Preliminary Task

Target audience and certificate for Opening Scene

Target audience

When looking at romantic comedies , most of the target audience would be either teenage or an adult audience. There are a lot of aspects which go in to determining what audience you target when making an opening scene. Every genre will vary depending on the nature of the content in the film and this then explains the rating the film is also given.

Here are a few films I looked at when analysing how past romantic comedies narrowed their audience and age certificate they were given and for what reasons.

Friends With Benefits

This film was given a certificate rating of 15 ,which means that it is suitable to be seen by an audience of the age of 15 years and older. The film was certificated this rating because:

- There is frequent use of strong language

- Strong sexual reference and activity

- Discriminatory language or behaviour

Ghost Of Girlfriend's Past

This film was given a certificate rating of pg13 ,which means that it is suitable to be seen by an audience of the age of 13 years and older. The film was certificated this rating because:

- Some content may be inappropriate for children 13 years and   under

- There are aspects of the film which could suggest that parents need to decide whether it is suitable for their child to see this film

- It is 'suggested' that parents or careers are present when children 13 years or younger watch the film.

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What is a logline?

What is a logline?

A logline is a short summary of a film. It is meant to inform you about what the film is about and gives the audience a chance to see if they would like to watch the film or not. Log lines are therefore hold some importance in grasping a viewers attention in one short effective sentence.

A log line should be able to answer particular questions such as:

- What is the film about?

- Who are the leading characters in the film?

- What are their purposes?

Log lines are needed as they are a useful way to widen and expand the audience being targeted. An engaging may prompt a viewer from our target audience to tell someone else who many not have been initially aware of our film.

Initial Log Line

Location Recce

Location Recce

When filming the street scenes somewhere like Bromley could be good as its busy, but not too busy and there are wide streets so we won't really be disrupting anyone. The restaurant scene is probably best to be done somewhere like a quiet Café maybe in Bromley, Orpington or Locksbottom at a time of the day when its not so busy and if the owners allow us to do so.

Call Sheet

Call Sheet

After talking to Alice and Louis we came to the conclusion that we feel it is too early to produce a call sheet and will produce one at a later date closer to the time of filming.

Character Profiles

Character Profiles

Taylor - A relaxed boy who is very oblivious to the event that's about to unfold. He remains smiling and cheerful and greets Louis with surprise. They have general conversation and he speaks kindly of the girl he is going to met.

Louis - A chilled out character who seems to always be prepared for any unexpected events, but the one that's about to happen takes him by surprise. When he bumps into Taylor he holds relaxed conversation only bringing up that he is meeting a girl when Taylor mentions it.

Alice - An impatient and instantly dislikeable character. She appears stuck-up in contrast to the two boys making them appear all the more a victim. in the opening sequence before the boys enter the restaurant she appears smug making it obvious that something is going on, but audience don't know quite what's happening. However when the boys come in at the same time she straight away appears panicked as she realises she's been caught.

Budget

Budget £££ (Props/Equipment)

We do not need to spend any money on our opening sequence as we are using our own costumes and props to film it. We won't need a lot of props as most of it is very character focused and very much focused on reactions of the characters to the situation curing around them.

Alice - I need to wear some kind of red to foreshadow the coming danger and be dressed up and looking smart to make sure that I fit in with the restaurant setting. All I need for the restaurant scene is a table with two chairs, a wine glass and plates and knives and forks.

Taylor - Taylor only needs to be dressed slightly smart as he is on his way to a restaurant. Also to make him look upper-class.

Lewis - Lewis also only needs to wear smart clothing to fit in with the fact that he is going to a restaurant. He also needs to look upper-class.

Breakdown Of Opening Sequence

Break down of the sequence (a bit of treatment)

The opening sequence will be broken up into scenes;

~ It will begin with either me walking in the street looking happy.

~ Then to Alice sitting in a restaurant looking calm and smug.

~ Then it will go back to me as I bump into Louis and we then begin talking as it is clear we are both friends and then they start to talk about the girl we are both going to meet thinking that we are seeing two different girls.

~ It goes to Alice sitting at the restaurant looking slightly impatient as I wait for my date.

~ Then both boys go to enter the restaurant seeming slightly confused as we enter the same place

~ It then leads on to focus on Alice and then her face as she looks up and sees the two boys in panic and then the two boys looking at each other as they realise what has happened.

Then it'll end leaving the audience in suspense. This is the breakdown of the different scenes in the opening sequence.

Risk Assessment

Risk Assessment

As we will be filming in areas filled with public its a risk that people may get in the way or we could be causing an obstruction while filming. Therefore we need to ensure that we film in an area at a certain time of day that will mean there are less people around and that we are less likely to find it difficult to film certain scenes. Filming during a weekday at a time when most people are at school or working will mean that there will be a lot less people around which will be much more appropriate. Possibly a sunday could be a good option as shops close early and after that very few will be around as they will normally be home. This will mean there may not be anywhere open to film the restaurant table scene, but we need to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages to filming at certain times and then choose the right place to film our opening scene.

Cast

Cast:

Louis and Taylor - are the two men that are being played by the same girl. They are both friends, but don't realise they are seeing the same girl until she makes a mistake and agrees to meet them both at the same time by mistake. They are friendly and chatty and like the girl, but are utterly shocked when they discover they are seeing the same person. The audience feel sorry for them when they realise what's happened! then it just motivates them to want to watch the rest as they want to see what happens as a result of this incident.

Alice - I'm playing the girl who is playing Taylor and Louis and shots of me will be shown as they accidentally bump into each other and proceed to the restaurant as I sit there calmly, looking quite stuck-up so that the audience automatically don't think very well of me. When they both walk in suddenly my face drops and I try to remain calm, but am evidently panicking as they both walk in and realise what has happened. By looking uncomfortable when my secret unfolds it causes tension to reach a high when the audience feel the shock of the characters and want to watch on and find out more

Final Idea

Final idea and settings for opening scene to movie

The chosen genre is romantic comedy and the plot is similar to the film 'This means war' in the way that two men fall in love with the same girl without realising. Although at the end both accidentally meet the girl at the same time and realise that they are both being played. The settings will be basic and very character-focused to maintain the intensity of the moment when both male characters realise that they have been seeing the character. The settings will be light to ensure they have no effect on the mood of the film and only the actions and speech will have an effect on the audience. The filming will be done in the street as the two male characters walk towards the restaurant to meet the girl, they are having a conversation about the girls they have both met who they are planning to now meet and when they both walk into the restaurant tension rises as they both approach the table and look at the girl and eachother in confusion as the girl sits in shock as she realises that she has been caught. The two men will be friends which also means that the moment of realisation is intense as they cannot understand how they never realised what was really going on making the moment almost humorous.

Opening Scene Story Line

Opening Scene story line

After agreeing on the genre of our opening sequence, Alice , Taylor and I discussed our initial storyline to give us an indication of which direction we want our clip to go.

Our initial storyline:

-Two friends who seek 'love' begin to talk to there 'dream girl' until they find out they are talking to the same person

- The two leading males have very different personalities and views on life which makes it comical that they have fallen for the same girl.

- The girl who has been 'playing' both boys does not realise that they are friends.

- The girl can be seen as a 'player' which is unusual because in the majority of films a male would play this role because of social stereotypes.

- They eventually both find out that they are speaking to same girl and both confront her.

- During the story, there would be situations were both find out the truth but narrowly void this in comical scenes.

Mise en Scene in Opening Scene

Mise en Scene in Opening Scene

Camera angels/shots

Various camera shots will needed to be established to help our opening scene effective. Certain situations in our sequence may include conversations or a lot of movement from a character which will then vary what angels and shots we use.

Editing

Editing is key as it has to help contribute to the authenticy of our opening scene, as we do not want it to come across as 'fake' or ineffective. Editing will help our opening scene transition from different scenes and situations shown in the clip.

Sound

Sound can be used to help complement the various scenes shown in the opening clip. Music also adds emphasis to the mood and emotions that may be shown within various different scenes in the opening.

Props

Props are very effective as this will give the viewer a chance to make a judgement on various aspects of the opening scene. For example, characters can be potrayed because of their clothes,which then can lead to other perceptions such as class and wealth.

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