A few weeks ago I went on a trip to the BFI to hear some talks from an examiner and others from the film industry to help us with our opening title sequences.
It was really insightful to see work from a director who had a A-level in Media Studies, as it was inspiring to think it could be something we could do in the foreseeable future.
We also heard a talk from a senior examiner on how to create an excellent standard opening title sequence. I learnt what makes a good and bad sequence, and also what quality I would need to produce to try and secure myself an A grade.
I learnt that there is an huge importance with planning, and that groups that had done a great amount of planning are more guaranteed to get a higher grade than those who don't.
We was shown that to produce a good quality of planning we'd need too,
Build skills
Build research
Planning
Brainstorm our ideas
Recce shots of locations
Take screen shots of the process
Create a 25 word pitch
Show evidence through out the whole process
I also found it very useful and exciting when we saw the opening sequence of 'Da' Vinci Demons' as the opening title sequence was unique and really interesting to watch as the drawing came a life and turned into titles. I also found it useful that we was told what program it was created in, as we have after effects at school, it could be something with a lot of dedicated and hard work that I could try and achieve.
I found the day really useful, I learnt what do's and don't there are when creating a title sequence, for example having an importance on audio and sound, needing to rehearse and direct, have a realistic expectation and make sure that we have a strong narrative.
I also learnt what not to do, for example not making the title sequence look like a trailer, having poor lighting, sound and direct actors.
I asked people who fitted the age range for our target audience some questions about thriller films.
Edited using iMovie, made for Sophie Bishop and I's joint production blog, to help us with our opening title sequence.
I decided to look on IMDb (www.imdb.com) to find out some research about different thriller films and find out the audience that watch them to help me for when I create an opening sequence for a thriller film.
From looking on the website I could see that the audience from the rating showings was mainly males who are aged between 18-29.
Fight Club
Target Audience: 18-29
Fight clubs audience shows that it's a film which has been watched more by males aged either under 18 or 18-29.
Fight club is a film which shows suspense, fight club also shows a lot of fighting, blood and death which men enjoy viewing. Also the film is based around two male characters which men could relate to, this could be why the male viewing is higher too. The film shows a lot of low lighting during the film, this adds tensions and mystery for the audience, sterotypicaly this wouldn't be a film a woman would enjoy which is why I think the female viewing is lower than the males.
Shutter Island
Target Audience: 18-29
The same as fight club shutter islands audience is mainly male. Again there is a high amount of audience that are 18-29 but there is also a high percentage of under 18's.
I think the reason why a lot of the audience is under 18 is because the film is a 15 film.
I think the reason why 18-29 year olds would enjoy this film is because it has suspense which grows throughout the film. The film also shows an enigma code which 18-29 year olds would also enjoy as a lot of questions would be produced by them during the film which would mean they would have to think what was going to happen next.
The Silence of the Lambs
Target Audience: 18-29
I think the reason why The Silence of the Lambs has a high rating of 18-29 because it is a very dark and twisted thriller.
I don't think women would enjoy this film due to that and it might might make them feel uncomfortable to watch it.
Se7en
Target Audience: 18-29
Because Se7en is an inventive and suspence thriller this could be why 18-29 would enjoy to watch it.
Also because se7en shows an dark atmosphere, this could be another reason why the viewers are mainly male. I think there is also a large amount of women viewers because of Brad Pitt starring in the film.
The target audience shows a trend of males aged between 18-29. Men enjoy the aspects of danger, crime and actions within thriller. When creating my own opening sequence for a thriller I will feature them characteristics to make sure it appeals to the target audience.
Dresses quite girly, is shown wearing big black sunglasses and using a white stick to help her with her surroundings. The audience would feel sorry for her as she is blind due to being a victim of a prank that went horribly wrong.
Later on the audience would'nt feel any pity towards Jenna, as she gains her eye sight again but pretends she's still blind. She does this so people feel sorry for her and it's also a way she can control situations to a way which suit her.
A mean and controlling character, who is clever so she can gain what she wants.
Normally shown using a extreme close up shot (so the audience can see the damage to her eyes) and also a long shot (so the audience can see her walking with/without her surroundings)
Ezra Fitz
Smart/casually dressed. Wants to achieve and become an author, but is still being successful working as an English teacher.
Normally shown teaching.
Shown as a caring character that people could trust, but is now being shown as a mysterious man who could have a dark and dangerous part to his personality.
Shown either with a close up, medium or long shot. The audience like the character due to him being nice, but their opinions could change of him as he is now someone you might not be able to trust.
Waterloo Road (UK based)
Barry Barry
Dresses in a school uniform and casually outside of school. Isn't very well spoken or educated, as he uses slang words and fails to actually do any school work. He's manipulative and not a trustworthy person as he scams to get what he wants in life.
The audience would like Barry Barry because even though what he does is wrong, he always seems to do things in a funny way.
Shown either with a medium or long shot, so the audience can see what he is doing when he's doing his scams and deals.
Simon Lowsley
Well educated and dresses mainly in suits as he's a school teacher. He's well liked by pupils of the school as he try's to achieve the best for them but isn't very liked by other staff members as he's determined to become the head teacher.
I think the audience would like him as he try's his best to make a failing school into one that achieves.
Shown in normally a medium shot.
Narrative shows the way that the story is being put together. It shows the audience how the events are being put together, so the audience gains a better understanding of what is happening in the thriller.
Enigma Code
An enigma code asks the audience a question.
Who is she/he?
What are they doing?
Why are they doing that?
What is happening?
Enigma codes are a narrative to show the audience needed information. Highlighted parts within a thriller that take an unexpected turn to create a overall impact by the end of the film.
The enigma code won't be answered until the end of the film, this makes the audience want to watch the film for longer as they are intrigued in finding out more.
The audience will be curious about what is going to happen, the enigma code also provides mystery to audience, it also allows them to discover new things as the thriller progresses and gives an example of something new about the character or plot. Linear
Shows a clear beginning, middle and end. Non Linear
Is where it shows flash backs of what the character has gone through in their past. This helps the audience get a better understanding of the character. It also gives the audience a reason to watch till the end, to see if its effected the character in anyway and if so did it effect the ending. Restrictive
The audience only knows what the characters know, so will not know the ending of the film. Near the end of the film the audience will be given hints to what has been going on but still won't truly understand. Omniscient
Omniscient shows the audience who the protagonist (murderer, detective) from the start. Even though the audience see everything from the start and know what the end result is going to be, they might not always know when other events are going to take place.
Using 'Animoto' which is a website which creates videos, Sophie Bishop and I created two different videos explaining what the different narratives and sub genre's are.
Narrative
This is a video which shows narratives. Sophie Bishop created the majority of this video with my added input.
Sub Genre
This is a video which shows Sub Genre's. I mainly created this video, but I also had added input from Sophie Bishop.
From creating these video I have learnt more about Sub Genre's and have gained a wider understanding on the different types of narratives. I have also learnt how to create video's on 'Animoto' which is a website I haver'nt used before ,but I will use again as I think its a creative way to show my work.
This the sequence Sophie Bishop and I filmed and edited, we have added director's comments to explain to the audience what we are doing. We have slowed down the clip so that our voice clips were in time with the video.
I took this photo of an alley way as I felt it would set a good scene in a thriller.I thought that when this alley is dark it would be a good place to bulid up suspence and mystery. Because the alley way is rather long it could make the audience wonder if something is going to happen too, especially in the dark as the alley doesnt have many street lamps it would be difficult to see if something was going to happen. Also because there is tree's, large bushes and tall fenches surrounding the alley way it would add drama because it could be a good place in a thriller for someone or something to hide.
This is the Dexter re-make which myself and Sophie Bishop filmed and edited together. I cut and edited the middle portion of the re-make and also slowed down and rotated clips. I have learnt from creating this re-make how to add effects onto to clips and how to slow up/down clips on Final Cut Pro 7.
This is a video of different camera angles. Myself, Sophie Bishop, Cammie Hall and Anna Tyler recorded it using two iPhone 5, we made sure we showed an example of match on action, shot reverse shot, panning and the 180 degree rule. Sophie Bishop and I then edited the video together and decided to add a black and white effect to make the video more simple, so the audience wouldn't be distracted from the angles we was portraying.
This a re make of the sound track for Falling Down which Sophie Bishop and I created using Garage Band. We tried to not make our sound track the same as the original, but we did use similar sound clips as we wanted to keep the same concept.
Audio starts at 1:26 minutes and finishes at 2:05 minutes.
During the opening title sequence of 'seven' it explains that people have died, with 2 deaths already taken place and another 5 are going to happen due to the seven deadly sins.
The title sequence for seven shows that the thriller is going to be dark and mysterious, I also think this due to the pace of the music (speeds up) and the effect which is being shown on the sequence (makes the sequence seem old fashioned (set possibly in the 1980's) and dirty, because of the effect flickering.) Also during the sequence different words were flashing onto the screen, the text was white throughout the entire sequence. This could possibly show purity which is the opposite of the seven deadly sins.
Through out the sequence the audience can hear at lot of different sounds, which includes voice overs and also a metronome which the audience doesn't see but will hear, making it a non-diegetic sound.
From watching the opening sequence of 'seven' I think that the film could be based on either a serial killer or a surgeon because it the opening titles are shown as a murderers point of view.
A lot of different tasks are taken place in the opening sequence.
The murderer is scrapbooking, this is possibly to show what crimes they have done in relation with the seven deadly sins. The scrap book is also hand made (sewn together, creating a book) This is where it shows it could possibly be a surgeons point of view the audience is seeing, due to them having to have a craft of sewing people together again. Also shows note planning taking place, meaning could be planning to kill again.
Photographs have been taken and are shown being developed in a dark room, this means who ever have taken the pictures doesn't want to be traced.
The killer is also highlighting and crossing out words that people might class as sins, for example the word transsexual was crossed out, this shows that the person doesn't agree with the seven deadly sins.
During the opening sequence a bible is shown, a bible could be described as a scrapbook due to different stories that all come together. Blades and sharp objects are also used and the audience see's the murderer removing skin from his own finger tips with a blade, possibly trying to remove his finger prints.
What is the sound telling us about this character?
That there's something not right with him as the music is slow and has a mysterious edge to it. Uses lots of different noises, (children screaming and talking, radio, a fly buzzing) which could show the character has got a lot going on in his mind so is feeling it difficult to concentrate and not feel completely his self due to this. The music also has a loud banging beat which gives off suspense, as it make you feel like something is going to happen. The ending also uses a lot of beats at that end which gives tension and anxiety. Anticipation, diegetic sound as you can hear drum sounds which creates suspense but could also be translated into a heart beat.
How do we know this is a thriller?
We can tell that 'Falling Down' is a thriller due to background noises within the opening sequence. Because there is a lot of noise and this is making the character seem on edge it's showing that something is possibly going to happen further on in the film. Also because near the end of the opening sequence the main character is seen getting aggravated and distressed, to which lead him leaving his car in a tail back caused by disruption. It gives an indication that the character has possibly committed a crime or has something on his con-chance which would be why he found it really difficult to be stuck in one place for a long period of time.
What is the role of a opening of a film?
The role of the opening of a film is to set the scene, so that the audience has a bit of background information about the character before the film actually starts. It also gives the audience emotions on how they are going to feel about the film, for example if the film 's opening sequence shows suspense and horror the audience knows that the film is going to be a thriller.
Saul Bass is a title designer who created title sequence's for thriller films. He created the opening title sequence for the film 'Anatomy of murder'. The reason why we would be looking at Saul Bass's work is because it would show us examples and inspire ideas for when we created our own.
This the Napoleon Dynamite Opening titles which my group and I created.
Napoleon Dynamite Timeline
Analysis of Napoleon Dynamite Opening Sequence
The sequence of the Napoleon Dynamite opening titles shows
the genre and the meaning of the story. Because of the opening titles it sets
up the genre of the film as a comedy. The audience can see this because it
shows that Napoleon is an American teenager who has possibly just started
college, due to the plates of food and partly child like objects shown within
the titles. It expresses the possibly of the film being a comedy due to funny
drawings and funny ID cards within Napoleons wallet, which shows he’s going to
be a comedic character.
The opening sequence of Napoleon Dynamite also shows the
meaning of the story. It shows that Napoleon is growing up and can’t decide on
how he feels about it and that he possibly feels stuck in between being able to
act like a child and get away with it and then having a new chapter in his life
with means he has to grow up. This is why I think there is a mixture of
different objects within the titles because it also in some way is expressing
Napoleons feelings to.
Within the titles it shows different things that could give an
impression to the audience that Napoleon is unsure where he is heading, due to
things that show a sort of child like state. Objects such as plates with food
on (burgers and chips, hot dogs) show that he still enjoys foods which younger
people like. It also shows toy cars and drawings of massive birds, which also
shows more child like ways.
As much as the opening titles show that the film is a story
about Napoleon still being like a child, it does also show that he is a
teenager. I can see that from notebooks, library books and pencils and also
other stationary equipment which teenagers would need to use if they were studying
at school or college.
9 Key Frames
Spolier Reviews and Key Frames
Shutter Island
‘Shutter Island’ is a thriller film starring
Leonardo Di’ Caprio as the main character ‘Teddy Daniels’ who went to the
island to find a missing mental patient. I don’t overly enjoy thrillers and I
was apprehensive to watch ‘Shutter Island’ due to that fact. Once I started it
I was really surprised that I liked the thriller due to many plot twists that
had me thinking really hard about the identity of the Marshal Teddy and what
sort of man he truly was. I found that it was a really successful thriller as
there was a few plot twists that I wasn’t expecting to happen, which made it
more enjoyable to watch and made me excited to see what was going to happen
next.
I would rate ‘Shutter Island’ 4 out of 5
stars. I wouldn’t give it a full rating, even though I did thoroughly enjoy the
film there was points the plot started to confuse me and I had to think back to
what had previously happened to understand.
Teddy and Chuck travel to the Ashecliffe Hospital located on Shutter Island for the criminally insane. This is buliding up to the background story.
As the pair arrive at Shutter Island to investigate the disappearance of Rachel Solando, they can see the patients they are surrounded by are far from sane. This show suspence.
Due to a storm which has happened on the island. Teddy and Chuck are then prevented to return back to the mainland for serval days. This creates anxiety with the audience.
After being on the island for a couple of days, Teddy starts to have horrific waking visions which feature his dead wife due to migrane headaches. (he was told) This makes the audience favour Teddy.
Due to not getting any information from staff about the disappearence of Rachel Solando, Teddy and Chuck decide to interview some of the patients at Ashcliffe. This shows the audience something is going to happen.
As the pair continue their investigation they find out that Rachel has been found. Due to neither staff or patients helping him, Teddy decides to break into Ward C. This shows more suspence and gives the audience some excitment.
After going to Ward C and speaking to a patient called George Noyce (who tells him everyone is playing a game designed for Teddy). Teddy decides to go to the lighthouse to see if what he was saying was right about patients being lobotomized there. This shows suspence and horror, as the audience would feel worried for Teddy.
After being seperated from eachother on the cliffs, Teddy finds the 'real' Rachel Solando who tells him Ashcliffe use psychotropic medication to develop mind control. This makes the audience think about what has been happening during the film.
After Teddy finds out who he really is, a flashback occurs to show a tragic event which involved his wife and children. This gives the audience sadness and a true understanding for Teddy.
Fargo
‘Fargo’ is a thriller that is based on a
true story about three horrible murders. The murders were based around a man
that was doing a deal with a huge amount of money due to starting his own
company. I didn’t really enjoy the thriller and was really confused about what
was happening for the majority of the film. I felt there were also a few
irrelevant scenes that made rather uncomfortable viewing.
I would give ‘Fargo’ 3 out of 5 stars. I
found the film quite hard to watch, I don’t know if that was due to the high
amount of blood or because it looked so real that I felt empathy for the people
it happened to. Even after a few hours later, the film still had an effect on
me, which is why I have given ‘Fargo’ a not very high rating. I would of liked
to give it a higher rating because I think it all looked very realistic if what
happened in the film was to happen in real life, but because it was so gory I
wouldn’t be able to.
Jerry who is an automoblie salesman, meets with criminals Carl and Gaear to plan a deal to gain Jerry a large amount of money to help with his finanical issues. This gives the audience antisipation because they don't know what's going to happen next.
This shows suspence as the audience does'nt know whats going to happen to Jerry's wife Jean.
Criminals Carl and Gaear travel to Fargo with kidnapped Jean in the backseat. This gives the audience anticipation.
Police cheif Marge and her partner investigate the death of two people on the side of the snowy road. This will make the audience wonder if there will be any more deaths during the film.
Marge the police woman talks to Jerry to find out more information about car deals and his missing wife. This gives the audience anticipation to find out what's going to happen to Jerry.
Carl and Gaear take Jean back to their house and watch as she struggles. This could give horror to the audience because Jean could be the next victim.
Carl meets Jean's dad on top of a building to get money so Jean becomes safe. This is where Wade (Jean's dad) is shoot. This shows more suspence to the audience because yet again another murder has happened and the audience will then be wondering if another death is going to occur.
Carl starts to hide the money in the snow for Jerry to find. This shows more suspence again, due to not knowing if any more crimes are going to happen and whats going to happen to Jerry and the criminals.
After Gaear shoots Jean, he kills her by putting her in a woodcutter with another person who is involved with the crimes. This shows horror as two people die.
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