Preparation for AS Media Studies Preliminary task

1. Opening
sequences
AS Media Studies

2. Aim
» To view many opening sequences
» Prepare to produce a detailed
analysis of the components

3. Components
» Visuals
 Simple
 Long and extreme long shots predominate
» Editing
 Slow
» Sound
 Volume
 Pace/tempo
 Tone (style/genre)
» Narrative Content
 Todorov
» Titles
 Order

4. Mississippi Burning
» 2 shots
» Introduces the subject matter
» Gospel blues music - crescendo
» Slow paced
» Limited titles

5. The Perfect Storm
» 2000
» Dir Wolfgang Petersen

6. Walk the Line
» 2005
» Director James Mangold

7. The Commitments
» 1991
» Director Alan Parker
» Same director as Mississippi Burning

8. Syriana
» 2005
» Director Stephen Gaghan
» See sheet
» Example of analysis

10. Syriana
» Re view with sheet

11. Watch and try

12. Tweet
» Research - viewed several opening
sequences and took notes

13. Opening
sequences
Lesson 2

14. Aims
» Understand how to analyse opening
sequences

15. Task 1
» You will need to demonstrate that
you can observe and deconstruct
a film O/S
» Watch Paris Texas
» Make notes
» Refer to Syriana

16. Discuss
» Visuals
» Soundtrack
» Dialogue
» Narrative
» Titles

17. Task 2
» In groups produce analysis of a film
from those available

18. Feedback

19. How to present
» Remember visuals are better than
words

21. Advice
» Complete on Notes or similar
» Save as jpeg
» It will then show directly on blog

22. Homework
» Produce an analysis of a film O/S in
a visual form
» Load onto your personal blog
» Name film, year, director, genre
» Deadline Friday 26th November
» Tweet - analysis of opening
sequence completed

23. Opening
sequences
Lesson 2