Evaluation Questions

In our lesson, sir revealed the evaluation questions to us. Initially i wasn't surprised on what we had ton write about but from previous evaluations i wrote about for example for the preliminalary task and the other practicals i done, I knew this was going to be much more complex, so I would need to include much more detail and much more explanation. There are seven questions.

We were set the task of ordering the questions in order of importance. Me and my partner odder the question is this order (most important on the left, least on the right):

Diary

The links below are if my partner's account of our production diary (in order):

Diary Entry #1

Diary Entry #2

Diary Entry #3

Diary Entry #4

Diary Entry #5

Diary Entry #6-7

Diary Entry #8,9&10


References for music sites we used in our sequence:
http://www.freesound.org/
http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/

Evaluation on Rough Cut

WWW: I feel that the basis of our opening title sequence is at a good standard. it looks really good and looks like how a proper opening title sequence is supposed to be. However there are certain aspects which needs improving or cut or edited out. THere were parts which were out of focus and jerky which makes the opening title sequence look unprofessional. So me and my partner we do our best to solve that problem and make sure everything is as it should be corrected.

EBI: If I had all my credits in place, as there aren't all the credits yet on the sequence. Furthermore, I feel more effect s need to be added so that it can make it look like a proper thriller opening title sequence. Furthermore, certain shots need to be edited or redone due to the out of focus and graininess.

Rough Edit of 'Decisive

This is the rough edit of my groups opening title sequence 'Decisive':

Evaluation of test shoots

On Wednesday 14th of January, my group went to film some footage for a test shoot, based on out storyboard. When we were filming, the lighting seemed to be perfect and that shots seemed to be perfectly positioned. However, when we reviewed the footage, we identified that the lighting wasn't right. However, with our idea and our storyboard, there was no way round the problem. Therefore, we had to come to conclusion where we had to change our idea, location and mise en scene. 

Credits

What Font I found and where I found it from

From http://www.dafont.com/ we discovered the font we are going to use. The font is called 'True Lies'created by Jonathan S. Harris. This suits our crime thriller opening sequence perfectly because the text is similar ti texts from Dexter s opening title sequence. The text connotes many aspects such as violence and aggression.

What names you made:

Film District  presents

A Sapphire City Production

A Film By Aaron Moore

Omari Marshall

Zoheb Banji

Samual Bamfo

Alistair Brooks

Levi James
And Samantha Jones

Casting By Paul Sage

Music By Joel Connors

Production Designer Mandy Simmons

Edited By Omari Marshall, Aaron Moore

Director of Photography  Zoheb Banji

Written by Omari Marshall

Decisive (the title)

Note* these are all in the same font style 'True Lies'.

How I made the names in Photoshop

Before I opened up Photoshop. I had to download the 'True Lies' font and add it to my font list. 

Once I was in Photoshop, I had to select the images to be widescreen, and the setting to DV PAL - Anamorphic, and the background to transparent. 

First of all, I type the name I'm creating for example 'Omari Marshall' who is one of the actors names. Then I selected my font being True Lies. I then enlarged the text to a very large size therefore when I reduce the size of my text or increase of my text (which is unlikely), the quality would still be high, and it wouldn't look grainy or distorted. Finally I added a drop shadow layer on the text which makes the text stand out whichever background is behind it.

What I want my set to look like

For my opening title sequence, I aspire for the setting to look like a detectives office in a home environment. This is because, me and group's opening title sequence, is based of an ex cop who has lost his family, so is looking for the criminal responsible therefore he is going to approach the investigation like a detective.

The type of setting we are trying to create is similar to crime drama 'Homeland'. 'Carrie', the main character has a many photos and papers on the wall, a desk, computer and so on, which you usually see in a detectives office. However this is in her home. 

This in nearly exactly to what we want to create.

Treatment sheet (Version 2)

As Openings Treatment Sheet (New)

Storyboard

Recce

This our set where we are going to be filming our opening title sequence. We are going to be filming later on in the day so that it is dark in the room and we are going to turn off the lights in the room do we have a dark effect. The main light in the room will be created by the computer and the lamp which is going to be placed on the desk. 

Script

Script For "Decisive"

Costume List

As our opening title sequence is abstract not much is going to be portrayed involving the characters therefor the costume list is small.

Costume List

Equipment list

To create and construct the opening title sequence, I will need a specific set of equipment to do this, in order to do this. This is the equipment list

Equipment

Prop List

As our opening title sequence is abstract not much is going to be portrayed involving the characters therefore the props list isn't long. Furthermore, it is set in 1 location.

Props

Treatment sheet (Version 1)

Production Roles

Aaron Moore DIRECTOR/Props and Costume | Create infographics

Script Writing

In this lesson, I have learnt about the basics of screen writing for example learning about the layout, how to present the action , character headings, dialogue. We looked at examples such as Les Miserable film and this helped us guide us to create out own. We created our script based on the novel Home Sweet Home written by Colin Smithson.

This is very useful to me as when I am creating my script for my own script for my opening tittle sequence I will know how to present and lay out my script and know the format of writing my script.

Written by (Script) by Crystalpad

Institution

VLOG of what institution I want to distribute my film

Genre Coventions

25 Word Pitch

Pablo,Ex-Cop, on a manhunt due to the obsession of a closed kidnapping case of his family. Bringing kidnapper to justice by any means necessary.

Initial idea on opening title sequence

Soundscape

Soundscape is the ambient sound in the room. Sound can be diegetic or non-diegetic. It can be a wild track (ambient background noise), dialogue, voice-over, a song, a score (which is composed specifically composed for the film) and a mixture.

Sound and Silence can be used most effectively to draw in an audience. Visuals without sound can lack input or very dramatic depending on the correct use.

Sound is not always recorded. Like when in most films, they use sound which is dubbed or added later by 'Foley artists'.  



Blade
For example, in the movie Blade by listening to the sound you can identify that the film is serious. Furthermore we hear very energetic and kinetic music which you usually associate with dancing and raving. In addition, at one point in the sequence, you can hear a heart monitor connotes to the us the audience that there is death involved in this film. And we just identify this through the sound.  

Directors Commentary

My Directors Commentary was on Money Talks, a film starring Chris Tucker. 

This is my Director commentary in text form just in case you didn't understand parts f what I was saying 

First of all we start off with a soulful love song being played over the institution. This could instantly connote that the film could be soul and love. Then there is another sound of which sounds like someone is singing to the song which we heard initially while the song is still running. This then bridges to the actual opening title sequence. This is known as a sound bridge.

As we enter the actual opening title sequence, the sound of someone singing increases as we are presented with how is singing. This shows to the audience that this is diegetic. However, it is not clear that the song is either diegetic or non-diegetic. The fact that the person singing the song and repeating the words (who we assume is the main character) is singing it in nearly a way which many will find comedic which connotes that the film might comedy film.

We also can hear diegetic sound of movement and tapping which connotes that the character singing is dancing which is he is.

In the middle of hearing the singing of the character, you hear an inappropriate word mentioned. This connotes what sort of target audience the film is aimed at being 15 and over due to the inappropriate language.

Then after you can hear the sound of cars driving which connotes that cars are involved while you can still hear the sound of singing from the character and the song playing over still.

After there is a segment of dialogue which sounds between characters. Then after this dialogue the audience will hear the same sounds, being the sound of cars driving and song over the top. However the character is not singing anymore.

Now you can hear it in podcast form: 

Titles analysis

In Spring breakers the text connotes and represents what sort of genre film it is and what of characters are like in the film. The sparks at the letters symbolizes nightlife, fireworks and sparks. This is similar to the fire at the end of some of the letters. This connotes that there might be fire and damage involved. Furthermore, this can connote the personality of the characters in the film being 'fiery'. The first letter of the majority of the words in the opening title sequence is in the same or similar font that the title is in. The rest of the text is in pink which connotes that there are females involved in this film and that there is a female dominance in the film. The femininity is mainly connoted by the stereotype of girls liking the colour pink or girls favourite colour is pink.  

In Psycho a continuous style they use is a sliced and distorted effect om the text which are symbolic to the genre. As this is of the famous Saul Bass the audience might be familiar with his style and his style has inspired others. The use of lines, which is created by cutting and ripping pieces of paper which creates enigma and symbolic codes. The fact that white and grey is layered over a black background empathizes the text and that use of lines.

Movement in Text

Even the most simplistic of titles can be developed through the use of motion and movement.

For example in 'Friends with Benefits', even though it isn't an opening title sequence, it is a ending credits it shows a good use of how text is represented. In this case, an interaction between what the audience see as romantic interaction between I man and a woman, within and embedded within the credits.

Title Sequence Timeline

9 Key Frame Analysis

My Favourite Opening Title Sequence

Video coverage of my doing a presentation on my favourite title sequence: 

Conventions in a Title sequence

Evaluation of Saul Bass Anatomy of a Murder inspired piece (not final)

My group took pictures of individual pieces of papers, a head, body, and legs, so we can create a similar piece to the Saul Bass Anatomy of a Murder opening title sequence.

What went well:
We was able to create out own style and unique version.

Saul Bass Anatomy of a murder

Anatomy of Murder

Guide to Saul Bass

Saul Bass

Saul Bass was graphic designer known for his designs of Film Posters and Title Sequences. 

During his 40 year career he created Titles for directors including Hitchcock and Scorsese 

Saul Bass Documentary

The Purpose of Opening credits and Title sequences

Themes and Styles

A theme is the underlying idea that exists in a subject that acts like a foundation for a particular piece of work or are or medium. In title sequences there are may be a key theme in the film that is then reflected in the title sequence. Dexter, is an example of this show below:

In the sequence it show symbolic codes of reds which has connotations of death which relates to the programme as Dexter is blood splatter analyst as serial killer. Furthermore there a lot of enigma codes created from the fact that you see the theme if red shown in him shaving where he actually cuts himself. However there is other times where you see what we see as ketchup however, due to the film and the music making the sequence sound sinister you start to to question your self if that is actually ketchup as you don't see him put the ketchup on the roll.

The enigma codes also used American Psycho as well where we are provoked on questioning ourselves.

Narrative themes:
















While a Style relates to the method and asthmatics, this is how the theme is created and put together using certain effects. A style is symbolic in other words how something is visually created, like what editing techniques and effects it uses such as for example in Superbad they use the silhouette effect and a grainy effect which represents the quality of films in that era the 70s even though the film itself want film in that time, this is called a flicker effect.

James Bond: 50 Years of Main Title Design

This video In found very useful as its about the different title sequences over the last 50 years for James Bond. It shows different techniques, themes and styles which I find very important for the later stage in my coursework

Opening Credits and Title Sequence (in relation to films)

In Films, the 'Opening Credits' are shown at the very beginning. The credits are a list of the most important members of the production, the purpose of this is to commend the people involved in the film visually for the viewers to see. 

However, a 'Title Sequence' is a sequence which is separated from the main action of the film for example in 'True Blood'.






Many films have used opening credits, but one great film which has clearly demonstrated this is 'Superman', this is shown below:


A 'cold opening' is another form of sequence where the film doesn't have an opening credit.

An 'Opening title sequence' is when both the opening credits and the title sequence are both incorporated into the beginning of the film.

Sometimes film break the normal conventions of a traditional opening for a more elaborate abstract title sequence.

In an opening sequence different editing techniques, sound techniques and animations can be used. For example, sometimes non traditional transitions such as wipe are used in opening sequences but not in the film itself. Diegetic and Non-Diegetic sound is tend to be used along with soundtracks or the theme tune which we associate with that film or series with, for example 'Star Wars'.

The film opening is very important because it sets the scene and shows the viewer where the it is based and what roughly is going on in the movie or what happened in the past and how we got to where we are now. An establishing shot presents to viewers the setting of the film.

Evaluation of the Opening Title Sequence to CSI: London

In the Opening Title Sequence task we had to to produce an fictional Opening Title to CSI: London. This involved the class, who were split into 2 groups, to film parts which will be included in the title sequence. These parts included shots of the characters doing something, such as looking through a microscope and also close ups of the characters as well. Then after will had done the filming, the coverage was then imported, to edit along with footage Mr Coppard had found, which we could include. Furthermore, sir also provided us with a soundtrack to go over the footage. Are main inspiration was from CSI: Miami's opening title sequence, and we based a lot of our ideas on it. This video is hown below (CSI: Miami):

What went well is that we were able to film all that we needed to film. We were able to film in the locations we wanted to be in, such as the Science rooms, making it look like a lab, which looks realistic, in context to the theme.  We were able to access the props we needed, such as the fake gun and a microscope. Furthermore, the editing went well as I was able to comfortably edit the the footage, due to everything was filmed correctly.

What we could of improved on is that when editing, I could of included more effects, to make the Sequence look more professional. One reason why I didn't do so, is that the I didn't know how to do the effects I wanted to do, correctly and effectively. along side the fact that i unfortunately have enough time to figure it out. However, next time when I opening sequence, i will now look to include the effects and make my final product better.

Opening Title Sequence to CSI: South Norwood