The document provides an analysis of a film opening sequence created by Max Cochrane. It examines various elements of the opening including the integrated title design, establishing shots of the Hammersmith location, costumes showing the protagonist's lower class status, props like a golf club and vodka bottle, camerawork using close-ups and quick cuts, a dull gray title font matching the atmosphere, a narrative setting up the protagonist's struggles living with an alcoholic mother after his father left, suggesting the drama genre, and characters introduced through narration with the mother briefly shown passed out. The opening aims to immerse the viewer in the protagonist's difficult life situation and set the tone for the story to follow.

1. EVALUATION QUESTION 1:
IN WHAT WAY DOES YOUR
MEDIA PRODUCT USE,
DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE
FORMS AND CONVENTIONS
OF REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS
MAX COCHRANE

2. THE TITLE OF THE FILM
My title of the film is an integrated title which emerges from under the
Hammersmith Bridge and then flows out of the screen in the same
direction. It is edited in such a way that it goes with the flow and
direction of the water. I feel my title is not very typical of opening
sequences as it is in the first shot and the first of the opening credits
when usually it will come later on. There isn’t a convention for if films
are integrated or not, most film titles are different and often start with
the theme of the movie. An example of non integrated would be the
‘Snatch’ opening titles and an example of integrated titles would be
‘Shrek’s opening title as it is placed within the ground and appears after
Shrek actually moves the first layer of mud away plus it is later revealed
to be made of maggots.

3. SETTING/LOCATION
I set my film in Hammersmith having various scenery shots before
showing my protagonist. During the first few scenery shots is
where I have also added in some of my opening credits which are
also integrated in various ways. I feel this does follow normal film
conventions as in many the opening does start with scenery shots
showing the location. Some movies that have also done this of
opening with establishing/scenery shots would be ‘The Hateful
Eight’ which shows various shots of the snowy wilderness and
‘Star Wars’ which has every one of them pan down in space after
the long opening credits.

4. COSTUMES AND
PROPS
I had a more close up shot with quick cut editing when we see the
protagonist putting on his jumper and it shows the audiences from its
close up view that it is in bad condition and very dirty. This helps to
suggest the character either is in lower class in society or perhaps he
simply has not got washing equipment or been taught. The main prop
used throughout the opening is the protagonists golf club and ball
which he is shown to be very talented at preforming tricks an shots. My
inspiration for the getting ready scene came from a ‘Skins’ episode in
which there is a close up quick cut scene of a character called ‘Cook’
getting ready in a similar style not showing the characters face either.

5. MORE PROPS
When the audience is also introduced to the protagonists
mother it is only for a few seconds but one thing that they
notice is the obvious empty vodka bottle in her hand telling
giving the first impression she is an alcoholic from the visual
perspective and also the protagonists dialogue that informs
the audience about her occasionally wasting all her money
on drink.

6. CAMERAWORK AND
EDITING
I had various different camera angles for different reasons for
example in some close ups would be to show facial expressions
or to show the state of my protagonists clothes. I had all my
establishing scenery shots at the beginning so that the rest of
the opening would be focused on the protagonist. In editing
most the shots I use are slow pace, I use quick cuts only a
couple times when the protagonist is getting ready and when
sitting on a wall eating as shots of people changing and eating
are rather boring so I did not want much focus on them.

7. TITLE FONT AND
STYLE
The title for my opening is integrated and 3d, it flows across
on the surface of the water which was edited like that on
adobe after effects, I made the colour a light shade of grey to
try and match the dull depressing colour of the water and
sky.

8. STORY AND HOW THE
OPENING SETS IT UP
The story is about a lower class teenage boy who lives in Hammersmith and
his struggles in life. He lives with his alcoholic possibly abusive mother after
his dad left and has a strong passion for golf which the audience is also
made to believe it is possible as did his father. Throughout the opening the
protagonist narrates about several of these details explaining things such as
his favorite place being Hammersmith bridge, his father leaving and his
upset about this but he did end up leaving him his golf club and the fact his
mother is an alcoholic who spends too much money on drink. The tension is
built by the end of the opening when we hear the protagonists mother
angrily call out his name and he turns in shock with a look of panic. Earlier
in the opening he is shown to be stealing some money from her while
narrating to the audience it is better with him as she will just waste it on
more drink.

9. GENRE AND HOW THE
OPENING SUGGEST IT
The genre I have chosen is drama and I feel that was shown
as for the reasons it clearly isn’t any of the other genres for a
start and it is shown as a drama through the narration of the
protagonist explaining his situation and struggles in life. This
sets the tone of the opening as a rather unhappy one and
with the tense ending I feel it sets it self up well as a drama
opening

10. HOW CHARACTERS
ARE INTRODUCED
The character of the protagonists mother is only shown for a few seconds but she is
shown to be passed out and holding an empty vodka bottle representing her as an
alcoholic woman and from the narration that is confirmed by the protagonist. The
protagonist is shown after the establishing and scenery shots and is first shown getting
ready to go out. Originally I had the idea to start it as the protagonist is first shown in
bed waking up and a full getting ready scene but I was informed it was too unoriginal
and more boring. I think the narration really helps with introducing the character
originally without them audiences are left with many questions and do not know much
about him and would probably not be very interested in watching anymore. I also try to
present the protagonist as a kind person as there is a scene where he sees the sign no
ball games, acknowledges it and stops playing with his golf club and ball for the time. In
some films the protagonists are not even featured in the opening and are simply shown
later such as in ‘The Matrix’ we are introduced to one of the protagonists and the main
antagonist but not the main protagonist until afterwards.

11. SPECIAL EFFECTS
I used no special effects within my opening sequence I only
integrated the titles to make it look more professional.
Throughout the opening sequence there is no part which
requires any special effects so