Journal 22/10/12 Title sequences

What I have learned in lesson

What a title sequence is - A title sequence is a method used in  films and TV programmes which introduces the cast, the location and usually gives an impression of the plot and allows genre to be identified. I is placed at the beginning of the programme or film and presents their title, key production and utilizes conceptual visuals and sound.

What a title sequence includes? - Introduction of the cast and characters, a sense of location, genre identity, iconography, sound etc.

What is the importance of title sequences? - It is an opportunity for the film to make a good impression on the viewer and if the sequence is crafted well it will introduce the tone and film as well s the cast and crew to the audience.

The codes and conventions of title sequences-
- Details of whom the cast and crew.
- The title of the film
- An introduction to a character or a character type
- An indication of place/setting
- An indication of time era/hysterical period
- Information regarding mood and tone
- An introduction to the original/ signature theme tune.
- Information and indication of genre
-Sets up enigmas (Questions the viewer finds intriguing)
- Patterns and types of editing that will be repeated throughout the film.
- Mise-en-scene and cinematography that will be repeated or elaborated up on later in  the film.

Looking into existing opening sequences from films
The hulk - From watching the opening sequence of the hulk it is seen to be set in a laboratory in america, this is indicated from the viewing of a well known american university. The themes within the film are romance, hatred and anger, these are conveyed from visual elements of the characters for example it is clear to see that the hulk is in love with the girl from the way they interact. The iconography consists of army outfits  car crashes, hospital, blood, newspapers which indicated a action genre.
Narrative - An experiment gone wrong, man with uncontrollable anger evacuating city to avoid hurting more people.
Characters - Bruce, girl and girls father.
Style - Fast editing has been used.

Seven
Setting - New York, modern day (indicated through casual everyday clothing)
Themes - Religion, obscurity, mystery
Iconography - Razor, eerie music, dark colours, religious writing  sewing needle, hands, dead skin, reveals thriller genre.
Characters - The killer: Precise, smart, trying to make an impression, patient, intelligent.
Style - Close up shots of hands emphasis precision, doesn't reveal identity.
Extra notes -
Typewriter font for film's title shows it resembles the character who is living in the past.
- Removing fingertip indentation show the removal of identity, clever character who doesn't want to get caught.
- Cutting out words from money indicates the film is set in America.

How has seven's opening sequence been edited?
- Background out of focus, represents obscurity of the character and creates a sense of him being hidden away from society.
- Writing, elliptical editing is used to show time passing represents patience of character and amount of effort he puts into his work.
-Quick cut of images creates tension for viewer, fast pace represents action genre.
- Old fashioned camera filter connotes historical and biblical  show character works in the past ( also shown through iconography of typewriter)
- Distorted sketchy font relates to genre, suits situation.
- red writing connotes blood and death, reveal character is a killer.

Analysing splice trailer to discover genre
Music - Eerie music suggest thriller or action, string instruments add intensity to mood but are juxtaposed with peaceful piano which could represent the birth happening at the end of trailer
Colour - Green connotes organic, natural and plants. Looks scientific, indicates scientific with colour and the viewing on inside a body put together.
Camera - Freely moving camera, looks peaceful like natural movement almost how a baby would move in the womb.
Extra notes
- Looks like veins and the leaf of a tree which creates an enigma for audience
-Combining trees with human elements
- Amniotic fluid
- Light resembles birth or death caused by created (people going into the light)
Genre - SCIENCE FICTION.

S etting - When and where the film is set
T heme - The message/mood of film eg romance, jealousy and wealth
I conography - Costumes, props, make- up and anything else relevant to genre
N arrative - What is the story about?
C haracters-Who are they and what are they like?(Principles - main characters. protagonist, antagonist etc)
S tyle - What the film looks a feels like, will indicate cinematography, sound and editing

Zombieland title sequence analysis

In the opening title sequence of zombie land non-diegetic sound has been used, this is heavy dramatic music which builds up excitement for the viewer, the music is all suitable to what is being portrayed visually as the opening is showing a sequence of human being attacked by zombies. A slow motion effect has been used alongside the music which intensifies the excitement as the editing is the forcing the viewer to wait longer to discover what is going to happen, however this effect also creates impact and makes the attacks last longer than they are in reality. This gives a sense of the genre being action and thriller based due to the intensity of the build-up. 


The font used for Zombie land resemble the location, this is due to them having a rusty metal appearance which looks similar to the signs portrayed in the background, the lettering is dark red which connotes death and blood, this indicates the audience that the film is going to consist of violence and gore. The fact the text is being shattered throughout each attack communicates to the audience that this film is about disruption of normality and an enigma is created as the audience are curious to discover whether or not humanity will overcome the zombies, this lures the audience into wanting to watch more. A deeper insight of the location is then given when the camera portrays a zombie in an orange prison jumpsuit; this is a clear indicator that the film is set in America due to the stereotypical prison dress. 

A close up shot of a zombies face is then used simply to secure the fact that this creature is in fact a zombie, this is portrayed through an immense amount of blood spurting from the mouth, this not only allows the audience to discover that the massacre has begun but it also creates an emphasis on the special effects used in the film. However this image is contradicted through the weather, the expectations of a zombie thriller film would be stormy weather to resemble no hope, but due to the consistent high key lighting a happy mood is created which has a calm and relaxing feel of a sunny day, which suggests the film will not be as sinister as it is being made out to be and will consist of more positive themes. This could also be a way of foreshadowing that the survivors will overcome the zombies.

A woman is running in bright colourful clothing whilst being chased by a crazed zombie who is wearing similar clothing, yet in duller less eye-catching shades and blood stained, this creates a connection between the two characters as it reveals they were once of the same species, which portrays that the transformation is obviously an infection which has spread throughout society rather than invading the location. This also creates a contrast between the two as the both appear human, yet they are the complete opposite of each other. Attention is drawn to a bright pink milk shake, due to the slow motion effect, which is being forced into the air due to the female character trying to run. The colour pink connotes comfort and femininity, and the fact this is being destroyed reveals that feminine woman have a disadvantage when it comes to survival, which indicates there isn’t going to be a typical feminine character in the film. The fact it also represents comfort being destroyed could be a way of saying the audience aren’t going to feel comfortable in the situations being shown on screen.

 Irony has been used also to provoke humor, as a man wearing a ‘the end is near’ sign is attacked by zombies, this suggests that the film will have a humorous element to it, and isn’t your typical zombie horror film, designed to scare. In the background of this two people can be seen fleeing from the scene, this could foreshadow that there is going to be a theme of betrayal in the film as they are not even attempting to help the man, it also shows the loss of hope and desperation to survive.
 A thick black cloud is viewable as a car is seen to be on fire, the black smoke connotes death and darkness which reveals to the audience the man being chased is going to get killed. The car however is an earthy brown colour which resembles naturalness this could portray that the last of natural elements is being destroyed and the fact it is on fire shows that is has been taken over by evil, as fire resembles hell. A brief case with money pouring loose from within can be seen merging into the smoke which shows its worthlessness to survival and the loss of civilization as the world potentially lives on money and now it is been portrayed as a useless factor.

 To make the distance the humans have to run seem more extreme a long shot has been used which indicates that survivors are unlikely to make it in the film due the distance to run. The fact the survivors are running towards the camera makes it appear that they are looking for the audience to help them, which creates a mood of helplessness for the viewer and reveals the film will include a lot of death which we are powerless to stop. As the scenes progress more zombies are added to the attack which shows that the survivors are getting outnumbered by the minute which creates an enigma on whether it is even possible for anyone to survive if the death toll is already higher than the number of survivors It is easy to get a clear understanding on what the film is about from the simple use of iconography, for example all the props used in the opening point to the film being a horror for example blood, zombies, violence etc. However when the audience looks deeper into the props used for example the milkshake and confetti, it is clear that something isn’t quite right about the opening as they aren’t  stereotypical props found in zombie horror films.

A wedding scene is juxtaposed with a zombie bride who doesn’t fit the scene, this shows the death of happiness as a wedding is said to be the happiest day of the couple’s lives. On the other hand confetti can be seen in the background, which acts as a positive as it gives the viewer hope that there will be an outcome of happiness due to it still being in viewer rather than being on the ground.

Another enigma is created for the audience when a zombie of fire is portrayed, as it leaves the audience asking whether or the not the zombies are able to be destroyed as they are represented to look indestructible which establishes the film will be about finding a way to destroy the creatures once and for all. 

A smashing of a window is seen from the other side so it is as if the character is trying to reach the audience to get to safety, but the man is then killed just like everyone else which makes the window appear more significant as it is represents the shattering of safety which establishes that the characters in the film are going to be searching for safety A zombie is seen chasing after a fleeing man this shows the male gaze and reveals the target audience is men, which guarantees that there will be an attractive female character in the story who will work as an eye candy. This again adds to the humorous element, which will be in the story as it is very unusual for a cliché zombie film. This humor is also portrayed one more time through the added non-diegetic bell sound that resembles a ‘knock out’ sound you would hear in cartoons.

Media coursework video - continuity sequence

This is a video created in groups for my media course work, The 180 degree rule had to be obeyed, a match on action had to be included and an exchange of a few lines of dialogue.

I found this extremely entertaining, thus I found making it and staring in it an enjoyment. My favorite part of creating the video was the filming, as I enjoyed getting into the character of an anxious adult going in for a job interview. The outline for our video was a job interview gone wrong, due to the strange interviewer asking awkward and personal questions. To create the concept of the video it was first story boarded to give the group an outline of what was going to be filmed. The overall outcome differed from the original storyboard slightly as we added more sophistication to the clip to create more realism to the situation, so instead of the interviewee being called in we had them check their watch.
Our video also consisted of a number of different shots, this includes close ups to show reactions through facial expressions. Over the shoulder shots to show conversation and long shots to give more information on the setting.

I found editing the clip the most difficult part, although there wasn't to much editing to be done, as I found final cut pro a challenge to work with as this was my first attempt at using it. However this flaw was quickly overcome as I got to grips with it rather quickly.

I found filming and storyboarding to be the simplest part of creating the video as I communicated well with my group and we took everyones ideas to create one final idea, which was a positive as it allowed everyone to be satisfied with what we were doing. The filming became easier as a sense of enjoyment came out of it, therefore it made getting into character more simple due to the comfortable environment created from the groups enthusiasm to the task.

I think this sequence is successful due to the group following all the rules and creating a humorous element to the video which can be felt by the viewer. The editing also added to the effect as it allowed the clip to run very smoothly and all mistakes to be removed, which make the sequence look clearer and professional due to the impact of the editing s corrections.