Journal: 15/12/10

Our storyboard is now complete! The final adjustments were made to every frame we have decided to create complete with the timing, type of shot and any other elements we may be including in our title sequence. We made a final production schedule and allocated each other with the roles which were best suited to us. Emily Neil will be our lead in the title sequence itself as well as editing many parts of the opening sequence, Sophie  will be taking the role as the camera woman as well as contributing to the sounds included in parts of the title sequence and the overall editing. Sarah Barker  will be our second camera woman assisting Sophie and also playing a part as an editor. I myself have taken the role as director over seeing every part of the production and making sure we also keep to our deadlines 

Typography Ideas for Title Sequence

Here are some ideas our group came up with as possibilities of featuring in our title sequence.

This style of typography fits the concept of our film which is being taking/abducted seized; this is because the font fades out at the bottom could suggest the idea of being taken.

This second type of font could be an option of the typography we are going to use because it resembles someones handwriting which adds a personal element to the film.

Finally this typography is very distressed looking which may resemble the emotions being felt by the girl who is kidnapped in our film; also it is very intriguing and the white markings leave the viewer questioning what they are and perhaps how they relate to the film.

Production Brief & Treatment

• Production Brief: To create the titles and opening of a new fiction film
• Project name: Seized
• Length: 90 secs - 2 minutes
• Deadline: Friday 11th February
• Group Members and there rolls: Emily - Actor, editor. Daisy - Director, editor. Sophie - Camera woman, breathing sounds, editor. Sarah - Camera woman, editor.
• Brief overview of content: Mum and Daughter live alone as Dad left when Daughter was born. Mum finds a new boyfriend who is a police detective, however he is not getting any recognition at work. Because of this he decided to kidnap his girlfriends daughter as the daughter doesn't like him. By doing this he will solve the case himself and get more recognition from work. However, his girlfriend, the daughters mother finds out what is going on and tells the police which leads to the detective loosing his job and being sent to prison.
• Target audience: Both Genders 15+
• Possible scheduling publishing suggestions: December 2010
• How will you test that whether the product is successful? How will you check that it accomplishes the intended effect: We could produce a questionnaire about the ideas we have for our film and see the feedback we get, also we could produce a film trailer to see how much recognition the film gains.
• What generic codes and conventions will be operating in your text: We plan to use as many codes and conventions we can in our title sequence. We will show the details of all the important cast and crew, being presented in order of importance, the films title, intro to character type, info regarding mood and tone, info on genre, qquestions that the viewer find intriguing, ppatterns and type of editing that will be echoed in the remainder of the film and Mise-en-Scene and cinematography that will be echoed or elaborated upon later in the film.
• Identify any resource constrains that might affect your production and your hopes for your product: I think the main thing we have to keep under control is the amount of time we use for our title sequence, this is because there is so much to do in a little time. To gain the equipment that we need shouldn't be a problem because we can get it all from school and all we need to film our title sequence is a video camera and tripod. I also don't think money will be an issue as we don't have to pay any money to use the areas we want to and some of the filming will take place in school.

Journal: 13/12/10

During todays lesson we made a great start to our storyboard, we now have a clear vision of what we want our title sequence to be like. About half of the storyboard is complete we have decided in the next lesson to consider the timing of each shot, what type of shot the scene will be, setting, any other things which may be included in the frame (e.g. Titles for example 'directed by' 'screen play by' etc.). We have also begun discussing dates by which we would like certain elements of the title sequence to be completed by. 

Title Sequence from the Film: 'Thank you for smoking'

"...the evolution from a simple playbill through to bona fide art form has given us many memorable cinematic moments. Some compliment the narrative of the film to come, others serve simply to visually delight."-doubleonothing.wordpress.com

The above quote would be a perfect way of describing the opening sequence from 'Thank you for smoking' Absolutely brilliant use of motion graphics here, reflecting the different designs of cigarette packets over the decades. The music perfectly compliments the images, and sets us up for the black comedy which follows.

Journal : 8/12/10

In todays lesson we decided to complete all research tasks needed as part of our foundation portfolio. We also decided on the film institution we would have chosen to create and distribute our film-our choice was 'Lions Gate'.

Institution Research:Who would produce/distribute your film?

This presentation shows research into the following film instutions: Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros, Lions Gate, New Line Cinema. The presentation also goes on to say which institution we would like to produce and distribute our film. 

Institution research presentation

View more presentations from daisywestlotorn.

Research into the genre of 'Horror'

The video above shows some of the basic themes and character which can be expected to be found within the genre of 'horror'. Most of these characteristics are the basis of any horror movie project. The following quotes show some other thoughts about the genre:

"This predilection for art that promises we will be frightened by it, shaken by it, at times repulsed by it seems to be as deeply imprinted in the human psyche as the counter-impulse toward daylight, rationality, scientific skepticism, truth and the "real." ... And this is the forbidden truth, the unspeakable taboo--that evil is not always repellent but frequently attractive; that it has the power to make of us not simply victims, as nature and accident do, but active accomplices."
-Joyce Carol Oates

The quote above highlights the emotions which can be expected by the audience to have from viewing various elements of a horror film such as being frightened, shaken etc.

"...Many of the feelings that typically attend being horrified are intrinsically unpleasant; for they include gagging, nausea, choking, stomach churning, tenseness, a creepy or crawling sensation, felt in the flesh, and so on."
-Noel Carroll

The quote above emphasises some of the feelings typically associated with an audience throughout the duration of a horror film. The most common would be horrified by the extremism the characters are presented in (such as 'The Excorcism'-1973); stomach churning from the often excruciating pain characters can sometimes be put through in a scene of violence(take for instance any 'Saw' film)and finally the tenseness of the unknown (this is a feeling experienced from not knowing what is going to later happen in the film or the fear of not knowing when something bad is going to happen a prime example of this would be 'Paranormal Activity'-2007).

Title Sequence Analysis: 'Scott Pilgram Vs. The World' (2010)

"Scott Pilgrim plays in a band which aspires to success. He dates Knives Chau, a high-school girl five years younger, and he hasn't recovered from being dumped by his former girlfriend, now a success with her own band. When Scott falls for Ramona Flowers, he has trouble breaking up with Knives and tries to romance Ramona. As if juggling two women wasn't enough, Ramona comes with baggage: seven ex-lovers, with each of whom Scott must do battle to the death in order to win Ramona." -imdb.com

Earlier on in the research process of title sequence's we determined the main elements featured in a title sequence: 

• Details of the cast
• Films Title
• An introduction to character or character type
• Indication of place/setting
• Indication of historical period
• Information regarding tone and mood
• Introduction to signature theme tune
• Information about genre
• Questions which the viewer finds intriguing (sets up enigmas)
• Patterns and types of editing that will be echoed in the remainder of the film
• Mise-en-scene and cinematography that will be echoed or elaborated upon later in the film, therefore possibly foreshadowing a certain event or series of events through the duration of the film

The details of the cast appear in a bold font which makes the typography stand out against the fast paced action in the background. Also the colour of the typography ensures that it is readable against the background which is important for the audience to be able to recognise.