. This is used to show many things happening over a long period of time with motivating music playing over the top of it all.

Eye-line Match - Star Wars

This is used to show things from the view of a character, it gives the effect that you are in the characters place. In this scene you can see Princess Leia and she is looking at the storm troopers which builds up suspence as she then shoots at them.

My Top 5 Favorite Movie Openings

Donnie Darko directed by Richard Kelly is all about Donnie and his life leading up the the end of the world... In the opening scene we meet Donnie, laying in the road early in the morning.The scene then shows Donnie's journey home showing a shot of each of his family members the Song The Killing Moon by Echo and the Bunnymen playing in the background. I like this scene because it reveals little to nothing about the actual plot, but is also shot very beautifully.
Interesting fact: in the directors cut of the film the opening song is different (Never Tear Us Apart by INXS) which gives the scene a very different tone.

Memento directed by Christopher Nolan is a backwards film about one man's journey to find justice for his wife. I like this opening because it focuses on the fading picture which is a main focus in this film. Also the scene is entirely backwards which leaves the audience with many questions that can only be answered by watching the entire film.

Harold and Maude directed by Hal Ashby is a cult classic. I love the opening to this film because it starts off in the strangest way. Upbeat music playing and suddenly the first character that is introduced "dies", the reaction of his mother is not what you expect as she proceeds to make a phone call. I think it's a quite bazaar way to start a film but it does reflect Harold's character very well as an creepy, eccentric person. 

Pulp Fiction directed by Quinton Tarantino is a classic masterpiece, not only does the opening scene excite you but the conversation between the couple starts off quite normally and escalates to the point of armed robbery.

Drive directed by Nicolas Winding Refn. The opening scene illustrates gosling's character 'The Driver' very well, as he is quite and shrouded in mystery. The scene does very well in familiarising his character and the area in which it is set with absolutely no dialogue, much like the rest of the film. 

My Top 10 Favorite YouTube Channels

10. Mikey Bolts

This channel is a concoction of slap-dash sketches and impersonations. Mikey Bolts (as seen below) is almost the exact mirror image of Seth Macfarlane, he sounds like him too. This channel is filled with light-hearted humor and is all together quite fun and inclusive. It would be a bit further down the list if he posted more frequently. 

9. CollegeHumor

This show is also a sketch show. They host an array of videos, many of which are not suitable for children. You have been warned! 

8. BuzzFeedVideo

Like CollegeHumor this channel is also quite random with its videos. Some are cooking, workplace sketches and my personal favorite, The Try Guys:

 

7. How It Should Have Ended

I really like this channel because it gives a twist on the endings of movies and TV shows and sometimes it is quite satisfying seeing the alternative ending.

6. Fine Brothers Entertainment/ The React Channel

This channel has an organised routine of videos, including kids, teens, adults and elders react. They also do react gaming and other shows. I like this channel because of the rawness of the reactions and peoples different views on different things.

5. Cinema Sins

This channels explains everything wrong with movies, music videos and brands. This is a good channel to watch if you are into film making because it exposes plot holes and general stupid errors in bad films ad just pokes holes at the good ones.

4. Screen Junkies

This channel has three scheduled shows: Tuesdays is Honest Trailers, which is like the show on cinema sins but in less time and in a trailer fashion, it makes fun of the movie and the actors and tells you the 'truth' about the movie. On Thursdays the Screen Junkies Show which talks about movies, reviews, hits and missed and all sorts. Finally on Sundays is Movie Fights, a panel of fighters debate topics such as best Lord of the Rings movie and if you could only watch one film forever what would it be. All these shows are great for movie buffs such as myself.

3. Cracked

This channel loves to make fun of movies, video games and companies. This channel has a lot of different content such as Cracked Responds, Internet Party, Honest Commercials and my personal favorite After Hours:

2. Good Mythical Morning

The weekly show that talks about anything and everything, hosted by Rhett and Link (as pictured below). It's weird, but I like it.

1. The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

The American late night talk show hosted by actor turned talk show host Jimmy Fallon. I like this show because I can't watch the full show on TV but this is close enough. Jimmy is a great host because he doesn't just do sit down interviews, he does impressions, skits and games with his guests.

Review: Napoleon Dynamite

Napoleon Dynamite (2004) directed by Jared Hess and starring Jon Heder. Many things in Napoleon's life begin to change when his uncle Rico comes to look after him and his older brother when his grandma goes into the hospital. 

For a boy named Dynamite, he is the geekiest person imaginable and his ginger afro and thick glasses don't help. He is pushed around by pretty much everyone and has no friends, that is until he meets Pedro. Jon Heder plays the character of Napoleon very well, very dry and self-aware.

To say this film was weird would be an understatement. Everything about this film is strange and nothing much really happens. Personally I think there is nothing special about this film apart from it's concept. The beginning of the film was slow and I couldn't really tell where it was going. Once Pedro's campaign began the film began to pick up speed. The movie is a quest for justice, recognition and girlfriends. To be honest its quite relatable and funny, in a weird way.

With Hess's direction, Heder's acting and the 'election dance' finale, the films quirkiness becomes too overbearing not to make you smile. 

I give this film a 6.4/10. I recommend it.

First Group Vlog

Our first group vlog:

My group is Jodie, Megan and I.

My Media Background So Far:

Hi,

My favorite film of all time is Donnie Darko, directed by Richard Kelly and starring Jake Gyllenhaal  I love this film because I could watch it over and over and over and can still have a new interpretation of it every time. It's mind-blowing, innovative and original and I love it.

My Favorite actor is... well - there are too many to choose from.

My most memorable childhood film is definitely Mulan because it showed me you don't need to be a strong tough man to do what you want. It broke all gender norms and opened my eyes to sexuality and feminism from such a young age. I think every child should watch it.

When I was a child I loved and still do love comic books, my favorite being The X-Men. However nowadays the only magazine I really read is the Time Out magazine because I love the entertainment section, especially the movie reviews.

My favorite movie line, just happens to be from my favorite movie:
It requires a bit of context, but if you want context watch Donnie Darko.

I would love to live in the Shire, because I'm small enough to be a hobbit and I would have the most beautiful decorated hobbit hole. Also, it's very green and well manicured.

YouTube is the website that I visit the most because I like watching videos that other people make. Some of them are inspiring, funny and a lot of the shows that I watch give me vital film updates.

I think the best opening scene in all of time is the opening to the Christopher Nolan classic, Memento. 
The scene opens to this Polaroid picture, however it is not until the picture starts to fade that you realize the entire scene is backwards. I love this scene because it is gripping and opens you up to all these questions that only watching the entire film will answer. That right there, is brilliant film making.

Finally, if I were to own any gadget from any film. The Tardis! And unlike The Doctor with the Tardis that can travel through space and time, I wouldn't just stay mostly in modern day England.