Researching Dystopian Film Openings

  HOW WE DECIDED THE GENRE

   My partner and I, Sofia, finally decided to talk about what we plan to do for the final genre of the two-minute opening for the portfolio project! When we were researching, Sofia researched coming-of-age and action. Since we both researched action our first thought was to choose that as our genre for the project but we thought about it and didn't really like the idea of an action movie as we thought it would be somewhat difficult to create a storyline. As we were pondering ideas for the final genre we decided on a Dystopian film with some fantasy aspects on it.

    In this blog post, I want to research the openings of 3 dystopian films, which are The Matrix (1999), The Hunger Games (2012), and The Giver (2014). These are all movies I've watched before and have thoroughly enjoyed so I know that the films are good examples of an opening scene and great movies to analyze.

ANALYSIS OF DYSTOPIAN FILMS

      The Matrix (1999) 

 

   The Matrix (1999) is a famous dystopian film known and loved by many people. The story follows a man in a dystopian world overrun by computers to give all the people their utopia when in reality every single person is being controlled. He is given a chance to stay in his fake utopia or see the real world and never go back to the perfection.

    

    Right from the start, The Matrix throws the audience into something weird and mysterious. The green digital rain sets up a tech-heavy, almost otherworldly vibe, and the audience immediately gets an intense action scene with a woman escaping from agents. There's no explanation, just fast, fluid action and a sense that something bigger is going on. This opening does a great job of making the audience feel just as lost as the main character, Neo, will be later, setting up the film's core themes of reality, control, and breaking free from an illusion.

The Hunger Games (2012)

    The Hunger Games (2012) is another widely known dystopian film. The movie follows the story of Katniss, who lives in an awful dystopian society where two kids from each district (there are 12) from the ages 12-18 randomly get chosen to play in vicious games that are broadcast live on TV. The goal of the games is to be the last one standing which means all 24 of the contenders are fighting to the death. 

    The movie opens with an explanation of what the Hunger Games are before throwing viewers into a polished TV interview with Serena Crane and Ceasar Flickerman. It's flashy, upbeat, and even a little unsettling, at least when the scene cuts from that back to Katniss in District 12, where things are grim and colorless. The shaky, documentary-style camerawork for most of the film makes her world feel raw and very real, really bringing out the huge chasm between the rich and the poor. The intro immediately sets the scene as dystopian through the Capitols control and a tough, caring, survivor, Katniss.

The Giver (2014)

    The Giver (2014) immediately begins with a voiceover about "Sameness", which sets the tone for something being off, even in this place that seems all so perfect. Black and white visuals make it all really sterile and controlled which can possible translate to the thought of a work devoid of real emotion and humanity. It's a quiet opening, almost unbearable so, but what sets up the whole movie is the fact that there's so much beneath the surface, and the protagonist, Jonas, is going to start asking questions about the truth of their society.

Researching the Action Genre

    Hello! This is my second blog towards the portfolio project for the end-of-the-year AICE exam. After researching more about the comedy genre I didn't really know what other genres I could research so I decided to think of my favorite movies and one that I thought of pretty quickly was Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse: (2023). This movie is a sequel to the very loved film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse(2018). 

                    

                                Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)        Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

    These movies are in the Action genre with tons of interesting storylines and enticing action scenes left and right that really captivate the reader. I enjoyed both of them but the second movie has left a lasting impact on me and even two years after its release it's still one of my favorite movies.

    To understand how action films establish their tone, I've analyzed the opening of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023), an animated superhero action film directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson. This is a sequel that follows Miles Morales as he explores the multiverse and meets different versions of Spider-Man.

ANALYZING ACTION

    The action genre is one of the most exciting film genres, ranging from superhero movies to spy and martial arts films. What makes action movies so appealing to audiences is how they manage to combine fast-paced storylines with eye-catching scenes. Successful action movies often contain captivating chase scenes, explosive combat sequences, and conflicts that keep viewers continuously engaged. I could study action films, trying to figure out how those elements can be effectively intertwined into an opening sequence that will engage audiences.

     In Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the opening sequence immediately heads into the conventions of the action genre with a fight scene with exhilarating visuals and fluid choreography that starts with one of the characters, Gwen Stacy, also a Spider-Man, fighting Vulture, a villain from another universe. She then meets one of the main antagonists in the movie, Miguel O'Hara, the head of the Spider Society. Gwen Stacy then runs into her father, trying to arrest her for the murder of Peter Parker. With no options left, she unmasks herself, revealing her identity to her father, but he still tries to arrest her. Seeing this, Miguel allows her to join Spider-Society, leaving her own universe behind. The film then transitions to Miles Morales, setting up his story. The film uses a mix of fast-paced combat, gravity-defying stunts, and visually dynamic cinematography to create a thrilling experience for the audience.

    If I choose the action genre, I'll be working on a two-minute opening sequence of an original action film for my final project. Based on the research on genre and case analysis of "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse," fast motion, vivid action, and an engaging conflict will be considered the key elements that grasp the audience's attention in the opening sequence immediately. 

    I would want to create an explosive, visually stimulating opening that gives a taste of both character motivations and the high stakes involved. This, though, can sometimes be tamed by trying to balance action with storytelling so the audience is thrilled and literally connected to what is unfolding on screen. To do this, I want to try different camera angles, dynamic movements, and suspenseful pacing, all in refining my script through multiple drafts and feedback from friends, family, and mentors.

Starting Cambridge Portfolio Project

     Hello! From now on all of my blog posts will be focused on the development of my final Cambridge portfolio project for the AICE exam at the end of the year. The blogs posted prior to his point have helped me develop my knowledge and experience in studying and analyzing the media sphere. Honestly, I am quite nervous and anxious to start this project but I know that will wear off with time and I will be excited and happy to keep researching and growing this beautiful experience.

    Ever since I was young I have always enjoyed comedy movies because they take my stress away and let me laugh and have good time. Even though I have interest in these types of movies, I want to research more genres before choosing the one I will ultimately use in my portfolio project. I want to research 2-3 genres to analyze the opening and see which would be the right pick for me to do. To start I will research the Comedy genre.

ANALYZING COMEDY

    Comedy is one of the broadest genres of film because it contains any subgenres including rom-coms, satire, and parodies. What really makes comedy a challenging genre is that humor is subjective. A joke that sends one person into hysterics might leave another completely emotionless. A successful comedy film will keep the audience laughing though the use of dialog, physical humor, and strong storytelling. In studying comedy, I hope to learn how such elements are effectively included into an entertaining opening sequence.

                                                                                                                                                                                 

White Chicks (2004)

    One of my favorite comedy movies is of all time "White Chicks" (2004). To understand more about how the tone is set in comedy films, I'm deciding to examine this well known and loved movie directed by Keegan Ivory Watans. The story is about two FBI agents posing as two socialite sisters after they got "injured" in a car crash.

     The comedic tone is immediately established in this opening scene, with the highly exaggerated disguises, physical humor, and over-the-top performances. The film sets up its light and absurd nature through a combinations of verbal and slapstick comedy. For example, the disguised Wayans brothers are disguised as Latino shopkeepers, which is awkward yet humorous and establishes the film's use of cultural and situational comedy. The scene effectively captures the audience's attention, introduces key characters, and sets up the comedic style that will be carried out through the entirety of the film.

For the AICE portfolio project, I will prepare a two minute opening sequence of an original fiction film. One direction I could take is the comedy approach, drawing from the reseacrh on genre and the critical analysis of "White Chicks". I would include features such as exaggerated character reactions, dialogue and situational comedies.

If I choose this approach, I want it to be a really entertaining, humour-filled introduction to establish both the personalities of the characters and the comedic premise of the movie. The main problem I most likely would run into is managing how much humor can be balanced within such a short and small window to make sure the narrative still gets across in an interesting enough manner. In this regard, I would practice various comedy approaches and revise my script many times with feedback from friends, family, and teachers.he portfolio project represents a rather exciting and enlightening journey into filmmaking. Studying 

The portfolio project represents a rather exciting and enlightening journey into filmmaking. Studying genres and analyzing successful examples and using these insights to inform my work should enable e to create an effective opening in a film for audience engagement and entertainment. The project will contribute to the development of my filming skills and a deeper understanding of how and why different genres work on screen. 

I look forward with enthusiasm to bringing my vision to life and really sharpening my storytelling skills through this creative process.

Music Marketing #2

 

If the video is unavailable click this link 

https://youtu.be/HXeh8wmxcHY

Music Marketing #1

 Research

The research portion of the project consisted of my project partners and me, each researching one pop artist, mine being Sabrina Carpenter. I searched numerous websites to find information and ensure it was correct so my research was reliable. Over the course of a few days, I did the different sections of my study on Sabrina Carpenter including her background information, target audience/brand identity, digital marketing and distribution, and non-digital marketing and distribution. Each group member had to partake in researching specifics about one artist in a certain genre, our genre being pop. This research helped each group member learn about marketing and distribution tactics that pop artists generally use.

Planning

The planning process of the rest of this project was somewhat difficult due to all our group members being occupied with different things. We decided to split up tasks to do while we are at home and film the project in school or while we get together to film it. I am working on the marketing tactics which includes social media, the website, etc.. In the end we plan to work as parts to complete a whole and finish the project.

Representation

 The Good Place is a funny and thoughtful show about the afterlife, where the characters learn about ethics and what it means to be good. Two of the main characters, Eleanor Shellstrop and Chidi Anagonye, help show how people are represented in the show, especially when it comes to their race, gender, and how they behave. While the show breaks some stereotypes, it still uses certain ideas that affect how we see the characters.

Eleanor, a white woman from Arizona, starts off as a stereotype of a selfish, rude, and shallow person. Her character shows what happens when someone cares only about themselves, like the idea of "bad" people in society. But the show challenges this by focusing on Eleanor's growth, showing that people aren’t just good or bad—they can change. This makes us think more about the idea that everyone has good and bad sides, breaking the stereotype.

Chidi, a Black man from Senegal, is very smart but can't make decisions. His character shows a different stereotype often used for Black men, where he's not aggressive or physical but instead a thinker. However, Chidi’s knowledge comes mostly from European philosophy, which makes it seem like his intelligence is tied to Western ideas, even though he's from Africa. This kind of representation can make it feel like his culture isn't as important, which is a subtle way of othering him—making him seem different from the norm.

Other characters in the show, like Tahani Al-Jamil and Jason Mendoza, are also shown through certain stereotypes. Tahani, a British-Pakistani woman, is seen as rich and stuck-up, while Jason, a Filipino-American from Florida, is portrayed as the "dumb guy." Even though they both grow as characters, the show still relies on these exaggerated ideas to introduce them.

Overall, The Good Place does a great job of making us think about morals and character growth, but it also uses some stereotypes and patterns that shape how we see the characters. It encourages us to question not only the choices the characters make but also how they are shown in the show.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4SjP8UmjpA

Sound Project

     For this project, we were assigned to make a 1-2 minute-long soundscape encapturing the sounds of a scenario of our choice. The soundscape had to have no video and we were asked to make 4 sounds using Foley and add those sounds to our project. We had to utilize the sound techniques learned during previous lessons and find sounds using websites that provide sounds for free.

    While brainstorming me and my partner had to think of a scenario that could happen within a minute or two and still be interesting. We decided to make a soundscape of a girl getting out of her car and entering a club. This soundscape had many audio factors including the chatter of people talking, the music from the club, the footsteps of the girl walking and so much more. We made an outline to help us specify which sounds would go where and when. This helped us separate each of the parts and sounds and helped us be organized with each and every sound going into this. To make the soundscape we utilized Adobe Premiere Pro, which I had used before but never for sound. It was fun and interesting to see how versatile Premiere Pro is and learn about how to use it more.

    I honestly think we did really good for this project and utilized many different sound techniques, but the one thing I wish we did differently was actually utilize more sounds and add more depth to the background of the soundscape. I think we managed to add a decent amount of sounds but we didn't make the most interesting soundscape in terms of background noises and action. Overall I think we did very good with this project and I really enjoyed the process of making this soundscape.

https://youtu.be/DMW70D4hu9o