AS Coursework Checklist – Film Opening
(There should be at least one blog post about each
stage)
1. Choose who you are going to work with and name your production company, design a logo
for your production company.
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2. Create your blog on either www.blogger.com, www.wordpress.com or www.tumblr.com. 
3. Send the URL of your blog to Mrs B, so she can put it on
www.mrsblacksmedia2.wordpress.com.
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4. Upload your prelim task film and shot library. (If your groups have changed then you may
need to upload more than one).
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5. Complete the ‘jelly baby’ task for two of the film pitches (see additional sheet for info.)
Upload your photos to the blog with and explanation of your shot choices.
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6. Pick your film brief (see film brief sheet/blog post) and justify your choice on the blog.
Present a short pitch to Mrs B on why you have chosen what you have and how you
are going to do it.
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7. Complete the remake task as appropriate to your chosen film brief.
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8. Research films from the genre of your film brief and come up with a list of identifying traits of
the genre – things you will need to include.
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9. Produce a graphic breakdown of the opening of a film from within your genre (see separate
sheet for details).
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10. Research the opening sequence of several films (similar to your film brief). Each member of
the group should do a full textual analysis of at least 1 opening (cinematography, editing,
sound and mise-en-scene).
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11. Pick another film opening from your genre and choose the 9 key screen shots from it (see
www.artofthetitle.com for inspiration). Annotate the 9 shots describing why they are the key
shots and what you can take from them as inspiration.
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12. Create a mood board, scan or photograph it and upload it to your blog, write a short entry on
why you have used what you have on the board.
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13. Audience research – research which films people think have good openings, what attracts
people to films and what puts them off. Blog your findings.
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14. Go to http://www.uktribes.com to define your perfect audience member. Create a complete
picture of your audience member, from clothes to the food they eat, music they listen too.
You can get a friend to dress up in the appropriate costume and take photos.
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15. Go to the ‘Pearl and Dean’ website, look at the business section and investigate how they
categories their audiences. Can you fit your film to their ideas?
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16. Research the institutions that might produce, distribute and exhibit your film
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17. Define the key elements you must include in your opening to conform to the expectations of
the genre you have chosen, the audience you have chosen and what is expected of a film
opening. Make a check list.
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18. Create a storyline for the whole of your film; write a brief synopsis. Remember most films
have 5 ‘acts’, and most conform to normal story patterns.
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19. Investigate narrative theories (Propp etc), find an interesting way of presenting them and
blog how your story fits them (or doesn’t).
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20. Create a storyboard (either drawn or photo-strip)
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21. Plan the sound of your movie – are you having a soundtrack, or just Foley sounds? Blog
where you’ve found your sound and why you have chosen what you have.
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22. Create an animatic of your storyboard.
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23. Create a shot list and shooting script.
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24. Plan locations and take location shots. Blog your reasons for choosing these locations.
Seek permission to use the locations.
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25. Do a risk assessment.
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26. Cast your film and take casting shots. Blog your reasons for casting who you have.
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27. Plan and collect all props and costumes.
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28. Shoot your film
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29. Make a rough edit and check that you have all the shots you need.
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30. Do any re-shoots and pick ups needed.
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31. Complete finished edit.
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32. Post your finished film to your blog.
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