MEDIA THEORY

     In our film opening, we want to show Gabriel (the main character) as he tries to become a great basketball player. To help structure our story, we are integrating the Todorov’s Narrative Theory of Equilibrium. 

    What is this theory? 

This theory explains how stories follow a pattern where things start normal, something disrupts that, and by the end a new balance is found. 

In this theory there are 5 stages-

1. Equilibrium- everything is normal
2. Disruptions- something happens to mess things up
3. Recognition- The character realizes the problem
4. Attempt to repair- the character will try to fix it 
5. New equilibrium- things start to settle, but it’ll be different from before

Why this works in our film opening- 

At the start, Gabriel is just playing basketball for fun and isn’t very serious yet. Then something happens such as, failing a tryout or facing doubt, which disrupts his balance. He realizes he has to change and work harder to improve. By the end, Gabriel will reach a new point in his journey, whether it’s success or even just growth. 

1. Equilibrium- Gabriels life before his basketball journey begins (he’s only really playing for fun)
2. Disruptions- while playing he will either fail a tryout or peoples comments are preventing him from progressing.
3. Recognition- He realizes his challenges and wants to work harder to overcome them.
4. Attempt to repair-  He dedicates himself to train and pushing himself beyond limits.
5. New equilibrium- Gabriel reaches a turning point in his journey, whether it is success or just growth. 

  

 Why we are using it-

 This theory helps keep our story clear, engaging and even relatable. It also allows for a strong structure and natural flow of his journey. It also builds tension and makes his struggles feel real. By using this, we can show how he grows as a character and make the audience connect with his story.

Group meeting #1

    Today in AICE media we got put into our first group meeting. We each shared our Blogger URL and helped each other understand where we could improve. After this we started talking about our own idea of the opening film. With the help of each other we were able to create different perspectives which helped make our ideas much better and sound more appealing for a wider audience.

Clemence- 

In her opening scene she will show abuse in a relationship with her boyfriend. Then it will cut to the protagonist walking through the party and seeing her partner. After she sees him there, it cuts to flashbacks and then it will come back to the party and they will hug each other. All sets up the drama and context for the rest of the plot. The genre is psychological drama/ romance, its modern and about a toxic relationship. 

Clem's AICE Media year

Fati-

    In her opening, she starts with the summer sun burning bright, while also emphasizing how the character felt nothing. Laughter filled the world outside, however she remained alone in silence. Each day fazed into the next, she had thoughts of disappearing which kept growing stronger. Fatima is trying to create a very dramatic and depressing image of the girl.

FatiDumitsblog

Julian/Aneesh-

    Julian and Aneesh are working on this project together, they have decided to create a legal thriller. There idea of this film is an innocent man sits on death row, falsely convicted of a crime he did not commit. With his execution date coming along, they have one final chance to clear his name. Me, Fati, and Clemence told them to also add how they wanted to clear his name. We gave a few ideas, whether it was through a last minute appeal, new evidence came to light, or an unexpected victim will to come out and shed light on the truth. 

Aneesh's Blog 

Juliansblog

Airball script

 This is my script for the Airball opening film.

Airball script

INT. HIGH SCHOOL GYM - EVENING

(OPENING CREDITS ROLL OVER GYM FOOTAGE)

FADE IN AS SFX: faint bouncing basketball, shoes screeching, heavy breathing

JD stands at the top of the key, dribbling, focused.

Opponent crouched low, watching his hips.

JD [VO]

This moment. It's the kind you dream about. A single shot. Win or lose. Everything slows down. Every breath, every step, calculated. It's do or die.

He shifts left then right, testing his defender.

JD [VO]

You tell yourself it's just another shot. But that's a lie.

Explodes into a quick crossover. Dribbles between the legs.

Defender bites. JD steps back, separates.

SFX: Heartbeat thumps

SLOW MOTION: He rises. Shoots. Perfect form, release, arc.

LONG SHOT SLOW MOTION: Ball completely misses the hoop.

Silence, then:

PLAYER 1

Yo, was that a lob?

PLAYER 2

Nah, that was a prayer.

COACH MARCUS

Davis, you tryna take out a bird?

JD just stands there.

LONG SHOT REVEALS THIS WAS JUST A 2 ON 2 PRACTICE

CUT TO:

INT. COACH'S OFFICE - LATER

Coach Marcus leans back, arms crossed.

2.

JD slouches.

COACH MARCUS

Let me guess. You thought that was going in.

JD

I knew it was going in Coach.

COACH MARCUS

Confidence is good. But delusion?

That's another story.

JD

I just... I gotta get better. Jason was -

COACH MARCUS

Jason ain't you. You ain't him.

COACH MARCUS (CONT'D) But hey, keep throwing bricks like that, and maybe we can build a new gym.

JD forces a laugh but it stings.

CUT TO:

INT. JD'S BASKETBALL THEMED BEDROOM - NIGHT

SFX: DIEGETIC SOUND OF CRICKETS CHIRPING, WINDOW OPEN

JD stares at a framed photo on his nightstand - him and his older brother (Jason Davis, college basketball star)

SFX: KNOCK ON DOOR, CREAKS OPEN

MOM (O.S.)

You'll be late for school again if you don't sleep.

JD doesn't answer.

MOM (CONT'D)

You don't have to be Jason, baby.

JD finally looks at her. Nods.

JD

Yeah, I know.

He turns away and looks at the ceiling again.

3.

Mom watches him for a moment, then turns off the light in his room.

CLOSE UP: JD's face in the dark.

His eyes don't close.

TITLE: AIRBALL (NO COPYRIGHT RAP PLAYS)

INT. HIGH SCHOOL WEIGHTLIFTING GYM - MORNING

Music revealed to be diegetic from his headphones/speaker.

JD alone, training.

CLOSE UP: Sweat drips

CLOSE UP: Legs shaking during squats

SFX: Diegetic music pauses.

JD sits on the bench between sets, resting, scrolling through Jason's old highlight reels.

He exhales, locks the phone, and stands back up.

SFX: Diegetic music resumes. Back to work.

CLOSE UP: Struggling with bench press

WIDE SHOT: Reveals empty bar

THE END

Research of my choice

Why people love horror and thriller movies- 

        

    Horror and thriller movies have hooked in audiences for ages, they have kept us on the edge of our seats, making our hearts race, and sometimes forcing us to sleep with the lights on. But why do we willingly choose to watch scary movies? What is it about these genres that continues to draw us in?

Science of fear-

    Fear is one of the most powerful human emotions, and horror and thriller movies turn it into fascinating ways. When we watch these movies, our bodies release adrenaline, the same hormone that gets released in real life danger. This creates a sense of excitement and awareness, kind of like riding a roller coaster. The difference is we watch it in a safe environment, which allows us to enjoy the fear without living the consequences. 

The thrill of the unknown-

    Humans are naturally drawn to the mystery of the unknown. Psychological thrillers like The Menu (2022) and Barbarian (2022) keep us engaged by challenging our expectations, making us question what’s real and who we can trust.

        The evolution of horror and thriller movies-

This genre has changed dramatically over time, reflecting societal fears and cultural anxieties. Horror and thriller movies now blend real world anxieties with traditional horror elements, which makes them more immersive and thought provoking. 

                                                                                1920s-1930s: Relied on gothic monsters and                                                                                                     supernatural themes.

   

              1960s-1970s: Started exploring the mind and                                   religious fears.

              1980s-1990s: utilized masked killers 

              2000s-2010s: Became more psychological and                                socially conscious.

              Today, horror blends sub genres such as, sci-fi, true                       crime, and experimental horror. They push                                       boundaries and reflect modern anxieties.

    Final thoughts: Why we will always love fear

Establishing a Timeline

     One of the biggest things I learned from this class is that preparation and organization are a fundamental aspect of this class. Whether it was for a small project or not, my groups and I would always develop a timeline or storyboard. This allowed us to know when and what we’re going to do as the weeks go by. Since this is a very big project for me, I have created a timeline of what should be done and when. 

    Timeline-

Week 1-

• Research 
• Start planning 

Week 2-

• Finish Plan 
• Decide on locations for filming 
• Find actors 
• Set days we are going to film

Week 3-

• Production

Three credit sequences from films within Horror/thriller

 Scream (1996)

    Scream starts with a black screen paired with the sound of ringing which already starts creating tension. The title “SCREAM” pops up on the screen in big, bold white letters. The title is then added together with the sound of screaming along with the sound of a knife. After this they added the credits of the director, producers, actors, etc. The sound they added kept the films idea to blend horror and self aware commentary. 

Halloween (1978)

Halloween starts with a dark black screen displaying orange credits, they paired this with John Carpenter’s iconic synth score. After this, a jack-o’-lantern slowly zooms into view; To make it more “spooky”, the jack-o’-lanterns has a flickering light which cast scary shadows. This minimalist approach effectively sets the spooky mood, symbolizing the lurking evil that is showed throughout the movie.

Here is an example of the synth cover-

https://youtu.be/VKYaH4mDjDU?si=yrQI-QHN87rwo3zK

It Follows (2014)

It follows starts with a pan of a suburban neighborhood, this is then paired with haunting sounds. The cameras slow intentional movement creates a sense of unease. Due to this, from the start they are able to establish the films atmosphere of dread. The credits are put in simple white text, allowing the unsettling visuals and music to take center stage.

Here is the sound they used when showing credits- https://youtu.be/mrqS96JxWVA?si=PoNbn8e6WvdMoFsc

Each of these films used their opening credits to create the mood and foreshadow the horror to come. This effectively hooked the audience into their unsettling worlds.

Three Film Opening (Thriller/Horror)

    Halloween (1978)

The film opens with a chilling first person point of view shot of a figure stalking a young women inside a house on Halloween night. As the camera follows his movements, he grabs a knife and kills her. Which reveals the killer is a 60 year old Michael Myers. This type of opening sets the tone for the films restless suspense, introducing Michael as an unstoppable evil force.

    Scream (1996)

The films opening scene is filled with suspense and tension, beginning with an innocent phone call to Casey Becker which quickly turned dark. Before killing her, the killer taunts her with horror trivia questions. This was a very bold move by the producer because they killed off one of the main actors within the first minutes. This helps build the unpredictable approach to the movie.

    It follows (2014)

The film begins with an unsettling long shot of a scared young women running from an unseen character or presence. Her reaction, despite the absence of any visible threat, showed the extent of her fear. After a sequence of her trying to escape, she is found dead, in a very strange position. This reinforced the movies theme of inescapable horror. The film opening was very slow building and dread filled which established a unique supernatural tension and restless paranoia.

 Takeaway

While researching 3 film opening I decided to look at older movies, this was only to compare what they were able to do with the limited resources they had. By doing this it inspired me to use the resources I have to develop a CRAZY opening film. These 3 opening films taught me a lot, whether it was the editing, sound, or even just the choice in shot angles. Everything these three producers did, helped me discover what and how I want to make my opening film.