Transitioning to Portfolio Project

     Now that we are into the second semester of the school year, we are starting our Portfolio Project, part of the Cambridge exam. The experiences from past projects taught me different aspects that are a necessity for the film. Executing shots and angles through multiple projects, editing and creating a soundscape from the sound project, learning how to research different genres from the genre research activity, good examples of representation through research, and distribution/marketing techniques through the music marketing project show a good foundation to begin the project. After learning in depth about how to approach the film opening, I began thinking about how I will begin the film depending on the plot.

    Some of my favorite film openings have always been the development of tone, background, or setting. These are the types of approaches to films that typically have slow pacing. To develop tone in a film opening, you need special focus on costume design, color, and lighting. This will effect the overall mood of the film. There are also ways to use devices such as symbolism, such as the popcorn in the opening of the original Scream. A set tone can make a great film opening without needing to establish the plot so quickly; it simply shows how the rest of the film will be like, or how the it will possibly change in tone.

    Developing background is another common approach when it comes to films with a lot of details needed to understand what is going to happen during the film. In this case, multiple scene elements are needed to establish tone. A great, commonly-used way to do this is using a television or radio broadcast explaining recent news. This could simply be played in the background; it doesn't have to be the main focus. Other elements used should be mise-en-scene (such as a run-down city in a dystopia) and dialogue. Dialogue between characters establishes background naturally if you avoid making it obvious.

    The development of setting can also be a slow paced way to open your film. Using detailed and creative ways to show where the film will take place throughout the film can contribute to the plot. For example, establishing a sad, boring city could imply that the protagonist is also in a sad mental space. This contrasts with exciting shots of a big city, implying that the protagonist is always active and enthusiastic. This can help show how the plot will develop later in the film.