Research into Saul and Elaine Bass

Saul bass was an American graphic designer, he has also won himself an Oscar for film making he Is most famous for his film posters, corporate logos and motion picture title sequences. He has created some of the most iconic opening sequences in film history for example, Vertigo, Psycho, The Man With The Golden Arm, Cassino, and many more. He has also worked with some incredible directors including Billy Wilder, Martin Scorsese, and Alfred Hitchcock.

He started working in Hollywood in the 1940s, the director Otto Preminger was the first person to really recognise and appreciate bass’s work. He took him along with the making of his films Champion, Death of a Salesman and The Moon Is Blue. Bass was then asked to design a film poster for another one of his upcoming films this artwork impresses Otto so much that he then asked Bass to create an opening title sequence for the same film this is where it all started for him.

Saul bass was also famously known for his film posters he specialised in simple art he often used geometric shapes and symbols, he did film posters for films like The Shining, The Schinderles List, The Man with The Golden Arm.  

Elaine Bass worked closely with Saul for 40 years they got married in 1961, she was also a graphic designer and film maker. Elaine was a singer for the most part of her young adult life. At the age of 18 she started fashion school in New York which was where she was from. She then moved to Los Angeles to stay permanently this is where she got a job at a record label, Capital Records were she took up a position in the design department. She heard that Saul Bass needed a assistant and so she started working with him in the late 50s which lead to them together creating the opening title sequence “Spartacus” in 1960. Soon after the two married and had the tow children Jennifer and Jeffery.  

The title sequence that I chose to look at was Casino, Casino came out in 1995 this was actually the last title sequence they did together. I think that this title sequence is very effective it shows and the success and then down fall of the character. The red coloured lights show the danger but also represent the casino industry. They neon signs and flashing lights related back to the theme of the casino. I feel like the opening scene also doesn't give too much away it leaves some things in the unknown which would keep the audience engaged. It sets a tone of glamour and mystery. 

my production group

 My Production Group 

I have been put in a group with Maddie and Bashy. we set up a production group, group chat on WhatsApp to communicate with each other over the ideas we things we want to add and things that we want to change this is also a place we can share photos as they automatically auto save to your camera roll this way we all know what we are doing. For example buying props for our shoot and taking photos for our location. We are also able to do group calls which is ideal during covid. By creating this chat we are always able to keep in touch. 

Research into the BBFC

BBFC


What do the BBFC do?

• The BBFC are the ones in charge the set the rules for British film

• The assign age certificates to every film in the UK

• They are also an organisation that you can complain to for example if you don’t think the age ratings correct on a film you can put in request to change that.

What are the different age certificates in the UK?

• 
  U

• PG

• 12A (this is when you can watch a film under the age of 12 but you have to be accompanied by an adult)

• 12

• 15

• 18

These are the things that they consider when assigning age certificates:

• Obscene language

• Violence

• Criminal activity

• Sex and nudity

• Drugs, alcohol, cigarettes

• Self-harm

• Discriminatory language

• Child actors

• Dangerous behaviour (behaviours that children may be tempted to imitate)

• Strobe lighting (warning people that may have medical conditions)

Some of these conditions have some type of lea way for example the way they are portrayed, the BBFC take into consideration the context in which they are shown, they also consider the tone and they violence is portrayed. For example, they may show the use of alcohol but in a way to educate how not to do things and how safely work around things.

Some of these conditions have some type of lea way for example the way they are portrayed, the BBFC take into consideration the context in which they are shown, they also consider the tone and they violence is portrayed. For example, they may show the use of alcohol but in a way to educate how not to do things and how safely work around things.

step by step outline

 step by step with my production group 

• female detective walking into the house (the lodge) - walking in-front of the camera / camera follows her in - tracking shot
• she hears heavy breathing / someone struggling to breathe - close up on her facial expressions 
• follows the heavy breathing - tracking shot
• finds the young girl / boy on the floor, close to death - extreme long shot to show her and the body in the frame 
• the detective then kneels down to the body - changing hight so that the camera is at the same hight as the detective 
• the girl / boy struggles to say 'he's still here' - close up on the individuals face as they say this line
• extreme close up on the detectives face to show her change emotion through facial expressions 
• point of view angle from the detectives perspective of the individual fighting for there life and struggling to breathe
• slow zoom out which becomes and extreme long shot of the the detective slowly grabbing hold of her gun which is in her back pocket.
• detective slowly stands up and turns around - mid shot 
• detective pulls her gun up to her face as if she is ready to shoot - mis shot 
• camera goes to a point of view angle of her walking around 
• hand held camera movements as she is walking around the house cautiously ( holding her gun in front of her face )
• detective turns the corner into another room - point of view camera angle
• extreme long shot of the of the murder running towards the detective with there bloody knife 
• extreme close up of on female detective as she shoots the male with no hesitation 
• shot reverse shot\long shot portrayed to shoe the dead body of the male that the detective has just shot 
• cuts back to the female detective 
• low angle portrayed as the female detective turns her back away from the body but then sharply turns back to the dead body again and shots again.
• long shot used to portray the dead body and a slow zoom into him 
• back to a low angle of the female detective waling away - towards the door / house and the sound of her boots / heals pressing against the floor boards 
• background goes out of focus as she reaches  and exists the door / house and the sound of olice cars and ambulance slowly approaching.

my groups final storyboard

As a group we have put all our story boards together Maddie did the first 8 Bashy did the last 8 and I did the middle 8. we all added small written details and camera shots as a reminder on the day. This is going to be a huge help in the planning of our shoot and by doing it separately we have been able to add individuality to the opening sequence.

 Maddie's: 

bashy's:

Neave's (mine):

my storyboard in progress

 

This is my storyboard in progress I have been given the centre section on the opening sequence, I have done all 8 and making small detail changes as I go along, I have added small written details on he side and the different camera angles and the lighting stages I am yet to add the shot number as we will finalise that when we have them all together. 

What are Storyboards?

 Storyboards 

why are storyboards important before the filming process?

• they help you to organise your opening title sequence 
• it allows you to trial and error 
• it helps you see your idea on paper and visually
• you can see what will work and what wont work it lets you make mistakes before you go and do it for real witch wont only save you time but also money 

why are storyboards important for after the filming process?

• it is very rare that the editor will be on set for the film so the storyboard for them is a big indicator of what the rest of the film is going to look like 
• this will be a big guide for them visually 

what should you include on your story board?

• the location of the shots
• what sound you would have in the specific shots
• what action is going on in the scene 
• the shot number however you must do this at the very very end so you can move things around and change things 
• what kind of lighting you want to have and specific lighting moments 
• timing 
• Finally any transitions you want to include 

sound design

 For my sound design I wanted to keep it really upbeat and happy I wanted it to have a 60s feel playing around with some of the colours and the patterns within the sequence therefore I used some 60s rhythms in the drums I wanted it to run parallel with what is going on in the scene it's bright and it's light and I wanted it to have a happy theme. It's very chilled as no twists and turns it's very simple and I think it would be a good way to set off the tone of this film.

shooting a sequence

here is the small sequence that I made at home after being given a workshop.