Technology

Technology I used throughout this assignment: Premier Pro CS 4
JVC Camcorder
Regular Camera with video capabilitiees
Computer and Laptops

Throughout this project I had to try and overcome many difficulties with the technology I was using. It wasn't neccesarily because I was an incapable user, it was mainly due to difficulties that couldn't really be prevented. The chord for transfering videos to my computer was not very good in the end - possibly due to it being over 2 years old. It put lines through all of my footage that could not be removed and the Camecorder had no setting that was able to transfer the footage from the internal memory to a SD Card. 
My use of the Premier Pro programme was resonably good I believe, especially considering that prior to this I hadn't heard of it. If I had spent a longer period of time using it in post production my use of it would have probably been a lot better. 
If I were to use the same technology all over again, I think I would be a more competent user now. 

Production Log

Week 9: This week we thought mainly about what we might like to do as an opening sequence for a film. This was thinking about genres etc. We also got given the booklet / sheets specifying what we would need to do for this - how long it should be, what we need to write about.
Week 10: This week it was quite stressful because we had to decide on an idea and set it in concrete. I have chosen to do an opening sequence for a dance mockumetary film. By the end of this week we had to have completed the Concept for the film, the storyboard to go with it and the treatment. The treatment took the longest, because that involved the most writting.
Week 11: Ms Kazimi signed off / checked that we had done the 3 tasks. I also spent this week trying to source a camera that would be right for filming.
HOLIDAYS (week 1,2): I didn't do much for this assignment over the holidays. However I did source my cast 
Week 3: Decided finally on where I was going to be filming and the cast got assigned characters.
Week 4:  Filmed my opening sequence and was very happy with quality and 5/6 of the cast could make it.
Week 5: Spent the whole entire week trying to transfer files off the internal memory of the camera onto and SD card or the computer. No luck. However at the end of the week a friend found a chord that fitted, as the files were transferred however it put white lines through all of my videos. Could hardly see the videos because of this.
Week 6:Figured out that I needed to re-film, however everything was at a stand still due to availability of cast and venue.
Week 7: I had to re-film my entire film again. This meant my time for editing was not very long at all.. I had to finish everything off this week although I was luck enough to get an extension.

Task 10: Production Process Evaluation

Positive aspects of the process: The cast I had chosen to work with was very good. For example they took direction well and showed good initiative, they supplied their own costumes and they were easy to communicate with.

Steps in the process that could have been better done:

The filming process (when it was done), the camcorder.

Strategies suggested to achieve this:
Perhaps if I were to do this next time I would trial out ways in order to get the data from the camcorder to the computer in a high quality version. This is because when I filmed my movie, I did not use an SD card, but the internal memory. The problem with this was the fact that there was no way to transfer the videos from the internal memory to my computer. This was the conclusion quite late in the process and after many attempts to transfer the files.

Some evaluation of how these changes to the production process may have affected the media product: The movie could have probably been edited better because I would have had more time to focus on the 'finer' details. The quality of the film may have been higher if it were possible to borrow a camera that produced higher quality videos and transferred them at the same high quality.

Art Department

The costumes I am using for the opening sequence are sourced from each member of the cast, they used costumes that they owned and that we both agreed fitted the character best.
SOURCES
Jacqui Tieleman - tutu for leaf
Erin Wells - pink scrunchee( Candy and/or Lizzie) black skirt (Candy), black top(Candy), black leotard (leaf)
Jess Williams - white and blue top (Frostie), black leggings (Frostie)
April Mora - pink top (Lizzie), black shorts (Lizzie), black face cover (leaf)

Evaluation

I believe I achieved the main purposes I set in Tasks 1 and 3. I did have to work hard however to actually come out with the finished project as I had many set backs. 
These sets back were availability of crew, camera difficulties, voice over difficulties.
 I compromised for these however, but still achieved the desired affect for my movie.
Instead of having 6 characters in my movie, due to availability of the cast I only could have 4 characters. I had to re-film the whole entire film as the camera I was using did not transfer videos properly in the end, and the original videos were unusable. Then when I was editing I discovered with the music playing at the lowest possible volume in the background they were still too quiet... To fix this I did louder voice-overs myself as time was running out to get my crew organised to re do the voice-overs.

Task 2 Research

When I ran the concept of my film past members of my class as well as my friends, they thought that the idea of a dance mockumentary was a funny idea. I looked at filming in the school dance hall, however it was easier for the cast to get to the venue where we have ballet lessons. I discovered that it was easier for each individual member of the class to find/make their own costume rather than individually sourcing what I though would suit the character best. This method I think will work the best.
I did some research on dancing / modeling shows:
Dancing with the stars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHId71iKGns&feature=related
I quite like the idea of them all in a group at the end
Dancing on ice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaWOnBL9GBA
New Zealands Next Top Model:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFP8w18afj0

Although these are all for only opening sequences it gave me good ideas on how I would edit my film
E.g using voice over whilst showing videos of individual dancers dancing.
and i got the inspiration for the ending 'models/girls posing' from the ending of New
Zealands Next Top Model (couldn't find a youtube link) and dancing with the stars.

Exam Reflection

I think the exam went okay, better than my other subjects.

I studied most for genre, however I didn't feel very prepared because I didn't have many quotes or outside resources (especially not for representations). I think if I study and research the genre/movies and research representations I would be much more prepared. I definitely haven't thought about representations enough to get high grades in the exams as of yet and my genre essay needs a lot of work. I spent probably nearer 2 hours on Genre because I was just casually writing, then i realized I only had an hour so started on representations.I didn't go back and check over my essays. My research was lacking so I didn't have much expert opinions or examples memorized.

Production Schedule

Thursday: Complete filming
People needed: Erin, April, Ashleigh, Jess, Brittany, Sophie and myself.
Video camera needed, as well as costumes  for each character.
Time: 5pm
Location : Waimari community centre (Hall)
First will film the shots with the whole group in them, and then I will film the individual (solo) dances.

This did happen: but due to camcorder difficulties we have to refilm.
People needed: Erin, April, Ashleigh, Jess, Brittany, Sophie and myself.
Time: 9am Saturday, 24th September
Location: Waimari community centre (hall)

Script

*Music plays for the whole clip, sometimes only at reduced volume though (when voice overs are playing)

VO - Girl 1

"Hey, I'm Candy and I KNOW I have what it takes to be THE next Deadly Dancer. No one has ever been as good as me. I just am totally the best at everything."

V0- Girl 2

"Frostys my name because nobody can beat a frost! I am lethal and my moves are like ice smooth and incompariable to anything else. I really am the NEXT deadly dancer."

VO- Girl 3 

"Lizzie is the name you will all be hearing. It's mine of course, I'm cute and small but dont EVER underestimate me. I'll show everyboday what I can do and when you hear the title 'Deadly Dancing' you'll only think of me."

VO - Girl 4

"Can I hear a P.O.P.P.Y Poppys my name and I'm not shy.Hey everbody I'm Poppy and I used to be a cheerleader. I use my cheerleading background as inspiration and that is what makes me the next Deadly Dancer.I'm just sooooo hot.

VO- Girl 5

"My name is Leaf and nature is what makes me so special. When I dance I feel free like a leaf flowing with the Autumn breaze. When you are one with your surroundings everything comes so naturally. That's why my dancing flows so amazingly. Death is a natural and beautiful thing, that is why I am the next Deadly Dancer. 
VO - Girl 6
I'm Harley and I got that name because my dancing is as good as the bike man. I'm a  chick who takes no stick from anybody. So watch out, If you get in  my way you will be a DEAD dancer.I am the only one who can be the next deadly dancing victor.

Crew and Talent

Erin Wells
April Mora
Ashleigh Shipton 
Jess Williams
Brittany Thomas
Sophie Maher - Leaf

Research

Two Strengths

Good comedic value

Good use of characters

Two Weaknesses

Could be difficult to make the voice overs sound polished

Could be difficult to fit into Five minutes

Two Questions
Where could you film this?
Will you find the right amount of dancers to make it effective?

Treatment

Music begins - 'Battle Without Honour or Humanity' by Tomayasu Hotei.

http://mp3skull.com/mp3/battle_without_honor_or_humanity_tomoyasu_hotei.html

Six young girls strut towards the camera. They are really over the top and doing spins and dance moves as they strut forward. Some are wearing eccentric Hippie style clothing, whilst some are wearing dance clothing E.g. Lycra, tights, ballet skirts etc. They are strutting to the music. And that scene ends with the girls 3 on each side leaning and posing around the male host.

Then that scene fades out, to Candy who is one of the six girls dancing on her own. Whilst she is dancing there is a voice over of her talking about how she thinks she'll win the competition, music is playing softly in the background. It cuts out and goes to the next scene.

In this scene the next girl Frosty is now dancing with music playing in the background, there is a voice over of her describing her dancing ability. Frosty is wearing cold blue sequined clothes and has an edgy personality. Cuts to next scene

Lizzie, who is the cute and small girl, is dancing whilst music is still playing in the background. The voice over, of her talking is playing over top. She is wearing pink / cute clothing. Cuts to next scene

Poppy is dancing with music playing in the background. Poppy is the preppy ex cheerleader, who wears cheer leader type clothing. She is very optimistic and loud. While she is dancing we hear the voice over of her talking and stating how she will win. Cuts to next scene.


In this scene Leaf flowingly dances like a free tree leaf flying with the wind. The music is playing in the background, and her voice over is playing in the foreground. She talks about her dancing being one with nature. She is wearing flowing clothing which is in neutral colours. Cuts out to next scene.


Harley is dressed in rock styled clothing, She is dancing with voice over in foreground, music in the background. The scene then fades out and jump cuts a little to the host. a description of him, but instead of him dancing he is just looking the girls up and down while they are stood posed around him. 


Jump cuts back and fourth and back to the scene where the girls are posing around the host . The title comes across the scene and then the screen blacks out and the music stops that is the end of the movie.

Concept

1) Brief outline: Dancing Mockumentary, different dancers do a short clip of them dancing and then it'll be a close up on them. But the mock part of it will be that they are actually not very good. After the opening sequence there will be a short clip of them talking possibly.
2) Ideas to explore: Whether to use voice overs or have people speaking in it, backing music and complicated camera angles.
3) Emotions: Mainly humour hopefully, OR dancers having their serious faces on.
4) Impact on audience: Laughter
5) Outline of the story, character, style of trailer: Americans Next Top Model / Dancing with the Stars type opening.The characters will be really full of them selves and some could possibly be quite eccentric. I believe that would add to the comedy.

Convention between two movies - Isolation

*ROSEMARY'S BABY*

*SCREAM*

Isolation is a convention that is used in horror films which is relatable to most. However, there are two types of isolation - mental and physical, which are both equally terrifying. In the film Rosemary's Baby directed by Roman Polanski, the main character 'Rosmary' has to endure immense mental isolation. In the film Scream directed by Wes Craven, however the isolation is purely physical for most of the characters.

A solid example of Rosemary's isolation is at the end of the film in the time period after she has had her baby. Rosemary is left in a bedroom with nobody to talk to and she is in such a drugged up / dazed state she is isolated within her own thoughts. She has no idea what has happened to her and her baby or what is happening to her, the only way she can get any answers is through her own drug impaired judgement. In the film, Scream, there is isolation for every character as the scenes are either set in the small town or in the country areas surrounding the town. An example of the physical isolation is in the end killing scene. It is set in a large multi-leveled house in the countryside - out in the middle of nowhere. 

The convention of isolation is used in Rosemarys Baby to convey to the audience that no matter what Rosemary may try to do, or say, at the end of the day she is alone with noone around to help her. Ian Johnston wrote, "After Rosemary becomes pregnant, Polanski's mise-en-scene stresses her absoloute isolation" this quote explains when the isolation begins and conveys to the audience Rosemary's feelings. An example of how isolation is shown throughout the movie is; whenever rosemary trys to reach out for help or question what is happening to her she will always get stopped or reassured that nothing is wrong. It scares the viewer into believing that however hard you may try to get out of a situation, you are always going to be alone, The thought of being isolated in that sense is a terrifying thought, and that is what makes Rosemary's Baby a great horror. The link of isolation is present throughout the film especially when her good friend 'Hutch' falls into a coma and eventually dies when he tries to alert Rosemary as to what is happening around her.
Isolation in Scream is very different. The physical isolation was used to show that there was no way anybody could escape the killer easily by calling the police or screaming out for help. It would be hard to get immediate assistance because the police would take too long to arrive at the scene and your screams would fall on deaf ears.
The audience response to both forms of isolation was very different, as they both create different atmospheres and thought patterns. The film Rosemarys Baby was a very slow pace film which made you quiestion Rosemarys sanity as well as naturally diverting your thoughts into thinking similarly to hers. The audience's response to Rosemarys Baby was very odd. By the end of the film some viewers were left wanting to get a clear image of the baby, whilst other viewers were left wondering if these occurrences happen in reality. Both are frightening thougths to have, however, I believe the second reaction is the worst as it makes you question what does happen in the surrounding world, as well as wondering if you could ever end up in Rosemary's situation. The isolation Rosemary shows / endures conveys that fear all to well to the audience. Throughout the film however, the audience were usually well ahead of Rosemary's thoughts until the ending. Rosemary decided to be a mother to the devil child she had given birth too, and it left the audience questioning if that decision was a result of the isolation. The physiological isolation was very different to what we had seen in the past from horror movies films such as  Cat People  where the main character 'Irena' always had somebody around whom she could confide to honestly.  However, Rosemary did have that to begin with (Hutch), however, as soon as he posed a threat to the neighbours plans, a ritual was performed which lead to his death.

However, Scream was quite a fast passed movie that makes you jump throughout especially when the masked killer pops up and starts killing. The audience's response to Scream  was very good because Scream conveyed that anyone -even your boyfriend, could be a raging serial killer. It clearly showed the audience that killing does not need a motive, and physical isolation is never a good thing. This puts the fear into the audiences minds that there isn't a way you could judge who is a killer or who is not a killer. Scream used Isolation as some horror films had in the past such as Physco directed by Alfred Hitchcock. In that respect the physical isolation was not an original element.

The impact in both films although completely different, was an effective convention as isolation symbolizes the fear that every individual has hidden somewhere inside of them. Fear is the basic survival mechanism that occurs in response to the threat of danger. In both films we see this regularly and i believe it would have added to the commercial success because it is easily relatable. Without the isolation in either of the films it would be very ordinary and to put it plainly; not as scary. If a viewer pays to see a horror film, they want to be frightened, isolation definitely adds the frightening aspect - therefore provides more commercial success. It leaves society living in fear, and asking the questions that regularly play on their minds.

C) Music

At the beginning of the Opening Sequence 'To Kill a Mockingbird' there is no music playing just the use of sound techniqes. However, approximately a third of the way through the Opening sequence soft innocent music begins to play.The piano being played one note at a time and Music box-type sounds, bells, harps, single-note flutes are all things that suggest a child's world. It is very simple and non-threatening; thus making it feel innocent. The music  also starts off very quiet and volume increases as the video moves along. However the music sounds very curious nearer the end. I believe this symbolises a child. As a child grows older and as they learn more they start to become curious as they feel as though they know more. This is what happens to Scout throughout the film. The music runs parallel to what is happening in Scouts life. In the movie Scout starts out taking thing as they come in life e.g. rumours about Boo Radley. However as Scout grows older / wiser the music volume increases symbolizing not only her age, but the fact that she is starting to ask more questions about why things are the way they are (e.g segregation between blacks and whites), and from here she forms her own opinion.The increase in volume shows Scouts maturing and opinions growing. Nearer the end the music starts to grow quieter and more curious. I believe this does this to bring us back to the start of Scout when she is asking less question(when we meet Scout); this then gets us ready to view the start of the movie. However from a different perspective it could mean that as Scout starts to learn more she knows not to speak up as much yet she still is as curious as ever and begins to figure things out in a different way (accidentally) or just from listening and observing what happens around her. An example to back this up in the movie could be when she is very curious about Boo Radley at the end; but instead of pestering him with questions, she thinks about things properly and decides its just better to be there for him and hold his hand. I believe she learnt more about him from just observing then she ever would have if she had asked questions. I believe with using the techinque of the music volume increasing it links in with some of the techniques used in  

C) Sound

Non-diegetic sound is used at the start of the Opening Sequence of 'To kill a Mockingbird'. Non-diegetic sounds is when sounds is added to create a mood and / or feeling appropriate to the intended meaning of the scene. An example of this is at the start of the opening scene when we here Scout humming. This gives the feeling of a child like innocence, which we feel throughout the opening scene and is a main theme in the movie. Once this feeling is created through the humming of Scout it explains a lot about Scout herself. It makes us as the viewer now feel / know that Scout is an innocent little girl, and that she poses no threat / harm / worry for us as viewers. This then sets the tone for the rest of the movie. Another example of sound used in the opening sequence is the ticking of the pocket watch which he hear just before the music begins to play. The 'tick-tocking' of the pocket watch symbolizes Scouts innocence moving on through time and the changes that occur in the way she thinks / acts. 

With this very educated use of sound techniques we find that it is all linked to a larger idea. This larger idea is the theme of innocence which is also linked in with the main theme of racism / segregation between dark skinned people and white skinned people. These are the two main ideas  that the director is trying to get across to the audience / viewers. Through Scouts humming, like I have previously mentioned we feel a sort of child like innocence, however, if you ventured deeper into the exact sound of her hum, you can hear a little sound of unsureness. This unsureness sort of foreshadows the uneasiness which soon follows throughout the movie. The feeling of insecurity. However, as the viewer we do not focus on this because it is a negative thing and we want to feel safer, rather than unsure. So whilst the opening scenes sound techniques give us a feeling of security and child like innocence we can then view the whole movie through the eyes of a child / and through the way a child interprets things, people and situations. We get to see and experience this all through Scout, who is still only very young in this movie. I believe that the director has used sound techniques such as non-diegetic sound (Scouts Humming) throughout the opening scene to foreshadow / link it to the main ideas / themes of the movie itself. I believe he has done this in a very effective manor that most viewers would not consciously recognize, but subconsciously it tells us a lot about the movie and what we should be aware of; all done through the simple use of sound.

C) Shot sizes

In the opening sequence of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' the shot sizes mainly consist of close ups and extreme close ups. A close up is when a camera 'zooms' into an object so the object 'zoomed' in on is the main thing in the frame ( or the camera is just close to an object); e.g. a cigar box. An extreme close up is when the camera is extremely close to an object ( or extremely zoomed in ) e.g you can just see the grip of a pen in a shot. Extreme close ups and close ups are usually used in film to show detail of an object / person or to make the audience aware of something in particular. An example of this would be when the camera shows a close up shot of a whistle nearer the end of the opening sequence. The close up starts off blurred and then gains a clear focus on the whistle, we can see this by looking at the images below.
1) Here the whistle is blurry. 

Here the whistle is not blurry.
2) 




I believe the director did this because it makes us even more aware that we need to pay special attention to the whistle and what it may mean. The director highlights this because the whistle could be symbolism for Atticus’s part in the movie as the defender of Tom Robinson (his lawyer). It shows the authority that Atticus has, however it also shows that whoever blows the whistle has the final say (like an umpire). This means that it could also be symbolism for the Jury / townsfolk / judge. Atticus is Scouts father and a lawyer in this movie. From this camera shot on the whistle we learn that Atticus is a very fair person and obeys what is right. It tells us that Atticus is a very honourable man. I believe this is the message the director was trying to get across when using this camera shot. This shot also tells us about one of the main themes in the movie - Racism. The whistle is supposed to stand for authority and fairness however, the image of the whistle starting off blurred tells us that this is not so. It shows us that what should be fair is not. Racism was a big part in the movie 'To Kill a Mockingbird' because the movie tells a story of a black man wrongly accused of raping a white woman. It affects the black man (Toms) life immensely and in the end we see that justice does not come. This is when we learn that the authority (whistle blower) has blurred the lines of what should be right. This story line helps us learn about life and racism in the 1930s because that is when this movie and story are set. In the 1930's racism was a huge thing. Blacks were not 'allowed' to associate with the whites at all. White skinned people were considered so superior, that a simple 'hello' from a dark skinned person (negroe) was considered very rude. Whites and blacks attended different schools, different churches and lived in different areas of the town. We see all of this very clearly throughout the movie. We also learn that if a black person is accused of wronging a white person in anyway, nobody really objects to their death / conviction in any way. However in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' we see a white lawyer (Atticus) stand up for a black man accused of raping a white woman. He and his family risk public condemnation from Atticus doing this but he does it regardless in order to stick up for what he feels is right. We can learn a lot from shot sizes in the opening sequence of 'To Kill a Mockingbird'.

b) Genre / atmosphere

At the beginning of the opening sequence we see an old cigar box being opened by young girls hands with a point of view shot. Whilst she is opening the cigar box we can hear the young girl humming. We know this young girl is 'Scout' one of the main characters who is a 7-8 year old girl whose 'daddy' is a lawyer; she has a brother named Jem who is older than her. However once the cigar box has been opened we discover that it is being used as a toy / trinket box. The camera slowly zooms in, to the toy box and then Scout sighs which is followed by the shot fading out into an extreme close up of Scout picking a crayon up out of the box whilst making sound noises (“Bom bom bom bom”). As Scout hums to herself, she colors over lined paper with a (what we see as) black crayon, revealing the title of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' which is the title of the film. The shot then fades out and it follows her with the crayon drawing a straight line on blank paper whilst she makes noises like “bom, bom, bom, bom.” Up to this point I believe it portrays innocence and curiosity by the sounds she is making and the way she opens the toy box carefully. However the way she confidently colours over the blank piece of paper portrays that she might have a strong knowing of what is happening around her in life. I believe that with her soft humming in the background it also makes us feel secure about what is in the toy box. We as viewers do not worry about what could be in there at any point.

The camera then fades out and we see a close up of a pocket watch, we can also hear a steady ‘tick tocking’ of a clock when we see this. The camera circles above the pocket watch. This could symbolize the time in steadily moving by whilst Atticus is trying to keep Tom alive. However in the movie the pocket watch is a very special item that Scouts older brother was given by Atticus (their father).  That shot then gently fades out to the humming of Scouts voice, as we start to see close ups of objects (safety pin, coins) nostalgic music begins. This adds to the feeling of innocence and it gives the opening sequence a sense of safety. However, we find out that, that it is a feeling of false security.The camera then tracks an extreme close up of a pen where there is a shallow focus on a beaded necklace, the shot is slowly faded out until we clearly see ‘Scout’ drawing a stick figured bird; we assume this is a picture of a Mockingbird. The Mockingbird is a symbol of innocence and represents Tom Robinson an innocent black man. The camera then goes back into a close up view of items in the toy box. Two crayons are keeping a marble in it’s place but Scout moves them away and the camera tracks a marble rolling through all the different things until it hits another marble and comes to a stop. Before it hits the other marble however the stationary marble comes into clear focus and we see them hit each other. The marble is the only item in complete focus whilst it is rolling though (shallow focus). Whilst that was happening we can hear Scout still humming in the background. However when the moving marble hits the stationary one; scout makes a louder noise (“bing”). It could symbolize the children of the story 'Scout' and 'Jem' wandering innocently through their childhood but they get abruptly stopped when their father starts whole heartedly defending a black man. This gives us a feeling that maybe everything is not as it seems.


The shot then fades out into a point of view shot of the ‘toy box’ again, at this point the music is louder more dramatic.  That frame is then faded our so we see Scout drawing a wavy line with a crayon. This line could symbolise the changes of tone 'ups' and 'downs' in the movie. This shot then fades out to a close up tracking shot of the crayons and a bouncy ball.  That then fades out to a close up shot of a pocket watch, again the camera tracks along  some more of the contents until we see an out of focus image of one of the items. As the image comes into focus we see that it is a whistle. This could be symbolism for Atticus’s part in the movie as the defender of Tom Robinson (his lawyer). It shows the authority that Atticus has, however it also shows that whoever blows the whistle has the final say (like an umpire). This means that it could also be symbolism for the Jury / townsfolk / judge. Atticus is Scouts father and a lawyer in this movie.


This frame then fades out to a point of view shot of Scout shading a Mockingbird this is accompanied by a curious change in the music. Which is in turn followed by a fadeout to a point of view shot of the toy box again, however this time a crayon is dropped into the box, and the camera slowly zooms in. The crayon being dropped into the box and disturbing the contents around it could symbolize Atticuss's decision to whole heartedly take on the Tom Robinson case and how it disturbed the community around him. Whilst that is happening the music begins to slow down and become softer and Scouts laughing comes to our attention more so. Again that shot fades out until we see the picture of the Mockingbird has been scribbled over. This shocks us as the viewers especially because once we catch a glimpse of the drawing Scout rips it into two. As she rips it into two she makes a high pitched humming noise and the music slowly slows down as the shot fades out.  The ripping of the Mockingbird drawing shows us the segregation in society between the black and whites. The Mockingbird being the symbol of innocence shows us how unfair the segregation is between the two colours of skin. It shows us that the Negroes are being unfairly treated when they are most likely innocent. Tom Robinson is the black man who helps us see this in the movie. Whilst Scout is ripping the picture in two she still keeps her young innocence by giggling happily. This shows that at the beginning she doesn't really understand what is happening around her, and she carries on life as a young girl should (cluelessly). The soft slowing down music also carrys the theme of innocence right through till the very end. 

Opening Sequence

I thought that it would be a good idea to use the opening sequence of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' for my assessment.
I really loved watching the film, and i believe the opening sequence tells you a lot about the movie itself. The opening sequence consists of Scout going through Jems toy box (we do not get to see her or her face, just her hand) and we as viewers get to view the contents whilst listening to Scout humming and soft music playing. The items in the toy box that we as veiwers get to see, play a very important part in the movie. The items are used for symbolism in the movie as well as connecting the main theme. This is why the opening sequence really introduces you to the film as a whole. The reason the opening sequence as well as the film really appealed to me was the way the two were fully connected. The opening sequence contains a lot of meaning and the theme of the the movie was a pull factor to me watching it (racism). Once I had watched it I decided that it would be a great movie to do a analyse.
Here is a link to view the title sequence:
http://www.artofthetitle.com/2008/09/10/to-kill-a-mockingbird/
I think I will focus on the use of sound/music and the meaning of the contents that we get to see in the opening scene.