Diamond Nine

What Factors are Most Important in Cinema?
In lesson today, we discussed the important aspects that comprise a film. We were each given a separate sheet of paper, where we had to list nine aspects of film before cutting them up into separated labels. These labelled aspects included:

• Use Dialogue
• Originality and Creativity
• Indication of Genre
• Titles and Credits
• Make Sure People Get it
• Start at the Beginning of the Story
• Introduce a Setting
• Introduce Characters
• Use a Variety of Camera Shots and Angles

We were asked to organise these aspects into an order of which we thought was the most important. At the top was the feature we thought should be prioritised in film making whereas at the bottom is the least important aspect. This is how I ordered mine:

1. Use a Variety of Camera Shots and Angles - The reason I placed this at the top is because one of my favourite features in a film is the cinematography. The cinematography can completely change the film and how professional it looks as well as change the reading of the film, so using a variety of unique camera shots and angles helps improve the film as a whole as well as help the audience learn something about something in particularly, i.e the characters. 
2. Originality and Creativity - The reason I placed this second is because it's an important part of film making. People don't enjoy watching the same old stuff - they want something new and exciting. Originality and creativity of a film makes the film more unique and therefore memorable. 
3. Indication of Genre - I don't think this aspect is particularly important compared to the top two, however, by involving the conventions of a genre and allowing the audience to identify the genre, it can appeal to the target audience associated with this particular genre immediately. This being said, it is not necessary for a film to indicate the genre in the first opening minutes as the mood can completely change half way through the film - this is most commonly seen in horror films where it starts of light and then suddenly turns heavy some time into the film. 
4. Make Sure People Get It - Making sure the audience understands what is going on is important to some extent - if the director wants them to understand what is going on then it is important otherwise the audience will probably be confused all the way through the story. However, making sure people get it when they don't need to i.e it'll likely be explained some way into the film, then it is not important.
5. Titles and Credits - Titles and credits can really help set the mood for a film. Although using bold or themed text is not necessary, it is important to involve appropriate fonts and colour. For example, if a horror film has pretty, happy bubble writing then it will look very out of place and won't be appropriate. Furthermore, not only do the credits have to appropriate to the film, it is also a huge decision to involve them or not. For example, if the opening sequence is very fast-paced and hard to follow, then using titles won't be very appropriate because the audience won't notice them because they're distracted by the action or vice versa. 
6. Introduce Characters - Introducing characters isn't necessary in the opening sequence to a film, however it is effective because it allows the audience to familiarise themselves with who the film will be following early on and therefore the director doesn't need to make time for the audience to meet the character before advancing the narrative. 
7. Introduce a Setting - I don't think introducing the prominent setting in which the film takes place is that important, however it carries many effects if done efficiently. Introducing a setting can help set a mood or even establish the genre etc. 
8. Start at the Beginning of the Story - Starting at the beginning of the story is not very important, so long as the audience at some point realises that it's not the beginning of the story (otherwise they'll be thoroughly confused). Otherwise, starting elsewhere to the beginning of the story is quite effective because it can help engage and intrigue the audience, making them want to watch the rest of the film. 
9. Use Dialogue - Using dialogue is only important if it's necessary, after all, it is a common guideline to show the audience rather then telling. This is why dialogue is most effective when it is kept to a minimal and only used to explain something that can only be explained through dialogue. Dialogue can carry many positive effects though, for example it allows the audience to get to know the characters etc. Though it is not important because this is not necessary in the opening sequence to a film. 

We then looked at the OCR mark scheme to familiarise ourselves with what the exam board wanted from our film opening sequences. We were then asked to rearrange our labels into the importance according to the OCR Exam Board. This is how I rearranged it: 

1. Creativity and Originality 
2. Make Sure People Get It
3. Variety of Camera Shots and Angles
4. Titles and Credits
5. Introduce Characters
6. Introduce a Setting
7. Indication of Genre
8. Use Dialogue
9. Start at the Beginning

Overall, I didn't have to rearrange much as mine was in a fairly similar order as to what labels were at the top, in the middle and at the bottom, it was just a matter of which was placed precisely where. 

This exercise has been thoroughly helpful as it has allowed me to familiarise myself with what the exam board expects from my coursework and has helped me identify and understand what areas I need to prioritise when creating my final piece.