PRODUCTION PRACTICE: MONTAGE/TABLETOP SEQUENCE

"WHOLE WORLD IN A TABLE TOP"

Our brief was to create a title sequence using only a table top and props with a small part of live action at the end of it, using a given soundtrack. 

For research, in class we watched Delicatessen and To Kill a Mockingbird which both use table top sequences. The camera gets placed in a birds-eye-view shot and pans over a cluster of overlapping props to suggest a certain narrative. 

Preesha, Charlotte and I worked together to produce a title sequence that revolved around the story of a mother of two (Olivia Blake) who has gone missing and an investigation is taking place.

In session 1, we set up our table top, placing a black cloth over the table to use as a background. We arranged our props - which consisted of lots of newspapers; a briefcase; an investigation board; a passport; lots of dollar bills and a screwdriver. We used fake blood and smeared it onto the dollar bills and coated the end of the screwdriver in it to infer the idea that she had been murdered. We organised our props and guided the camera in a specific order so that the end shot would be of the main newspaper article with a printed picture of Olivia's face which was effective as we then placed the screwdriver down on top of it to heighten drama and tension. I also marked my hands in fake blood and as the camera was panning over the investigation board, I placed a pin into it.

We then uploaded our footage to iMovie where we added our soundtrack - 'Moonlight Sonata' by Beethoven which added to the creepy ambiance we were aiming for. We also added in credits and used a fade in and out effect to add mystery.