My Group's Recce

My Group's Recce

These are the sort of areas that me and my group felt would firstly suit the kinds of shots that are displayed in our storyboard, and secondly be able to portray the type of connotations that we would want an audience to be able to derive, for example the type of genre film it would be.

 (The bus in particular is an important part of the storyboard so taking a picture was necessary).

Production Schedule

Production Schedule











This the schedule that my group currently have for our timing and what days we will be using to film the parts that will be necessary for each day. These are now the complete and updated notes in regards to what days we will be filming.

Planning - Shot List

Shots in opening scene:



















These are the kinds of shots that I am hoping to include in my opening title sequence:

1. A long shot of the main protagonist and his friend walking towards the camera.
2. The camera then cuts to the other friend riding the bike around the corner, using a medium close up (Wipe Transition).
3. (Wipe Transition) An establishing shot of the area that they live in. 
4.  Long shot of the two protagonist. 
5. Cuts to a medium close up of the protagonist. 
6. Shot reverse shot of the two characters having a conversation (x5).
7. Low angle shot of two protagonists entering the staircase.  
8. Pan shot from the two protagonist then to the bus.
9. Long shot of the protagonist.  
10. Establishing shot of bridge. 
11. Medium shot of two protagonist. 
12. Medium shot of the other two protagonist.
13. Wide shot of either protagonists walking towards each other on a bridge. 
14. Over the shoulder shot behind the main two protagonists.
15. A shot reverse shot of the conversation (x5).
16. Wide shot of the characters leaving the bridge.
17. Dolly back as characters walk down the staircase to the bus stop.
18. Close up of the protagonist checking the bus times on his phone.
19. Long shot of the bus coming.
20. Steadi cam of them going upstairs and to the back of the bus.

Our Pitch Feedback

Our Group Pitch

Our Group Pitch

Analysis of 2-3 title sequences

Analysis of title sequences/openings

Film 1: Back To The Future (1985)

In the opening title sequence of the film we are firstly introduced to the production company for the film, that being the film company Universal. This is important to the opening scene as some audience members may have only been intrigued as they feel that Universal Studios are a high budget production company that is known for making high quality films.

The first audio that is picked up is the sound of a single clock ticking. This is an excellent use of enigma as it is able to make the audience contemplate over the reason behind using a single clock as the first form of audio in the opening title sequence. It is also astonishing how that single clock is able to summarise almost the entire plot behind the film (as it is also about the travel through time itself). as we are shown some of the opening visuals we hear and notice that there are a vast array of clocks within the one household, which could at first make the audience feel that whoever lives in the house is obsessed with time. Furthermore, the use of countless antique clocks could suggest that the person who lives there is presumably an elderly person. As the opening carries on we are shown even  more clocks, which by now would make the audience feel that the person who lives here is probably a madman, or a person who's work relies around the constant observance of time.

The first moment that the audience are shown something other than a camera is when we are shown a news report stating "Brown Mansion Destroyed". This is interesting as it gives the audience an insight into the backstory of the film. the top of the paper also says "Hill Valley Telegraph" which is helpful as that place could be the set location for the film.





Film 2: Juice (1992)


I chose for the second film to be Juice by Earnest R. Dickerson. I felt that this would be a good example as (even though it is an American film) it does address the sort of issues that I feel would be a good base for my own title sequence, as the film is based on four friends who live in an urban area that get dragged into the crime around the area.











Opening sequence:

As we are shown the opening credits of the film, the first audio that the audience is introduced to is the sound of a heart beating. This is interesting as the sound of a heartbeat to me personally reminds me of someone who is undergoing surgery for one reason or another. This could have been used by Earnest to help portray that someone later on in the film could potentially be getting extremely hurt. This an excellent way of revealing to the audience the sort of events that they should expect to see later on in the film.















The next audio that the audience is introduced to during the credits is the sound of Rakim's (one of Americas most notorious gangster rappers) song. This is interesting, as it completely switches the mood from an eerie and scary sound of a loudly beating heart to a hip hop track. I feel that the use of this was to essentially reveal to the audience how the narrative will unfold, but starting at the end and going back to the beginning; The sound of the heartbeat is one of the events that will happen later on in the film (and is possibly the disruption of the equilibrium), whilst the sound of the hip hop track is how the characters are at the very start of the film (possibly being the equilibrium)

The camera then cuts to some establishing shots of tower blocks and subways all painted with graffiti. It is clear that the director used these shots/images in an attempt to give the audience a brief insight into the type of area that the film will take place in. It could have also been used to emphasize the characteristics of the characters in this film, as the area itself is able to reflect the visual image of marginalized youth and/or crime.They also choose to film streets around the area, and speed up the time. I felt that this could have possibly been used to give the audience an understanding of the area that these boys live in, and how their struggle in society and around the area itself is a constant battle (possibly making it feel normal to them).





Film 3: Kidulthood (2006)



I chose Kidulthood to be the third film, as it goes along the same sort of agenda for my film idea: it focuses on the lives of adolescent people getting themselves to grips with urban crime. It also portrays a wide array of conventions that I personally feel would suit my film perfectly.















Opening sequence:














The first thing the audience are introduced to are the opening credits. As this is occurring we are also introduced to the sound of what appears to be a fast paced, upbeat track. I feel that this is an important aspect as it could have been used to correspond with the characters (as the younger generation are usually seen to be constantly active). The first visual image that the audience is shown is a close up on a person (presumably a teenager) playing around with a football. The fact that this is the very first visual image that the audience are introduced to is important, as I feel that this was the directors' way of revealing to the audience that this film in all its entirety will be focusing on the younger generation/teenagers.















The shoes of the person who's kicking the ball appear to be very messy. The first thing that you could derive is that the boy must play on muddy terrain, however, I also feel that the idea of muddy trainers while playing football could show the childish (and possibly mischievous) behavior of some of these teenagers. This could have been done to foreshadow the imminent problems that will occur later on in the film due to the childish behavior of some.

The camera then cuts to some very brief images of some of some of the different friendship groups at school. The director could have been trying to show how teenagers would usually hang around with other teenagers that would act the same way they do. I also feel the effect this has on the audience is that it makes the audience feel that there is some sort of conflict between the different groups and that the director is using this to show that the different groups could continuously clash later on in the film.

The next thing the audience are shown is an extreme close up a drill bit being tightened up to a standing drill, and the drill bit drilling into something metal. This is able to connote many different images. Firstly, the image and sound of the drill bit being tightened up into the standing drill almost slightly resemble the sound and image of a magazine going into a gun. This is a smart way of getting the audience to feel the director trying to foreshadow some of the events that may take place later on in the film. Furthermore, the image/sound of the drill bit going into the metal is very nerving, as it seems to make the audience picture the idea of someone stabbing someone else. This idea, accompanied by the uncomfortable pleonastic sound of the drill bit being tightened into the standing drill truly portrays to the audience the feeling of gang-related violence.

My Personal Film Idea

My Personal Film Idea

For my film ideas, I had been using some of the inspiration that I had gained from the different films that I had analysed to see what I would and wouldn't want my film to be based around. Eventually, I was able to weight the positives and negatives of each film and see what would and wouldn't work well work well for my own film.

Film Genre: Urban Teen Crime

Due to my analysis of some of the many Urban Crime films, there are out there, I was able to choose that I would prefer for my film idea to based on people going through the adolescent stage of life that live in the "ghetto" area of London. I felt this way as people who are going through adolescence are more provoked or influenced by ideas/actions that may not be towards the greater good. This would help to make a good film, as it would give the audience not only a film containing energetic characters, but also a film that is able to give the audience an insight into the sorts of issues that some people may have to face at this point in life, essentially giving the audience an interesting and impressive storyline to follow. I also feel that it should be based around a group of boys who don't actually commit any real crimes initially, but due to the area they live in are eventually subdued by the temptations. I feel this would be a good storyline, as it would give the viewer a different kind of insight into the real world of an adolescent person living in a lower class area of London.


Brief Narrative Ideas

I haven't been able to go into complete detail in regards to how I would want the story to go, but I do have a few ideas. Firstly, I want the opening to start off with an introduction to the main characters for the film, and the group could possibly meet with some dangerous people that live in their estate
later on in the film, where they think to themselves if that is really the line they want to go down with their lives.
















Even though this is a brief idea that clearly needs much more in-depth analysis, it does essentially cover Todorov's' five stages. It also gives some of the main ideas that would get an audience be able to feel a certain way about the different characters, and more specifically why they are the way that they are.

Contemporary Titles/Opening vs Older Titles/Opening

Contemporary Tiles/Opening vs Older Titles/Opening


Older Title Designer: Saul Bass

I have chosen Saul Bass to be my older title designer because although he is old, his work in regards to title sequence development as a whole throughout time has been able to aid the modern era title designers in their expansion of what a title sequence could truly accomplish, in other words; Saul Bass' invention of Kinetic Typography was able to build a foundation for title sequences to come.



Chosen title sequence by Saul Bass: It's A Mad Mad Mad World.

















In the very opening of the title sequence, the audience is first introduced to a red screen with a very lively soundtrack. The soundtrack itself gives off the notion that this film is either based on the glitz and glamorous Central America, or possibly based on some sort of adventure, as the audio sounds like the kind of song you would hear when someone is either going into some sort of glamorous, expensive high street chase or going on some sort of journey.


Time: 0:22
















The first visual effect the audience are shown is a cartoon man wearing what seems to be a suit with a fedora and is holding a Globe. This interesting, as it seems that Saul Bass was trying to use the connotations of a man in a suit, alongside the connotations of a man holding a Glob, in an attempt to reveal to the audience the entire theme of this film. This is due to the fact that the film itself is based on a guy who stashed a lot of money somewhere around central America and had told a group of people before he died from a car accident where the money was, resulting in a skirmish as to who would find it first. The fact that it is based in America during the 60's can explain the suit, and the fact that it is based on a skirmish for lost money all around America could also explain the use of the Globe, as to them it may feel like they will have to travel the entire Globe to find it in time.

Time: 0:27 - 0:34

The cartoon man ends up being squashed by the globe which then is cut using a saw to reveal a hole inside. This was used to possibly provoke to the audience how one of the characters in the film may be looking to  I felt that this needed to be highlighted as it shows Saul Bass for what he was most favoured for: Innovation. Looking at this and remembering that this title sequence was made during the sixties is hard to believe, as Saul Bass was able to create and expand title sequences in a way that made him look ahead of his time; his creativity and editing were unheard of by anyone else during this time, making him the benchmark for films to come.


Contemporary Title Designer: Kyle Cooper

I chose Kyle Cooper for my contemporary title designer. This is because I personally feel that Kyle Cooper was able to use the kinds of innovative techniques that were first introduced by the likes of Saul Bass back in 1950, to break the boundaries as to what a title sequence can be even further than before.










Chosen title sequence be Kyle Cooper: Se7en

Some of the first differences that I was able to pick up between the two title sequences was the use of lighting and sound. Kyle cooper has been able to use the lighting reflection on this book to make even the book itself reflect the sort of genre that this film may be based around: The use of the Black/transparent Yellow is able to make this seem like a phycological horror, as those sort of colours are very common for that particular genre. However, his use of sound could be classed as something that is not directly linked to a particular genre, as it is clear that over the years, sound in opening title sequences has been made to be less direct; it's supposed to leave the audience contemplating on what sort of message the director is trying to portray.

Another difference that is noticeable is the use of Typography. Even though Saul Bass was the first to create a new type of Typography called Kinetic Typography, we are still able to see the development that Typography has to have over time. This is noticeable by the fact that the actual opening credits are played in front of the opening of the film, rather than a complete separate piece of footage.  However, it can still be stated that is due to the likes of Saul Bass that this further innovation is actually possible.

















In regards to how the title designer chooses to reveal what the story may actually be about, it is very clear that the way of doing so has not only developed but strategically decreased, to put this into perspective; some title sequence designers of the modern era have also swayed to showing a title sequence that shows much less about the actual plot that usual, in an attempt to create enigmas and make the audience feel more intrigued/ engaged in regards to the story itself. As I haven't actually watched this film by David Fincher, I would judge this film (due to the use of certain images and the use of lighting) as a film based on someone being trapped in some sort of mental asylum, however this may not actually be the case as there is enough evidence in the opening sequence to provoke other assumptions as to what genre it may be.

Research into a title sequence designer - Saul Bass

Title sequence designer - Saul Bass from Razz2000

Genre Film Case Studies

My idea for my groups' genre

I feel that my group should base our opening sequence on the Action/Adventure Genre. This is because I personally feel that an Action Adventure film is able to have a range of different stigmas within the opening sequence that the audience could deduct. This would make it much easier for the group to be able to come to a conclusion, as it would be more likely that most of our group ideas would be fulfilled.

Genre Film Case Study


Number 1: Scarface










At the start of Scarface's opening scene, a non-diegetic soundtrack is played. The soundtrack itself sounds very brute and dangerous, but also sounds as if it would be played during a time of defeat (assuming a battle is taking place). This makes the audience feel as if they are going to be introduced to a very striking main character.

The film goes on to show credits regarding Cuban refugees entering the US with the intention of drug trafficking, then plays a clip of Castro, one of Cuba's Prime Ministers during the Cuban Revolution. This reveals that the main character is essentially going to be a Cuban refugee, possibly a criminal looking for a way to make money out of illegal drugs.

The film goes on to show us boats of Cuban refugees, all looking very tired and cramped on these small fishing boats heading into the US. The soundtrack that is playing during this moment is very contrapuntal, as it seems to be playing a much more joyful audio. This could connote that the main character arriving from Cuba is going to be having a very good time in the US. or that the dangerous but excited refugee is going to be causing a lot of havoc in the US.


Number 2: Home Alone 

















In the opening scene of home alone 2, we are placed in a large house with people walking and shouting all over the place. The people walking around are all kids essentially, revealing that this is the house of a very big family. The fact that everyone is rushing to pack suitcases also tells the audience that they are planning to go on vacation.

We are soon introduced to Kevin, who judging by his height and the fact that he unable to pack his own suitcase is the youngest in the family. The way that the other siblings speak to him reveals to me that he might be seen as the "annoying child", thus causing his other siblings to ignore him.

As the opening scene continues there is a point where Kevin shouts and says: "when I grow up I'm living alone! You hear me?". Kevin begins to stomp his feet whilst saying this, but surprisingly the only person who takes notice of this is the policeman. This makes me feel as if Kevin's' presence in the household is completely ignored by everyone else who lives there. This could have been used to reveal that later on in the film Kevin will be dispersed from everyone else, in an attempt to make everyone realise that he actually is important.


Film Number 4: Ill manors


















Because Ill Manors is based on the type of genre that I feel my own opening title sequence would be based around, I have analysed the opening to try and understand how a film of this genre would choose to represent the Genre itself, the enigmas they want to portray, the characters they want to introduce and how they use the micro features to give the audience an insight into what type of character they are.

Opening sequence:











At the very start of the opening, we are introduced to the production company for this film, them being Revolver Entertainment. This is important as Revolver is mainly known for creating films based around the urban crime genre, possibly revealing to the audience the sort
of genre for the film they are about to watch.















The first thing that the audience are shown is a person lighting a Cigarette. The shot of this image is an extreme close-up, possibly used to make the flame coming out of the lighter seem much more vibrant/expressive. I feel that the lighting of the Cigarette was used first to reveal to the audience that they will be introduced to an immediate problem/conflict (as a flame could connote an image of conflict). The fact that he is lighting a rolled up Cigarette could also be used to reveal to the audience that this person is from an urban area (as a rolled up Cigarette is seen as a cheaper item than something such as a Cigar). Furthermore, if this person were to be in a gang of some sort, we could use the type of Cigarette he is smoking to reveal that this is an urban gang, rather than a Mafia type gang (as a gang like the Mafia would probably smoke a Cigar). All of the possible ideas that are stemming from this brief image are the sort of enigmas that the audience (such as myself) would be feeling.

As we are first introduced to one of the characters, most of the enigmas that were introduced by the first image have been proved right. We are shown a man who, judging by his eyes, is slightly intoxicated. He also appears to be wearing a hat that reflects urban fashion, which reveals that he is probably an individual who lives in an urban area. The fact that he is intoxicated could also show that he is possibly from the darker/criminal side of the people brought up in an urban environment. The fact that the audience may be able to see what type of person this is could be important to see the sort of narrative that the film will follow throughout.
















The camera then cuts to an establishing shot of the person's bedroom. Looking at the bed and the drawers that are there, it is clear to see how this person is from a lower class background. The use of this shot also helps the audience distinguish the characters entire outfit, which appears to be a pair of sneakers, and a full black tracksuit with a hoodie. This type of outfit is expressively used by those who could be part of some sort of gang affiliation or more specifically those classed as "marginalised youth". Due to the connotations of his outfit, the audience may be able to make the clear assumption that he is related to gang activity of some sort.















When the camera next cuts, it cuts to an establishing shot of an area, possibly the area that the man shown in the previous part lives in. I feel that this was mainly used to provoke a feeling of the continuous theme of lower class youth. However, I personally feel that the director was also trying to make the area seem as prestigious as a tourist destination, as the people who live here could feel proud that this where they are from, regardless of the connotations that it represents.