final childrens' film

Our Film Classification

We are rating our film as a PG because it includes the following conventions:
It contains mild violence when one character is hit on the head by a brick and the other possibly distressing element is when the character turns green. However, the film is clearly child friendly and is aimed at a young age range due to the childish animation and friendly adventure story.

In Monster Inc there is harsh lighting and low lighting which helps to emphasize the atmosphere and mood. It creates a high amount of contrast and this heightens that mood of the sequence and the mood of the film. It has lots of establishing and medium shots which conveys the characters and the location. The characters in the costumes are different because it is an animated film. The viewer can see the monster form all the cartoony art work. These things depict the genre of the film which is a child's film this gives the audience a sense of a friendly, light hearted comedy film. 

In Harry Potter there is harsh lighting and hard lighting which shows the characters being evil which conveys the sense of the character and the role of the character. This is shown through a dark and spooky location. The different locations such as the dark woods, city, hogwarts all convey the genre of the film i.e. action fantasy. There are lots of reaction shots, tracking shots, close up shots mixed with an editing technique  such as short shot duration. These help convey  a sense of urgency. This is typical of a blockbuster action adventure film. 

BBFC Film Classification

U Classification


A U film should be suitable for audiences for 4 years years and over. The main objective they are trying to achieve is that is has a positive moral framework and should offer any counter balances to any violence.

Other aspects which are taken into consideration are:  

• No illegal drugs unless giving an anti drug message.
• No horror
• No inappropriate language
• No nudity or sexual behaviour
• Very mild violence is allowed for example in a fight between two characters
• No discrimination
• and sensitive themes must be portrayed.

PG- Parental Guidance

Any child is allowed to watch, however there are some aspects which are focused on 8 years and older. Parents are advised to take note of the content for safety precautions.

The following is accounted for when achieving the right certificate of the film:    

• Mild discriminatory language is acceptable in an educational or historical context
• Drugs maybe shown but show a suitable and appropriate message. 
• Mild horror is acceptable but only for a short period of time
• Discreet sexual activity and natural nudity is allowed. 
• The general theme must be sensitive and appropriate for young children and there must be mild violence. 

Research on BBFC

This categorie is suitable for children who are age twelve and over. 

Anyone who is younger, may be unsuitable. Consists of no aggressive bad language or behaviour, however some mild bad behavious is acceptable and must be appropriate.

This means that children who are twelve may see this, however they have to be accompanied by an adult if they are younger. Consists of no aggressive bad language or behaviour, however some mild bad behavious is acceptable and must be appropriate. If drugs are within the film then they must show an anti drug message as to not to promote any missuse of them.

Minimal horror is allowed, aslong as its not frequent and wont cause any distress to any of the viewers. Also scenes that are possible to be copied, such as suicide, hanging and self harming as these all use objects and weapons that are easily accesible so therefor can be copied.

Moderate language is acceptable, just aslong as its not frequently repeated.Nudity and sex must be discreetly and briefly portrayed as to promote underage sex or alike. Violence is allowed yet must be kept to a moderate standard as not to be copied. Also there shouldnt be a whole emphasis on blood and the injurys caused by fights as they have to be justified. The same goes for Sexual violence.

General opening sequence conventions of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part1

Within the trailer that we watched for this particular film the media company is established right at the very beginning which is; Warner Bros Pictures, who are very well known in the film industry. The way in which it was portrayed (as shown below) was their well known warner bros logo but with the effect and background of Harry Potter and the dark clouds and smoke, which is something throughout the movie.

All of the 'main' and most important characters are shown in this trailer as they all have an important role in the story line, at a few seconds at time there are small clips of each character or characters of when they are involved in important and dramatic parts of the film. The title sequence is not shown until the end of the trailer, again with the clouded and dark back ground however including the release date of part one is included. Throughout the trailer there is the soundtrack/score playing constantly which is related to the actual film of being dark, yet then at the end when the title sequence comes onto screen then the music tempo alters and gets darker, faster and more powerful which comes across as louder.

The vast majority of the trailer is in the woods, which again, in a way is portraying how dark and mystical it actually is. There is no general film narrative due to it being a trailer, yet there are key scenes shown yet in no particular order. The genre of the Harry Potter series is much more of a fantasy/adventure due to the high amounts of events and 'creatures' that dont exist in real life, magical powers and a use of time travel, also other languages (made up)such as the parcel tounge between Harry, Voldemort and the snake. Yet they have aspects that are very realistic.However there are fights an some aspects of action in it, along with rescues.

Opening sequence conventions of Monsters inc

In Monster Inc, the title sequence and opening credits take around a minute and a half to produce the relevent information untill the film begins. These opening credits consist of many bright and colourful doors producing text which are part of the credits and also included are monsters which are relevent to the main storyline. Amongst the letters appearing in the doors, the media company is shown of which is Disney, Pixar. Within the opening credits the theme tune and soundtrack are both established, with in the first one and a half minutes, in time with all the moving doors, shapes and text the main theme tune/score is played. However once the movie begins, the music fades out, there is a change in location and a new 'score' begins.

Only one main character was shown out of many within the first three minutes which is Mr Waternoose who is the head of the 'Scare Company'. He begins as a friendly conscientious head of company yet his true personality is shown gradually as the film goes on. As there is only one 'main' character who is portrayed in the first three minutes, a further 3 of the main characters are introduced in the next minute.
Of the main locations are the 'Scare' Factory and also Boo's bedroom. These are both where the scaring takes place. As the movie is based purely at children, the movie is mainly bright, colourful and easy to understand with memorable characters, the main narrative starts in the bedroom, where the 'practice' scaring happens and then leads on to the factory.

childrens film genres

Pirates of the Carribean is a fantasy, action, adventure film. This is made clear within the opening sequence via the representation of the era (the eighteen hundreds-the veiwer can see this trough the costume worn by the characters and the buildings/objects surrounding them that suit the time period) and the location it's set in, e.g. the boat in the middle of the sea when the scene starts and the port town which is depicted afterwards. The action element of the film is made visable through the use of such things such as the sinking ship, distructive crises like this it is typical of an action film.

Editing our Preliminary Task- Where's Amy?

Today, We edited our Preliminary Task. We learnt many things such as putting in non diegetic sound over film and also finding out that one of the members in the group has a practically dispicable taste in music. Overall, We are happy with our film.

Filming our story board

Harry and I spent half an hour filming our story board today, which was written last lesson by Harry. Some changes had to be made such as the continuity through the door was changed to being around a corner due to room being double booked. Never the less, we both feel confident that our filming has the relevant shots and elements are quite happy about our work. We look forward to editing.

Harry Tacchi
Laura Tuttle

perlimary exercise

How are the conventions constructed differently in your two chosen films opening sequences?

Our two chosen films are Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows part one and Monster inc opening sequences. The sound in both films depicts the genre of the sequence for example the Deathly Hallows features climatic music to emphasise the magical/fantasy atmosphere. Whereas the music is more child friendly and inviting in Monster inc. Another difference is the amount of editing used, for instance Deathly Hallows features lots of jump cuts and cross cutting with short shot duration to emphasise the action in the sequence.  Whereas Monster Inc is the opposite, with long shot duration giving the viewer lots of information through out.