Peer Review

Group 1: Mind Gaps

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEkDC6U4KYU

What specific technical elements of the film opening did you like? 

I saw a lot of extreme close ups of Angelina and certain parts of her body to emphasize her nervous behavior which I liked. There was one the camera was focused on her hand while she was picking at her nail and another where she was fidgeting her foot. Before she began telling the doctor her routine,  There was a dutch shot inserted that may have been to set a smooth transition. The therapist had some clips where they zoomed in on him to show his confusion on what the patient was telling him. I also noticed some cross cutting elements where the clip of what the patient said happened appeared and it jumped to the clip that actually happened which was really cool.

What specific technical elements of the film opening did you dislike?

Well I didn't necessarily dislike any elements. But it took me a moment to understand the meaning behind the cross-cutting and why it was used. There may have been too many close up scenes used. The film could have had more scenery or clips where you can analyze a full background like an establishing shot, but other than that, I enjoyed observing the technical elements and piecing them together. I would suggest for them to add other technical elements that are not repetitive and can still add on to the sense up thrill.

Did this look like a movie opener and did it make you want to know what happens next?

This opening film did look like a movie opener and definitely caught my attention. With every question the therapist asked, it made me wonder what was gonna happen next, if she was making up her answers or telling the truth... It was very interactive and I felt like I was with her while she was going through her daily routine. The point of view shots allowed the routine to be depicted in her perspective and how she imagined what had happened and I think that really got it out to the viewers. I didn't know what was real or fake in what moment and I do think that's how you're supposed to feel with the psychological thriller genre. 

Was there anything that left you confused?

I was a bit confused at the end, when the therapist was confused and wrote notes down from the session. There was not much context to it. He may have realized that her story wasn't adding up and that's why he made the face but, that scene was so prolonged that it made me hesitate what the doctor was thinking. It also did the cross-cutting scene, it may take people a couple tries to get it.

What suggestions do you have to make this movie opener better?

I would suggest that they reduce the ending clip where the therapist is confused and all the zoom in show. If I was confused about that cliff-hanger, I would imagine that many other people would be too because of how long it is. Also they should add the title sequence and production company so that it looks more of an opening film.

 

Group 2: 

No title and no sound

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwUBkwR0Ths&t=116s

What specific technical elements of the film opening did you like? 

I liked how the film started at a low angle with low-key lighting. It gave a sense of mystery as the clip cuts to a mid shot show a guy play the piano but covers his face. I noticed some technical elements like close-up and point of view shot while the mystery man plays the piano. There was an upward tilt shot that started on the ground and made an emphasis because the mystery piano man was finally revealing himself.

What specific technical elements of the film opening did you dislike?

I did not really like the tracking, of when the man was walking to his car. It took too long to capture and that may disengage the audience with the film. Other than that, the film was good and I believe the technical elements worked really well with each other in coordinating the clips.

Did this look like a movie opener and did it make you want to know what happens next?

It did look like a movie opener from the very beginning. The technical elements allowed the introduction to replicate one like in a movie, with the slow approach. The Lowkey lighting and camera positioning gave a sense of isolation and when he went into the car with an unknown intruder in the backseat, it left me wanting to know what happened next! 

Was there anything that left you confused?

There is not necessarily anything I was confused about when I didn't realize. Since the video had no sound, it was hard for me to understand what was going on until I watched the film for the second time. There is also no title so, I have no first impression or idea what genre or topic the opening dim was going to be about so, it took longer for me to understand it. The ending where the cliffhanger was, appeared to be too short. I did want to know what happened next but it didn't leave me in as much shock as I anticipated.

What suggestions do you have to make this movie opener better?

I would suggest for the group to add a title, title sequence, and sound. Although the intro was really great and already gave the impression of an opening scene, it needs the title sequence and production company introduction for the entire effect.  They should also add some type of sound like sound effects and music, or a shout when encountered with the person at the end to give the audience more cues to pick up on so they understand what the film is trying to portray.

 

Group 3: Two Peas in a Pod

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iy64blVFJk

 

What specific technical elements of the film opening did you like? 

I liked that one of the first noticeable technical elements was a zoom in. There is a master shot of three friends sitting at a table and two of them are talking leaving the other one out. the zoom really captured the emotion and emphasized on how lonely and isolated he felt while left pondering in his thoughts. There is a tracking shot the follows the lonely friend as he tells each person something different.

What specific technical elements of the film opening did you dislike?

I didn't really like the establishing shot. I understand that many movies use that in the opening scene but it did not really match with the rest of the clips or have a smooth transition. I also didn't like how some clips were filmed in portrait mode and some were filmed in landscape mode. It shows different scaling sizes and does not look that appealing to the audience with the alternating appearances.

Did this look like a movie opener and did it make you want to know what happens next?

It did look like a movie opener somewhat. The characters were introduced in the first audible shot so it does emphasize the beginning of something. I don't believe I'm left want to know what happens next. The film seems to have a soft plot develops where both of the close friends seem sad and distant from each other but it's predictable what's going to happen next.

Was there anything that left you confused?

I was confused at the establishing shot. It shows the location but it seems unnecessary for this film. I was also confused by the part where the lonely friend tells the both something different. their reactions weren't really telling and it felt like he could've been whispering anything to them.  Other than that, all the elements correspond with the film and go smoothly.

What suggestions do you have to make this movie opener better?

I would suggest to either remove the establishing shot or find a way to make it smoothly transition as to video goes along. They should definitely re-film the clips that are in portrait mode and make everything landscape since that's the form a film is shot in. Maybe add more facial expressions when revealing the secrets to help the audience have a hint of what's being said. Add a title sequence and allow the title to play for a couple seconds longer.

 

 

Group 4: The Ivy Chase

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjYc0V77OLQ

 

What specific technical elements of the film opening did you like? 

The first technical element I noticed was the over the shoulder shot of the main character putting on lipgloss looking in the mirror. She is there for a while to emphasize how confident she is in herself. I liked the point of view shot of the second student typing on the computer. The close up of the computer was a really nice touch to allow the audience the engage with the film and see what is being typed.

What specific technical elements of the film opening did you dislike?

I did not like the first clip. Im not sure if ti was a technical element being portrayed like a master shot, but it showed too many students that were irrelevant to the storyline. The was a two person shot when they were sitting at the table with no audio, it wasn't that I disliked it but it was prolonged and the audience may have trouble with understanding what is going on.

Did this look like a movie opener and did it make you want to know what happens next?

I'm not really sure that this resembles an opening scene of a movie. The first scene does introduce the setting somewhat and the characters but it doesn't give me the feeling of an opener. Not enough introduction transitions or elements were used. It doesn't make me know what happens next because I can't really understand the plot from the clip the I watched.

Was there anything that left you confused?

I was confused at the beginning part with all the extra characters. Im not really sure what purpose that scene was added for. I am also confused with the scene whee the students both sit at the table and are there scrolling through there computers. I understand now, after watching it three times they were waiting for their acceptance letters into Ivy League schools. 

What suggestions do you have to make this movie opener better?

 They may need to add more facial expressions to help the audience be more interactive and understand what it going on and they need to add some dialogue of one of them reading their screens. An example could be, "congratulations (so and so) for getting accepted into... ". Also they should re-film the first clip and minimize the crowd that appears. I would suggest that they add sound effects over the muted clips like a typing sound on the point of view should have the keyboard and a mouse click sound when the computer screen pops up.

 

 

Group 5: Betrayed Shadows

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWhmKSlVnc8

 

What specific technical elements of the film opening did you like? 

I liked the upward tilt that smoothly transitioned into a tracking of the friend group in the very beginning. It gave a great introduction clip and shows all of the characters and location of the scene. I also like the jump cuts of the walk and showing the back angle that gives the audience a sense of interaction as if they are following behind them.

What specific technical elements of the film opening did you dislike?

I did not really like the establishing shot because I didn't find it necessary. The camera man could have moved up to show the lake but establishing shots are usually placed in the very beginning of a movie. I also didn't like how there was too much tracking in the whole opening scene. It felt like the camera was constantly moving and there could've have been moments where the camera could have rested while the friend group walked. Other than that the technical elements were great and they worked smoothly together.

Did this look like a movie opener and did it make you want to know what happens next?

This film definitely did look like a movie opener from the very beginning. The right elements were used to slowly introduce the character into the frame and have the audience engaged. It does make me question what happens next with the cliffhanger. The end plot was so unexpected and sudden that it would leave the audience shocked to find out it their own friend kidnapped them. It makes me wonder why would that happen. 

Was there anything that left you confused?

The establishing shot gave the impression of the girl that is vlogging switch to her phone to record the lake. I thought it gave the illusion of a point of view because the audience can see that she is the one recording but I saw her being featured at the end of the clip so she was not recording. That made the establishing shot not make sense in that area and may leave the audience confused.

What suggestions do you have to make this movie opener better?

I would suggest to add an establishing shot in the very beginning, and it could be off the lake, so there is a place to add the title sequence. They should reduce the tracking shots to stop motion in some of the clips and reduce the amount of mid shots they use by filming in other shots. They should also add a production company to have the full effect of a movie opening scene.