Group Evaluation For Our Childrens Film Opening Sequence.

We used a lot of suitable conventions for both a children's film opening sequence and the genre we chose (fantasy). We opened with some establishing shots of our main character, beginning to reveal his image and personality. The audience are informed of the location; bright and sunny area to relate to 'Jimmy's' happy and playful nature. It is also set at a school, which children are familiar with. We also included opening credits, however they could have been improved to match the typical conventions of an opening sequence, and related more to the style of the film.
We used certain moments in the narrative of our opening sequence to specify it to our genre. This included our main character talking to a burger through his imagination. The unnaturalistic elements within it, allow it to follow the typical conventions of a fantasy genre.
We used a wide range of different shots within our opening sequence which were essential on presenting certain aspects, eg, reaction shot of the characters face to emphasise the absurdity of the situation, and close ups of the burger to alert the audience of the importance of it in relation to the rest of the mise-en-scene. On the other hand, we could have made the camerawork more steady, and improve on the continuity (because some parts appear to 'jump' between shots) to make it look more professional.
We didn't use much special effects in our opening sequence, however the talking burger could have been made by CGI instead of manually. If we had the equipment and time, we would have chosen to use this to make it to a more professional standard, as although we got the basic impression right, there was obvious string used which makes it look unprofessional.

Peer Feedback For Our Childrens Film Opening Sequence.

Conventions on opening sequence

• Follows typical opening sequence conventions using establishing shot
• Uses establishing shot
• Establishes main character

Specific genre conventions

• Follows fantasy genre with a talking box
• Track shots
• Good at establishing fantasy genre

Variety and quality of camera work

• Good shots and variety of shots
• Good use of shots to highlight action, could have used close ups
• Good variety of shots

Use of special effects (animations)

• Managed to make box look like its talking
• Good effects
• Good talking box however string was obvious

Sound

• Clear sound throughout
• Clear music but repetitive and gets boring
• Clear soundtrack and fade
• Bit jumpy but clear

Use of mise-en-scene

• Location- college, where its meant to be 
• Good use of surroundings and character props
• Props- glasses, bag,talking burger
• Costume was amazing

Editing

• Good continuity
• Good transistions and continuity 
• Good continuity but could be a little smoother
• Good continuity but could of used improvement

Best Features

• Use of emphis, when he hugged the tree
• Props 
• Everything, mainly tree

Our Childrens Film Opening Sequence- Jimmy And His Wild Mind.

Lucy’s children’s film opening sequence homework.

Snow White and the seven dwarfs..

The Walt Disney logo is shown before any opening credits, this instantly put forwards that the film is aim at the target audience of children (‘U’, ‘PG’) this is closely followed by the theme tune and credits that a Walt Disney feature production presents ‘Snow White and the seven dwarfs’. The theme tunes is an old band giving the feeling that the film is set in a later period of time (1973) the theme tunes also gives a general introduction that it’s a fantasy film. As the credits fade and the theme tune caries on, the book appears and opens, this is a image that children should be familiar of, maybe with their parents reading them stories, it straight away is a welcome to the children watching. The text of the book inside is interesting and large so it’s easy to read, with use of colours and images, like a children’s fantasy story book. There is lots of time for children to read the two pages themselves with the theme tunes still going. The book gives a opening to the film, however once the book is faded and the castle is shown, this is an establishing shot and it is soon clear that the plot is then shown in the opening sequence, this means that children who cant read don’t have to worry about reading the plot on the book. The plot of the film is a typical fantasy there consists of a princess and an evil stepmother (Queen) this is shown very clearly as the characters are introduced, the evil stepmother is using her dark powers of a well know spell (mirror, mirror on the wall) to find out who she needs to get rid of to be the fairest of them all. You can see that Snow White (princess) is being made a slave by the Queen and is having to scrub the floors on her hands and knees, this sets the date of the film that is was set in, as children know a days are not so familiar of people being made to hand scrub floors by there ‘evil’ stepmothers. Spite the fact that Snow White is being made a slave, she is singing and humming a tune with a smile on her face. You can hear the diegetic sound of the water splashing onto the floor and the squeak of the bucket being lifted out of the well. The use of a talking mirror and that Snow White is talking to the doves and they nod in reply shows an obvious genre of fantasy. To complete the fantasy a prince is intruded using a panning shot on his white stallion, whilst Snow White is wishing down the wishing well for the one she loves.

HARRIET - Genres & Their Conventions.

FANTASY:
Can be stories that involve beings and events that could not exist in real life. These works may begin realistically but soon turn into stories that could never really happen.
There are three types of fantasy. High fantasy, where the 'epic type hero saves the world', game related fantasy, which are stories based on a movie or video game, and historical fantasy, including magic set it a past era or age.
Conventions include:
- talking animals
- magical powers
- medieval universe setting
- mythical beings
- time travel

ACTION:
Usually involves heroes or heroines who are forced into a series of challenges that require physical feats and skills to accomplish. Most of the time there are two-dimentional 'good-guy' heroes or heroines battling 'bad-guys'. Dramatic special effects is often used alongside fast pace music.
Conventions include:
- physical stunts
- high energy chases
- rescues
- battles
- fights
- escapes
- destructive crises
- explosions (pyrotechnics)
- gunplay

ADVENTURE:
Usually exciting stories, with new experiences or exotic locales.
Conventions include:
- unknown, erotic setting (the wilderness)
- solving puzzles
- evade traps
- quest/journey/exploration (searching for lost city or hidden treasure)
- fighting for justice
- suspense and dangerous situations
- pirates

Joe's Children Film Work

Before 'Up' begins, it is immediately established as a children's film as the distributors logo appears (Disney Pixar) and is an iconic image in children's films. The film uses CGI animation, as is shown at the begins of the sequence, so it again resembles children's films. This is because kids are generally more entertained with animated people or objects doing un-naturalistic things e.g balloons flying a house. The opening sequence of 'Up' begins to tell a story of a magical lost land and an explorer attempting to find it. This is a stereotypical scenario of a children's film as it consists of unrealistic behaviour and allows children to relate to and use the melo-dramatic imaginations. The scene proceeds to introducing our first character, Carl, a little boy who is watching the cinema screen in fascination. He is already established as the main character of the film as he his presented as a boy with a dream, almost foreshadowing him accomplishing his dream as the film commences. He commits to the conventional propp's character type used in children's film, in his cute image and shy personality and is almost seen as the 'hero' of the film. We are later introduced to another character, Ellie, a tomboy who immediately develops a relationship with Carl. The opening sequence continues with a flash of images of the two characters growing up together, getting married etc. Amongst this sequence the use of non-diegetic sound is very iconic for a children's film. The music contrasts between happy and sad melodies played over the top of the sequence and depending on the emotion in the scene.  It allows the audience to feel as the characters may feel, and particularly feel sympathetic at the point at which Ellie dies of old age. Sound in a children's film is vital in creating an atmosphere, in which the young audience can relate to.