For my film opening I have chosen to use only the one location the main character's (a young woman) bedroom. One such location I have chosen is in my house and I have already gained my parents permission to use it. However one of the disadvantages is that there is no wallpaper or decoration suitable for the period. Although a major advantage is that the room is currently empty and unused so I should be able to dress the room more appropriately and should have longer to prepare and a longer window of opportunity for filming than if the room were in use.

For the mise-en-scene I have considered using a newspaper and or calendar to reinforce the date and time period. To represent the main character (a young woman) I have chosen to have a wide range of photographs which the camera will pan across in order to show that the main character likes to keep memento's of her friends and memories etc. On the desk which the main character sits at I plan to various objects typically found on dressing tables such as makeup and accessories such as a hand mirror in order to exemplify that the main character is vain or at least conscious of her appearance as is typical in period dramas. Also on the desk I will now be placing a small card reading "In loving memory" to indicate that the main character has recently lost a close friend or relative (in this case her former lover).

Finally the last representational objects to symbolise the main character's relationship is a stack of (love) letters and a single photograph of a young man (her deceased lover). I plan to place both objects alone together on top of a table to indicate that the relationship was extremely important to the main character.

For non digetic sound I have been considering using a piece of authentic period music. Although concerns were raised over the issue of Copyrighted material. However now, having looked online at the UK Copyright laws which indicate that all pieces of music produced before 1923 are in the public domain and therefore copyright free At the moment I have found several songs that are both copyright free and representational of the era. Alternatively I could use garageband to create a piece of music myself however after investigating the program I was unable to find or begin to produce anything which I felt was worth using.

I had also originally planned to have just a single piece of music playing non digetically, however I am now considering using some digetic sound possibly in the form of the sounds made by a gramophone before introducing the music to give the appearance that the music is a record being played.

Questionnaire Results

These are the results for my questionnaire. Which was taken by 20 people who were Representative of my target audience, The information I have collected will be used to help

guide certain aspects of my film opening.

Ideas - Part 1

Idea 1

The certificate I have chosen to classify my film with is PG (parental guidance)

mostly due to this being the classification of many other period films which include scenes which include smoking scenes, mild violence/scary/threat scenes and references to sex.

My first idea for a film opening begins with the camera coming in to focus on a photograph in a frame on top of a side table. I then intend to have the camera pan across the table revealing other photographs and related paraphernalia (such as an ashtray, newspaper, clock, calander etc), The camera continues to pan across the room stopping to depict the main character (a young woman) sitting at a dressing table applying makeup and preparing for a party.

I intend to establish the genre (period) within the opening two minutes by using such typical codes and conventions in period films, these including: use of period music/ music that is typical of the period. which in the instance of my first idea would be music from the 1920s, as this is the time period in which I have chosen to set my first idea, through the use of the font in the opening titles. Which in this instance could vary some considerable way from the elegant serif fonts typical of the 1910s and early 1920s to the much more simple art deco fonts typical of the late 1920s. I also had planned to focus the camera on certain props such as a newspaper or party invitation with the date clearly in view in order to convey a solid date for the period

this may be pivotal if I am unable to successfully locate enough other signifiers of the chosen period.

I had planned to use several shots which included panning across a bedroom, similar to the used in the opening two minutes of the film Atonement. I had also considered using considerable use of the over the shoulder shot, as much of the two minutes would be focusing on the main character a young woman getting ready for a party. With the over the shoulder shots being in my opinion the most useful technique for filming the main character applying make up. Another shot which could be used for this particular scene would be the more traditional close up and extreme close up.

Concerning characters I had originally planned to use only the main character. However I am now considering the possible advantages of introducing a secondary character such as a maid or servant assisting the main character to dress, I also think this would help enforce the status and wealth of the main character. However now considering this I will need to plan and research how servants are represented in period dramas, how they talk especially to their employers and finally how much dialogue would be required during the scene.

I think that the only permissions I might need for this idea would be the location - a period bedroom with period furnishings for use as the main characters bedroom. The other possibility could be with the use of period music.

Idea 2

My second idea for the opening of a period drama, was initially to follow two walking figures or a horse and carriage along a country road and subsequently the driveway of a country house. With the two main characters (a young man and woman) stopping at the front door of the house, or descending from the carriage. At which point the two characters will embrace with one of them stating they will be very happy in their new home and the other agreeing with them.

I intend to establish the genre this time mostly through the use of costume, which I've chosen to be Victorian, Also through the use of the long countryside landscape shots typical of period dramas. And finally with the country estate another typical feature of period dramas. I also intend to make the film titles reflect the film genre once again by using a font typical of the period, so in this instance most likely a gothic font. I plan on using several types of shots including the very long shot - for when the couple approach the house, the house itself and the surrounding landscape. As well as the two person shot when the couple are conversing.