Coursework Task Defined

Video

Preliminary exercise: Continuity task involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180-degree rule.

Main task: the titles and opening of a new fiction film, to last a maximum of two minutes.

All video and audio material must be original, produced by the candidate(s), with the exception of music or audio effects from a copyright-free source. Both preliminary and main tasks may be done individually or as a group. Maximum four members to a group.

Research into similar porducts

For our opening sequence we as a group will need to do lots of research to make sure our sequence looks good and reaches its objectives. I will research multiple different elements to ensure this.

Analysis of Work

Here are a few of Cooper's work that I really like:

Dawn of the Dead



I love Dawn of the Dead's opening title sequence. I think it is extremely well done as it gives a great explanation of the context, genre and story of the film. A detail that I especially like is how the red text transforms into blood that quickly runs of the screen, I think it adds to the audiences understanding that this film is about some sort of disease that effects the blood and/or there will be lots of blood and gore.

I love the use of stock footage as it really adds to the sense of danger and chaos as there are multiple shots all filmed in different styles and techniques with different effects making it clear to the audience that this is a world-wide problem of a disease- concluding that it's about zombies.

The music's sound starting at 0:40 contrasts to the footage being shown as the music is happy and cheery. But the lyrics don't as they also refer to death and the lyrics also agree to the fact that there is mass disorder happening in the sequence.

Peter Jennings Reporting: LAPD



I really like how Kyle Cooper has edited the first few minutes of this intro. I think it's extremely interesting and visual as lots of shots are combined to give a sense of contrast between the police force and the criminals.

The way in which the numbers/ writing/ letters overlap each other make it a very complex and also highlight how crime and the police force work all day everyday, and that something is always going relating to the context for the audience.

I really like the use of quick cut as it can be seen as representing the fast paced lives of the police force which also relates to the context of the opening sequence. The graphics used are again stock footage from other cases and programmes which also let the audience know the type of programme it is.

Kyle Cooper Demo Reel

This is a short video compiled of some of Cooper's work which ranges from films, to adverts to film companies etc. When watching, I was blown away with how complex and visual everything was. Its clear that he likes to explore creative ideas and search for shots that look exceptional. He uses simple techniques that are subtle but work extremely well for example layering is used as well as little details like words or pictures dissolving/fading to other things that spread across the screen, keeping the audience captivated. Whilst watching I wrote some words that came to mind to express how I felt watching it. Here are some examples: 

• Artistic
• Dynamic
• Slick
• Abstract
• Fast-paced
• Quick-cutting
• Clear

Kyle Cooper

Here are two videos that I found where Kyle in depth describes his view on title sequencing and how his ideas are created and developed. I found it extremely interesting as he speaks with such complexity and detail in relation to his mind process and what he thinks knows will look good and be very visual for the audience.


Kyle Cooper interview (1/2) - Watch the Titles from Submarine Channel on Vimeo.



Kyle Cooper interview (2/2) - Watch the Titles from Submarine Channel on Vimeo.

Who is Kyle Cooper?



 Basic Profile of His Career

 

Known For: Specializing in graphic design for motion picture title sequences, acclaimed main title designer, art director and filmmaker. He has also founded two internationally recognized film design companies Imaginary Forces & Prologue.

Most Famously Named: He has been credited as the man who single-handedly revitalized the main title sequence as an art form and after SE7EN, one of the most important design innovations of the 1990s. He has done over 150 film title sequences.

 

Influences: To Kill A Mocking Bird (1962) by Stephen Frankfurt, The Dead Zone (1983) by Wayne Fitzgerald & Walk on the Wild Side (1962) by Saul Bass.

Most Notable Pieces of Work:

 

SE7EN

Dawn of the Dead

Iron Man
Mission Impossible

Spider Man

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Godzilla

The Incredible Hulk
Superman Returns
 

Second Production Meeting

Today was our second production meeting with my group. It was a very successful meeting as we were able to discuss ideas and we have chosen a final idea for our opening sequence. In this slideshow I will go into the details and other things we talked about in order to create it.