March 27, 2023
Just like many other action films, I included thrill and suspense in my film opening. From the energetic and lively sound choice, to the specific mise en scene, my film includes very common conventions. In the next few paragraphs, I will incorporate conventions not mentioned in the slideshow, and my process in making the video.
While there isn't a wide variety of props used in the opening, many of the same props could be found. Phones for example were all used by the teenagers which showed their method of communication. This challenges conventions however because many characters in action movies don't use their phones. The Home Alone series for example could have easily been resolved through online communication. Money Grab however, employs the internet to bring the girls together.
The colors and mise en scene in our film opening was largely influenced by everyday symbolism. Different colors are associated with different feelings or ideas and this is a crucial part of all media. When displaying each character's roles, a specific color was put behind the texts which created meaning. For example, when "The Mastermind" title came up behind the first character introduced, a red shadow was placed behind it which shows strength and danger. Whereas yellow, placed behind the bubbly character who played The Getaway Driver, shows spontaneity, positivity and youth.
The different camera angles used, such as the wide lens in the plaza scene, are similar to that of an action movie. Wide and long shots allow for the character's environment to be shown and can create individuality between them. While my film used this shot, most of the camera angles are mid level or closeups. The closeup shot was employed when the getaway driver was searching for her phone under the blankets. This shot allows the audience to focus on a single item or idea and is a common convention of other works of media.
Ultimately, while creating my slideshow, I had a general idea of what I wanted to speak about. I created a script that went over basic mise en scene and some generic editing styles. However, upon writing my essay, I realized that there were many more conventions typical of other action movies that we made use of. I also realized that our film opening doesn't necessarily represent issues or social groups since it is an action movie opening. Altogether, creating this critical reflection opened my eyes to the details that my friends and I made that I otherwise may not have noticed.