Final Opening Sequence (Final)

The Video and Mini Evaluation

This is the final cut of the opening sequence. I believe that I have enough of my own footage shot and edited in and that I conform to the conventions of opening credits quite well - the only change being when the title comes up but I've previously explained how I wished to maintain the twist (of Dan and Neil as friends) until the end. The static video effects are distributed more throughout the opening, which I believe makes the transitions into each clip much smoother.

I included the pre-credits scene in this version and I definitely feel that it was quite rushed unfortunately; there was a continuity error that I tried to fix by breaking the scene apart with the static footage - as I had with other clips such as the ending with Dan looking at the sunset. While it certainly complies to the feeling of disjointedness with the montage's use of static, I feel that the inclusion of the static in the interrogation scene is out of place; the interrogation scene frames the story as if Dan is telling it to the man in the gasmask, therefore the static doesn't make sense as I included it during the credits to link the clips as an indication of society's fall - as if the footage was damaged - acting as exposition. I could perhaps pass it off as if the opening credits were being recorded by the government and even their technology is corrupted after the outbreak but it doesn't fit the scene in my opinion, due to this I would re-shoot if possible however I don't believe it is.

Another point I would like to clarify is that Oscar isn't reading his lines off of the sheet of paper in the scene below. The paper was supposed to act as a prop, being the documents of the government official. In fact, Oscar didn't do his lines in the scene, I voiced and edited them in post myself as he plays the reporter too - which would be a continuity error. Notably, some lines have been altered in order to fit with the bobbing of his head, which indicates him speaking. The audio effects are really good in my opinion, sounding just echoed enough to show the effect of the mask on his character's speech but still being clear enough for the audience to hear.

FINAL FINAL FINAL YES from Eughan Wooding on Vimeo.

Opening Credits - Final Piece

Script

Government official walks into the room, wearing a gasmask and carrying both a briefcase and a black bag. He then proceeds to nod at Dan – who is sat at a table, waiting to be questioned further. The government perplexed by Neill’s passivity towards Dan, believing he is mutated or infected perhaps but wishing to harness the ability.

Gov Official: Pleasure to see you again, do you remember me?
*Places down documents and moves towards Dan*
Ah well, my name is Dr P J Holmes and since we last met I have reviewed the information you’ve provided me with.
Now that we’ve got that cleared up, I’d like to talk about a few things.
*Picks up paper*
Firstly your ‘friend’…

Dan: Who Neil?

Gov Official: Ah yes, that’s its name. Did you know him before?

Dan: Yeah he’s my roommate, why?

Gov Official: Now now Dan, I don’t want to make this any…

*Opens bag to reveal Neil’s shirt*
Harder than it is. All we want to know is how you tamed that… creature.

Key Notes

I have chosen Oscar to play the government official because I don't have enough time to find another actor. While this means that I have to conceal his face and that I can't have him act out the part, I can simply have him wear a gasmask (as if he is worried about being infected by Dan) plus I could read his lines in post and add some audio effect - in order to make it sound as if the lines are said through the gasmask, additionally this would make the dialogue clearer and not as muffled as it would be through the mask.

Furthermore, I have included a quick storyboard below but may have to flip the directions given the location. I will presumably reuse the same location as in the Numbers interrogation scene, although I can keep the area well-lit as the interrogator in this case will still look intimidating with the lights on - due to the mask.

Experimental - Final Piece

Whip-Pan Transitions

Below is a short clip where I attempted to create a whip-pan transition. I noticed that one features in my final piece but using stock footage, therefore I would like to include a transition in my final piece using my own footage. Edgar Wright used the technique throughout Shaun of the Dead  and so I feel that it would be a nice way of including his methods in my opening sequence.

I believe that I have a good handle on how to create the effect, I tried to film the transition going in both directions which is why I reversed the mid clip - as to make it go in the opposite direction. I'll therefore try to apply what I've learned in my opening sequence

Sequence 01 from Eughan Wooding on Vimeo.

Final Opening Sequence (Semi-Final)

The Video and Mini-Evaluation

Firstly, I balanced the audio a lot better in my opinion and cut to the static when necessary - the beginning indicating how fragmented the clips are as the reporter is cut off. I further mixed the stock footage and my own and included many elements from my last cut; the ending is the same in terms of clips used but I did make sure to blend it in more by adding effects to the clip - helping the transition to the title.
The credits felt like an issue in my last post and I have worked on better distributing the credits, opting to split the roles of editor and producer. This ensures that there isn't too much text in one slide at a time and better distributes the roles in the title sequence to demonstrate my knowledge of conventions. I could further demonstrate this knowledge by including credits for 'Lionsgate' and 'Generic Productions' separate to their logos, just to better integrate them into the credits.

One issue is that I don't meet the necessary amount of original footage required, requiring at least 30 seconds more. This is an issue but the most logical solution is to create a pre-credits scene as I don't necessarily need to focus on continuity with my other footage (i.e. the weather and makeup and haircuts of the actors). A possible way of doing this is by filming an interrogation scene with the character of Dan and a government official, perhaps establishing Dan as the narrator telling the viewer/government official his and Neil's story. By making a pre-credits scene, I also have better control over how long or short it has to be.

Dan and Neil - Doommates 3 - FINAL from Eughan Wooding on Vimeo.

Final Opening Sequence (Redone Rough Cut)

The Video and Mini-Evalution

I felt that the static I included helped to blend the clips together more and make the video seem more disjointed, like pre-zombie footage that was found later or something. The footage is also mixed between what I did film and stock footage, to better represent the chaos of the zombie outbreak in the film, I did ensure that Daniel's audio occurs with the clips shown at the end to indicate the relationship between the characters better - plus the title featuring after helps to reveal the twist of their friendship.
I tried to balance the audio a bit more because some bits are too loud, like the riot footage. Additionally the static footage I used is very loud, so I'll have to reduce that a bit more. It's especially as rough at the beginning, perhaps taking the viewer out of it before it's even started. I've included a link, to the footage used, below:

The Static Footage Used

I changed the gun sound effect from the stock effect I found in the media files to one I found online on soundsnap, where I also found my zombie sound effects. It was very quiet and echoed before, plus it didn't sound like an AK-47 sound effect unlike the new one. However, while the gun and zombie effects are from elsewhere, the riot sound effects and running are from the stock files at my disposal. 
On the topic of sound effects, I'd like to point out how I cut the running audio so it's not as out of time/too continuous. Some bits are reversed too, in order to indicate different running. The zombie effects are also played back to back with some reversed to give the impression that the character of Neil is talking, rather than giving the same sound effect in a row.

For the title, I took the curve effect off and I like it more - it's easier to read and looks more professional. I experimented with the effects while editing to cry and recreate the Dawn of the Dead credits; I feel that the text transitions well to the screen but I could maybe transition from the last shot to the title using some effects. The fade in of the 'D' still doesn't feel right but I don't know how to make a scratching effect. Lastly, I included a zombie sound effect as the 'D' comes in, just to further show how the zombie outbreak in my story has affected the nature of the characters' relationship while still acknowledging their friendship - which is quite ironic and goes against convention.
Notably I changed the content of the credits too, in my initial cut I credited myself for the majority of the roles however such a trend isn't common in most films and it would appear quite egotistical or unprofessional for me to credit myself multiple times; as such I've altered a few credit titles.

Dan and Neil - Doommates 2 from Eughan Wooding on Vimeo.

Final Opening Sequence (Rough Cut)

The Video and Mini-Evaluation

This video is mainly to get a feel for the clips chosen and how to best compose them, I tried to separate the riot footage and my own shots in order to best fit the music as the heavier parts are later on and the riot footage best fits such a mood; the music seems to be a bit overwhelming and the fade into Daniel's audio is a bit too rough, additionally I don't like the sound effect used.

The title features at the end, which goes against the conventions I've seen throughout my research of film openings. I chose to do this as it helps to better reveal the twist in my film's plot; the wordplay on Roommates to Doommates also symbolises the clear change in society due to the zombie outbreak, but I don't like the title overall - the curvature of it looks strange and it doesn't seem anything like the Dawn of the Dead credits.

Dan and Neil - Doommates from Eughan Wooding on Vimeo.