The document summarizes the learning experience of creating a preliminary opening sequence and the actual opening sequence for a film. For the preliminary, students learned basics of editing using match on action and the 180 degree rule with limited time. A mistake was changing the sequence to black and white, making it difficult to see. For the actual opening, students had more time and freedom, applying techniques learned. They added titles that improved the flow without making it seem long.

1. PRELIMINARY TO OPENING SEQUENCE
During our preliminary exercise, we learnt the basics of continuity editing using Final Cut Pro. We
had to make sure that we didn’t break the 180 degree rule. Moreover, during filming the preliminary,
we had to bear in mind the rules of match on action. For the shot/reverse shot sequence, we learnt
to film the entire conversation from both the characters and then edit it later. Even though we had
limited time we added sound to our video.
A mistake made was when we changed the entire sequence
to black and white. Although we did this to add to the
inscrutability of the interrogation room, it became very
difficult to see what was going on in the sequence. Another
error made was an unwanted person in the background, which
we didn’t get time to film again. We filmed the entire task in
one lesson (two hours) due to which we didn’t get much time
to be experimental.
For the actual opening, we had much more time and were
given more creative freedom. The techniques learnt from the
preliminary were extremely beneficial. Although we didn’t use
a shot/reverse shot sequence, we certainly used match on action and followed the 180 degree rule.
We edited our opening according to the song Money by Pink Floyd which made the whole thing flow
seamlessly. We had more time to research and we used the blood in the sink sequence from Psycho.
The camera angles were more experimental as can be seen below:
As it was an opening sequence we added titles to it. Before adding the titles the opening seemed
very long. However, after adding them it didn’t seem long at all as we had the titles to look at. We
had to re-position some of the titles at the end as they weren’t visible. We also had to carefully
think about which actors would work in a film like ours and not include any unrealistic names. In
addition, the important job roles (for example producers and directors) were given longer
prevalence.