Spy Guy Children's Film Opening Sequence Final

Individual Blog- Sophie

Our children’s film is a comedy/action opening sequence and what helped us to decide was doing our research on different types of opening sequence. This helped us find our main codes and conventions for our Children’s film. The two main characters are the spy and the business women. The spy is going to be played by Reece who has to exaggerate his character and make himself look like a rubbish spy who doesn’t really know what he’s doing. He is going to make a fool out of himself by falling over and being unable to use the special gadgets. The second main character is me who plays the business women who is getting followed by the spy. At times she does have a slight suspicion that something is going on but isn’t too worried and carries on like normal.


There aren’t many props that we need apart a brief case for the business women to make it look more realistic and more business women like. Reece as the spy is going to have a special gadget pen which looks like a normal pen but isn’t. As I’m the business women I will need to wear a smart skirt, some nice heels to show power and control and a smart coat. Reece however needs to look smart but because he’s not meant to be very good he looks scruffy by wearing shirt and jeans. Reece and I are responsible for our own costumes and props for our own characters.

The location of our children’s film is a sixth form college which looks like a work place and it also looks like the norm for everyday work. And it makes it more realistic for the audience watching doing in place that looks familiar. We don’t need permission to be able to film in this location as this is the only place we are able to film in and we go to the sixth form college which means we have permission.

Individual Blog - Reece

We have planned our opening sequence to our children's film thoroughly and efficiently over the past 2 weeks. We have done sufficient research into children's film conventions, genre conventions, soundtrack music and mise-en-scene. This research has helped us make our children's film as realistic as possible as we can adapt to the Action Genre's codes and conventions.
Our sequence we are filming involves a spy and a business woman. The spy is played by Reece (me) and I will have to over exaggerate what I'm doing throughout as i am meant to be a fairly rubbish spy. Sophie is going to act as the business woman in our sequence. She will be walking along normally throughout and only sometimes will she have a small suspicion that someone is following her, however she will take no notice of this and carry on. Lastly Cameron will be doing the majority of the filming - he will be finding out the best possible shots and correcting us if something needs to be redone.
We don't need to bring in any sort of costume for the spy as he is "undercover" and therefore I will be wearing my normal clothes however a spy pen and mobile phone will be needed as props for the sequence and I will be responsible for bringing these props in.  Sophie's character on the other hand will need to be dressed appropriately so she is going to bring in a black formal coat and some black shoes. She will also be bringing in a black suitcase as a prop to show she is a business person.
We have been limited to only film in the school premises so the sequence will be filmed in the corridors and grounds of the college. We will not need permission to film there and if we suddenly find we do, we will ask a member of staff for permission.

Mise-en-scene Research

The first major part of our Mise-en-scene is the location of our children film opening sequence. Our main location is a sixth form college which is teenage environment so some of the target audience like teenagers will be able to relate to it. Plus we are restricted to certain areas so we have to make the most of the locations we have available.

Example of Business
Woman Costume

We have to make sure the costume is right for a spy theme. Our spy is going to be in a relatively normal clothing as he is "undercover" for the duration of the scene. He will probably be wearing jeans, trainers and a casual jacket so if needed he can fit into the student role.  The person he is meant to be following is a business woman arriving for an important "interview". The costume needed is a smart black coat, black trousers and some sort of black shoes. This fits into the stereotypical business costume which should easily portray the character as business like
.

Example of a Spy Pen we will
use in our sequence

Props will also be important when portraying the characters to the audience. The business woman will be carrying a brief case to again reiterate that she is very corporate and professional at her job. The spy will possibly be carrying some sort of gadget which is usually associated with stereotypical spies. For example James Bond always has some sort of gadget such as a mobile phone which can control his car. A spy pen will be used as the gadget for him to open doors that the business woman closes behind her. He will also have some sort of earpiece which he will refer back to his base with the information he gathers. Lighting is another part of mise-en-scene. We will only be using natural lighting throughout the sequence due to the fact we do not have the equipment needed to create professional lighting. The time limit of 2 lessons to film also means we will not be able to attempt different lighting techniques.

BBFC Classification (12A - 18R)

12/ 12A

12 and 12A are exactly the same criteria. These classifications are classified when a film is suitable for somebody of the age of 12. They have done this because some of the content may not be suitable for somebody younger than 12 and could scare them or be inappropriate.

12A is only for films being shown in the cinema and you will not be able to find 12A DVD’s etc. 12A states that nobody under the age of 12 can see a 12A film in the cinema unless accompanied by an adult.(somebody 18 or over). They have introduced this as a parent may feel that the content is suitable to show their child. The ‘12’ category exists only for video works. No one younger than 12 may rent or buy a ‘12’ rated video work.

Listed below is the content of what the BBFC go by to classify their films.

15 Classified films 

      Films classed as 15, should only be viewed by people 15 years of age or older. This is classified as a 15 as the BBFC feel that the content in the film is not suitable for somebody below the age of 15 to be watching. You may not buy, rent, or buy a DVD with a 15 classification unless you are 15 years or older.

18 Classified film

An 18 classified film is the highest classification you can see in the cinema or buy in your regular DVD shop. It is classified at 10 because it has cintent that is only suitable for adults. This content includes things like nudity, sex, criminal offences etc. You will not be able to buy an 18 classified DVD unless you are obviously 18.

·      where the material is in breach of the criminal law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence

·      Where material or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – for example, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals. This may include portrayals of sexual or sexualised violence which might, for example, eroticise or endorse sexual assault

·      Where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in ‘R18’ works, and in ‘sex works’ (see below) would normally be confined to that category.

R18 classified films

R18 stands for ‘Restricted 18’. These films are films that are mostly strong explicit films (porn).

Films may only be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas, and video works may be supplied to adults only in licensed sex shops. ‘R18’ video works may not be supplied by mail order. The following content is not acceptable:

·      any material which is in breach of the criminal law, including material judged to be obscene under the current interpretation of the Obscene Publications Act 1959

·      material (including dialogue) likely to encourage an interest in sexually abusive activity (for example, paedophilia, incest or rape) which may include adults role-playing as non-adults

·      the portrayal of any sexual activity which involves lack of consent (whether real or simulated). Any form of physical restraint which prevents participants from indicating a withdrawal of consent

·      the infliction of pain or acts which may cause lasting physical harm, whether real or (in a sexual context) simulated. Some allowance may be made for moderate, non-abusive, consensual activity

·      penetration by any object associated with violence or likely to cause physical harm

·      any sexual threats, humiliation or abuse which does not form part of a clearly consenting role-playing game. Strong physical or verbal abuse, even if consensual, is unlikely to be acceptable.

SoundTrack Planning

Our Genre for our Childrens Film Opening Sequence is Action/Comdey. This needs to be represented well in our soundtrack that we use when editing the sequence. Action films have fast paced music usually using string instruments and drums in the background. For example the James Bond theme tune uses electric guitars to create a spy/secret agent feel. We will use this example and base ours around the tune.

However we will also try to add a comical edge to the soundtrack as we have added an element of comedy to the spy in the narrative. This way we will definitely conform to the genre and the stereotypical "spy" theme tune as well as the comical theme.

This is another great example of a spy soundtrack which conforms to the stereotypical fast paced music with guitars, bass and drums as well as other sound effects. Its suits the genre well

Mind Map of Ideas, Story Board, Shot List and Risk Assessment

Our Mind Map of Ideas

Our Shot List for the Opening Sequence

The Risk Assessment 

Our Story Board for the Childrens Film Opening Sequence

Extra Research: Adventure Genre

I have looked into the Adventure genre to get a better idea of different genres opening sequences.

Madagascar is an animated adventure following the lives of four zoo animals who want to leave and spend their lives in "the wild". They are then shipped to Madagascar by accident where the adventure unfolds.
The opening sequence begins with the film company's name and opening credits- like every other children's film genre we have researched into. The film then begins with choir music as the character is dreaming about being out in the wild. This alone gives us a brief idea of what the genre is as the character is already having some sort of adventure. It also instantly shows us the main characters in the film and this means it doesn't take to long to get going. When the character is in the zoo after dreaming we find out the main narrative as we realise the character is not where he wants to be and that he will somehow find his way out of the zoo. The fact we know they are in a zoo gives us a good indication of the location to. With all this information foudn out in the first couple of minutes the narrative looks exciting and the audience will begin to wonder what happens next. This is a usual convention of an Adventure genre as the film begins to unfold from the very beginning.

BBFC for Childrens Films (U & PG)

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is an independent, non-governmental body funded through the fees it charges to those who submit films and video works for classification. The body classifies films, DVDs and video games before they go on sale to the public. There are many legal considerations they have to consider when watching the film - this includes: Human rights act, Licensing act 2003 and Animal Welfare Act.

The children's film we are creating will have to fit into a rating of a U or a PG as these are the classifications that a child should watch. When watching the film the BBFC has to consider nine categories:
- Discrimination
-Drugs
-Horror
-Imitable Behaviour
-Language
-Nudity
-Sex
-Theme/Genre
-Violence

U Classification
The U classification is suitable for all audiences over the age of 4 year of age. The film should offer good morale's and counter balance out any horror or violence.

Discrimination should not be used in the film and illegal drug use and references should not be shown unless there is a positive drug message or it is used for education purposes. The can be mild horror however it should be brief and the outcome of it should be reassuring for a child. Dangerous behaviour which children are likely to copy is not permitted and there should be no emphasis on realistic/easily accessible weapons. There is some lenience with bad language but it should be mild and fairly infrequent. Nudity can be used if natural without sexual content and mild sexual behaviour can be shown for example kissing and references to "making love". Problematic themes can be present but the treatment should be sensible and appropriate for young kids. Mild violence can be used with occasional threat or menace.

Examples of U classifications are Shrek, Monsters Inc and The Incredibles. You can see that most of these films are usually animated and involve unrealistic genres and characters.

PG Classification
PG classifications are for films that are suitable for general viewing, but some scenes can be unsuitable for children. Any child may watch a PG without an adult and children of 8 years and above should not be disturbed when viewing it. Parents are advised to consider if the content could upset younger and more sensitive children.
Discriminatory language/behaviour is usually unacceptable unless used for education or historic purposes. Drug use can be used if innocuous or if it carries a anti-drug message with it. Frightening sequences should not be intense or prolonged however a fantasy setting can be a mitigating factor. Mild bad language is allowed and nudity without sexual content is approved of. Sexual activity can be implied but should be discreet and infrequent - mild sexual references and innuendo. More serious themes can be used however nothing in the treatment of the issues can be unacceptable. Moderate violence can be used without graphic detail in most genre types (fantasy, comedy).

Examples of the PG classification include The Chronicles of Narnia, National Treasure and Harry Potter 1,2 & 3. You can see these films are not usually animated and include more realistic characters and themes however films such as Toy Story 3 which is animated is classified as a PG.