Analaysis of previous students AS work (film openings)

Below the film names you will find a youtube video of the film opening and my analysis also including a mark out of 60. Their are four levels that can be achieved.
These are:

• Level one [0-23 marks] - The work for the main task is possibly incomplete. Their is minimal evidence in the work of the creative use of any relevant technical skills.
• Level two [24-35 marks] - There is evidence of a basic level of ability in the creative use of some of the technical skills.
• Level three [36-47 marks] - There is evidence of proficiency in the creative use of many of the technical skills.    
• Level four [48-60 marks] - There is evidence of excellence in the creative use of most of the technical skills.

These technical skills include:

• Holding a shot steady, where appropriate;
• Framing a shot, including and excluding elemants as appropriate;
• Using a variety of shot distances as appropriate;
• Shooting material appropriate to the task set;
• Selecting Mise en scène including colour, figure, lighting, objects and setting;
• Editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer;
• Using varied shot transitions and other effects selectively and appropriately for the task set;
• Using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task;
• Using titles appropriately.

After much research of this mark scheme, i have found that the only real difference between a level four and level one is simply either including something or including something and using it excelently. For example, using a extreme close up shot may give you the mark but using it where appropriate and really building on representation, and giving a certain effect will give you them extra marks to get a level four rather than a level one. This has helped hugely with the ideas for the creation of my own film opening as from this, i can see what the examiner will be looking for and what to include to get them extra marks.  

Gangster openings:

Noir opening: Deception

What was good about it?

• Held a shot steadily very good;
• Farmed a shot good, including and excluding elements as appropriate;
• Nicely used a variety of shots and transitions, including other effects selectively and appropriately for the task set;
• The shooting material was appropriate to the task set;

What could of been done better?  

• Their was a lack of titles/credits; 
• It felt out of place;
• It got a little confusing at times;
• It lacked using a variety of shit distances as appropriate; 
• Mise en scène could of been better;
• The editing was somehow effective but could of been done better; 

Score: 35/60 

Roses Are Red

What was good about it?

• Excellently framed a shot, including and excluding elements as appropriate; 
• Used a large variety of shot distances as appropriate; 
• Shooting material was appropriate to the task set;
• Excellent showing of Mise en scène including colour, figure, lighting, objects and setting; 
• very good showing of shot transitions and other effects selectively and appropriately for the task set; 
• good use of sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set; 
• very good use of appropriate titles; 
• Genre was clear;
• great lighting;
• clear narrative; 

What could of been done better?  

• Lack of diegetic sound;
• Shot was not held steady where appropriate and could of been done better (camera was shaky at times).

Score: 55/60 

Karma

What was good about it?

• Framed a shot, including and excluding elements as appropriate;
• Used a variety of shot distances as appropriate;
• Some editing was good and somehow effective;   

What could of been done better? 

• Lighting was not considered; 
• Shots are not steady; 
• Titles got confusing and where too late;   
• Whole scene creates confusion for the viewer;
• Did not feel like a film opening; 
• Editing could of been better; 

Score: 23/60 

The Edge

What was good about it?

• Genre was very clear; 
• Great lighting and  Mise en scène;
• Well use of titles; 
• clear narrative; 
• Framed a shot excellently, including and excluding elements as appropriate;
• Used an excellent variety of shot distances as appropriate;
• Shooting material was appropriate to the task set; 
• Excellent editing to make the meaning apparent to the viewer and was highly effective; 
• Used a varied amount of shot transitions and other effects selectively and appropriately for the task set; 
• Very good use of sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set; 

What could of been done better? 

• Camera was shaky at times 
• Some diegetic sound; 

Score: 59/60 

Born from the streets

What was good about it?

• Shots where held steadily where appropriate;
• Shots where framed, including and excluding elements as appropriate;
• Used a huge variety of shot distances as appropriate, and came to be very effective;
• Shooting material was somehow appropriate to the task set; 
•  Mise en scène was not brilliant but good enough to have an effect; 

What could of been done better? 

• Bad choice of costumes;
• The location could of been better;
• Narrative was not good; 
• It was quite confusing; 
• Some sound effects where unneeded; 
• Shot transitions where not very good;
• Sounds with images and editing appropriately was lacked;
• Titles where not used appropriately;
• The editing was not used effectively and could of improved;

Score: 37/60 

Made man

What was good about it?

• Voice over was somehow effective; 
• Shots where held steadily, where appropriate;
• Shots where framed very good, including and excluding elements as appropriate; 
• Used a variety of shot distances as appropriate;
• Shooting material was appropriate to the task set;
•  Good use of Mise en scène;
• Editing was very effective;

What could of been done better? 

• Jumped into the story straight away;
• Did not feel like an opening;
• Gets boring at times (no sound); 
• Too much dialogue and no music;
• Their was a lack of titles being used appropriately; 

This task has not only created ideas for my own production but also inspired me to create a successful opening and now know what I need to include in my own. An example of the most common mistake people made, was a shaky camera and so from this I now know to use a tripod and not forget even the smallest of things. Furthermore, most of these opening did not really feel like openings as they gave away too much and lacked a lot of dialogue making them a little boring at times.  

 Films such as 'The Edge' in particular has inspired me most due its high success and effectiveness. And so I have took the extra step in contacting the director: 'Toebex.' which can be found on the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/user/Toebex