Title Research: Planet of the Apes

I found the introduction to Planet of the Apes on Art of the Title.

1) How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film?
There were 38 titles displayed. Two credits were displayed before the main title: the main actor and the production studio. The rest appeared after the main title.

2) What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?
The opening sequence doesn't have many images, as it's just a montage of blue lights moving across the screen. However, in the beginning, there is a shot of an astronaut-looking man laying down.

3) What connotations do the images carry?
The image of the man laying down has somewhat of a positive connotation. It radiates a calmness, but the blue light fading in adds an element of apprehension.

4) How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?
This opening sequence doesn't follow the conventions of an apocalypse movie. However, this is because the main plot twist of the film is that the audience finds out it is an apocalypse at the very end. Therefore, the choices made in the opening sequence makes sense.

5) How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?
The audience is immediately intrigued by the unknown man laying down and being enveloped by blue light. The spots of blue throughout the opening adds to this interest.

6) What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?
The film appeals to the audience's curiosity.

7) How has technology been used effectively?
The colored lighting effectively shifts the mood of the film and brings the audience into the futuristic world of Planet of the Apes.

Title Research: Soylent Green

 

I found the introduction to Soylent Green on Art of the Title.

1) How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film?
Unlike the other openings I have researched, the opening sequence of Soylent Green has no titles besides the main title.

2) What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?
The opening sequence gives a visual timeline of the development of society. It starts with simple sepia images of people living an agricultural life. As the sequence goes on, the images show cities being built and technology such as cars being invented. The opening ends with imagery of polluted cities and people with medical face masks.

3) What connotations do the images carry?
The images carry a positive connotation until the last few seconds, in which they take a negative connotation.

4) How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?
This film takes place after an apocalyptic event, which is typical for the genre. Like many apocalypse movies, Soylent Green's story is based on a man-made event that changed the world. In this case, it is overpopulation. It uses imagery that symbolizes death and destruction.

5) How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?
The opening sequence piques the audience's interest by showing that the film takes place in 2022, which at the time was far into the future. The sudden shift in mood from nostalgic imagery of people living simple lives to foreboding images of sick people and crowded cities makes the audience question what the consequences of overpopulation are.

6) What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?
The film uses sepia-tone and ominous imagery to show that its meant for older audiences.

7) How has technology been used effectively?
Transitions were utilized to show the gradual change in society. Overlaid text that gives context to the setting was also used at the very end of the title sequence.

Title Research: Dawn of the Dead

'I found the introduction to Dawn of the Dead on Art of the Title.

1) How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film?
There were 31 titles,with only one credit coming before the main title: the production studio. After the main title, the actors were listed. The credits listed jobs such as casting director, music supervisor, costume designer, production designer, and executive producers. The director was the last one listed.

2) What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?
There are close up shots of zombies throughout. In the beginning, there is a clip of the president answering questions about the zombies. After the shot with the president ends, the screen shows static. For the rest of the opening, there are shots of people running, fires, close ups of viruses under a microscope, and chaos in general. The final part of the opening sequence has a solider shooting a zombie as the song cuts off. The sequence ends with a zombie attacking the camera.

3) What connotations do the images carry?
The imagery carries an ominous and fearful connotation. The visuals paired with the audio, such as the heart beating, creates tension.

4) How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?
There is a heartbeat sound playing in the background while the president talks about the zombies, which adds tension. This is usual for films in the apocalypse genre.

5) How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?
By showing the audience a glimpse at what the zombie apocalypse looks like through the intro sequence, it captivates their attention and curiosity about how the situation is fixed.

6) What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?
Through close-up shots of gore and violence, this film appeals to it's target audience of horror movie fans.

7) How has technology been used effectively?
The text came in and out with a blood splatter and a static-y sound effect, which is fitting for what the movie is about.

Title Research: Mad Max

I found the introduction to Mad Max on Art of the Title.

1) How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film?
There are 15 titles shown, with 7 of them being shown before the main title. The ones before the main title were the name of the actors and the studio that made it. After the title of the movie appeared, it listed the people who wrote the screenplay, the photographers, editors, art director, composer, and producer. The final credit shown was the director.

2) What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?
The opening sequence ended with a wide shot of a building called the Halls of Justice. The shot faded out to show a road. While the camera zoomed into the horizon, the text "A FEW YEARS FROM NOW..." appeared on the screen. The next shot has a skull shape on the floor. The camera pans up and the text and skull fades out. The final shot of the opening is a close up of a sign that says "Anarchie Road" with a car in the background.

3) What connotations do the images carry?
The images carry a negative and desolate connotation. They make the viewer feel isolated and interested in why the setting is seemingly so empty.

4) How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?
The shot of the skull on the ground reinforces the theme of survival that is prevalent in apocalypse movies. In the barren landscape that we are shown in the first few shots of the film, it's either survive or die. After the title appears, the first shot is a wide shot of a broken down building, like many other movies in the genre. Additionally, the text "a few years from now" shows the audience that the film takes place after an apocalyptic event, which is a very common setup for the apocalypse genre.

5) How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?
The shots the director chose to show in the introduction piques the audience's interest. The decrepit building and empty road makes the viewer wonder what happened to make the world look like this. The shot of the skull, especially, makes the audience question what is going on.

6) What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?
The film uses muted colors and ominous imagery to show that its meant for older audiences.

7) How has technology been used effectively?
No special technology was used to display the credits. The names simply appeared on screen without any special movements. The font is white on a black background. However, later on in the opening, text that says  "A FEW YEARS FROM NOW..." appears on screen as if it was being typed up. There was a typewriter sound effect as it came onto screen. The intro also used fades to move from shot to shot. Throughout the entire title sequence, there is a score with drums and horns, which sets the mood of the film.

Title Research: Watch the Titles Website

  To research the title sequences of my opening scene, I am going to be using two websites: Art of the Title and Watch the Titles. Watch the Titles is a database of opening and ending sequences to various forms of media. Much like Art of the Title, it includes movies, tv shows, and video games. Watch the Titles includes foreign films and student projects. However, not all of the opening sequences have videos attached. Some are only still images of the opening alongside a description of the movie. This website focuses more on the behind the scenes of title sequence development. There aren't a lot of opening sequences available, but there are plenty of interviews. The website has separate tabs to showcase title designers and studios.

   Because of how limited the title sequence selection is, I'm not sure I'll be able to find an opening that matches my genre. Additionally, I think it would be more beneficial to get to visually watch the title sequences rather than try to understand through screenshots. I will most likely use Watch the Titles less than Art of the Title during my research.
   Even though it won't be as helpful as Art of the Title, Watch the Title will give me insight into the often overlooked design behind making a title sequence. I may utilize it's "designers" tab to see if there is any information that could help me.

Title Research: Art of the Title Website

   To research the title sequences of my opening scene, I am going to be using two websites: Art of the Title and Watch the Titles. Art of the Title is a database of opening and ending sequences to various forms of media. It includes movies, TV shows, animations, and even video games. The movies on the website go back as far as the 30s. The title sequences can be sorted by release date, title, and the date they were added to the website. In the description of each video, the website lists the title designers, producer, illustrators, animators, and the composer of the music playing throughout the title sequence. In addition to opening and ending titles, Art of the Title also offers summaries and interviews.

   Despite the variety of title sequences on Art of the Titles, for my final task, I will be focusing on films more than anything else. Specifically, I am going to be researching apocalypse movies. Some of the clips go beyond the title sequence and include the first few minutes of the film. While this is interesting, for research, I'll only be watching to take note of the way titles appear and in what order.

   By watching the openers to films in my genre, I will be able to understand the typical sequence of titles in apocalypse movies. This will allow my final task to look and feel more professional. Researching titles may also inspire ideas for my own title sequence. It will also help me narrow down pre-existing ideas I have by allowing me to see what is and isn't fitting for the genre.

Genre Research: 10 Cloverfield Lane

10 Cloverfield Lane

Director: J.J. Abrams

Camera Movements/Angles/Shots
An over the shoulder shot is used when Howard is talking to Michelle to show her reactions to and mistrust of what he is saying. The power dynamic between the two main characters is shown through camera angles. A low angle is used when Howard is the focus of the shot to show the control he has over the situation. A high angle is used when Michelle is the focus towards the beginning of the film to show that she is powerless. This idea is further shown in a low angle shot of Michelle when she tries to escape the bunker. She is put in a high position, which makes her have the power for that short period. 


Mise En Scene
The bunker that the characters stay in is empty, which demonstrates isolation. The bunker is disorganized and filled with objects that add to the confusion throughout the movie. The costumes are simple, but the makeup is used for gore effects. The woman outside the bunker early in the movie has rashes on one side of her face. Later on in the movie when Howard falls into acid, his face is severely burned. 

Lighting
In the scene where Michelle looks outside the bunker, a strong source of bright light in the focus of the shot. This hard lighting intensifies the shadows and makes the bunker behind her darker. The bunker is lit with a lot of intense blue lighting. When Michelle escapes through the vents, the room is lit with warm colors. 

Sound
In some scenes, Howard's voice has an echo, which reinforces his power. 10 Cloverfield Lane relies on its non-diegetic score for its sound. 

Genre Research: Train to Busan

Train to Busan

Director: Yeon Sang-ho

Camera Movements/Angles/Shots
Movement is a major part of Train to Busan. Within the first few minutes, there are multiple instances of panning. The camera pans across a road to show a zombified deer. Another pan is used to follow a train leaving the station. The train is followed via a track and a trucking movement many times. Characters running alongside the train are also tracked. There are a lot of close ups on the character's faces, which are used to show emotion and the faces of zombified people. Shaky cam is used when the characters are running through a train car, trying to escape the zombies. In the climax of the film, an extreme close-up and tilt is used to show a zombie bite on the father.

Mise En Scene
The beginning of the movie foreshadows whats to come by having the first characters seen in the movie be wearing hazmat suits. The outfits the characters wear in the film get progressively dirtier and bloodier as they survive through waves of zombies.  Props such as bats, shields, and coats are used as weapons against the zombies. Throughout the film, special effects and makeup are used to show the effect of the monsters. Zombies have their eyes glazed over via contact lenses. Gore and blood are heavily used throughout the film. Special effects are used to give infected people zombie-like skin.

Lighting
Throughout the movie, the lighting is soft lit and fluorescent. In the first scene on the train, the contrast in coloring of the lighting helps set the mood. The outside of the train is lit with cool colors to show how the city is falling apart. Inside the train, the lighting is warm colored, which contrasts the outside strongly. This lightens the mood and leads the viewer into thinking the train will be a place of safety.

Sound
Diegetic sound plays a large role in Train to Busan. The zombies detect people through sound. A ringtone is used to distract the zombies while the characters escape. A heartbeat is used to raise tension. In the end of the film, the girl sings a song to signify that she isn't a zombie, which allows her to enter the safe zone. In addition, there is also a score in the background to make the emotional moments more impactful.

Genre Research: Bird Box

Bird Box

Director: Susanne Bier

Camera Movements/Angles/Shots
Multiple camera movements and angles are used in Bird Box. The very first shot of the film is an extreme wide shot of a river. As the title credit appears, the camera pans down the river quickly. An extreme close up of a paintbrush is used as a transition into a flashback. A wide shot is used to show the destruction and chaos of a city shortly after the apocalyptic event occurs. Later on, a low angle is used to show blood leaking out from under a door. Throughout the film, point of view is used to show what the characters see through their blindfolds.

Mise En Scene

The destruction of the city is shown in the first flashback through the mise en scene. Smoke billows out of the buildings, burning cars are piled up in the street. Buildings are shuttered, which hints that the creatures can only effect people if they are seen. When the movie flashes forward to five years later, the setting is primarily a forest. The remaining buildings are overgrown with plants. The character's outfits are significantly dirtier. When a radio is used, the connection is poor and we can hear static. This show the isolation of the characters.
Throughout the film, special effects and makeup are used to show the effect of the monsters. Characters who see the creatures have their eyes glazed over via contact lenses. Gore and blood are heavily used in the opening scene to display the chaos, along with explosions and burning cars. Later on, makeup is used to turn people into corpses, which are laying in the middle of the road.

Lighting

Throughout the movie, natural lighting is prominently used because most of the film takes place outside. When natural lighting isn't used, the setting is intentionally dark to set a mood. 


Sound
There are multiple examples of diegetic sound throughout the film. In the opening scene, a news report is heard, which gives exposition. Later on, noise is used to display the chaos of a city that is being taken over by the monsters. Sounds such as explosions, fire crackling, sirens, and car alarms are utilized.A key plot element is birds chirping. Whenever the creatures- which are signified by howling wind- are nearby, the birds make a sound. In the climax of the film, the characters navigate the forest by ringing bells and following the sound. Non-diegetic sound like rising tones and scores are used, too.

Genre Research: A Quiet Place

A Quiet Place

Director: John Krasinski

Camera Movements/Angles/Shots
In the opening of the film, a variety of different shots are used to establish a feeling of isolation and destruction. There's a close up of a fallen traffic light. A wide shot is used to show the surrounding area of a store. This area is nearly destroyed. There are topped over cars and debris all over the place. When inside the store, a low angle is used to introduce the characters to show their strength for surviving in a desolate area. A close-up of one of the character's face is obstructed by a shelf of medicine. The camera tracks the movement of her face and hand as she grabs a bottle off of the shelf. As the characters leave the store, we get a wide shot of a forest from a bird's eye view angle. Later on in the film, there's an extreme close up of a character's dirt-covered nails to show a passage of time.


Mise En Scene
The mise en scene in A Quiet Place helps give hints to what started the apocalypse and show the destruction the monsters caused. For example, when the characters enter a store, we can see newspapers littered around the outside. Items are strewn across the floor. When we get a clear view of the characters, we see that their clothes are dirty and their hair is matted. They are barefoot, which gives a hint as to what alerts the monsters. The colors in the store are sepia-toned. Because this segment of the film takes place a year before the rest, this could've been done to show nostalgia for before times got worse.

As the characters leave the store, we can see a pinboard covered in torn up and faded missing posters. There are destroyed cars and debris lined across the street. There are overgrown plants throughout the film. When technology is shown, it is usually broken and displays static. This helps show the isolation of the characters. Finally, towards the end of the film, CGI is used when the monsters are finally revealed.


Lighting
In the beginning of the film, back-lighting is used to make the mood feel more ominous with shadows. Throughout the movie, natural lighting is prominently used because most of the film takes place outside. When natural lighting isn't used, the setting is intentionally dark to set a mood. Red lights are used as an emergency signal and show urgency. In the end of the film, though, the room that the characters use for communications is lit up with blue lighting to make the viewers feel hope.

Sound
Sound is a key element in A Quiet Place. The monsters hunt through sound, so the film is almost entirely silent. There is very little dialogue and most sound is ambient. However, diegetic sound is used as a plot point. In the opening, one of the children is killed by a toy making noise. A man kills himself by screaming. Sound is used to distract the monsters and lead them away from the main characters. In the climax of the film, the characters learn that the sound of feedback kills the monsters. As in most films with horror elements, sounds like heartbeats are used to instill fear and tension.

Genre Research: Final Genre Decision

    I have researched three genres over the course of a few days. These genres are war, science fiction, and apocalypse. Originally, I was going to replace sci-fi with horror, but I thought horror and apocalypse were too similar. After much thought, I have decided to make my final task apart of the apocalypse genre. I think that my pitch idea fits into this genre the most out of the ones I researched. Additionally, following the conventions of an apocalypse movie will improve my final product more than sci-fi or war conventions. I have chosen the four movies I will watch to further understand the genre. These movies are Bird Box, A Quiet Place, 10 Cloverfield Lane, and Train to Busan.

Genre Research: Apocalypse and Sci-Fi

    The two genres I have chosen to research are apocalypse/doomsday and science-fiction. Originally, I was interested in researching the horror genre instead of sci-fi. However, because of how similar apocalypse and horror are, I decided to go for sci-fi instead.

Apocalypse

Common Lighting: Movies in the apocalypse genre use natural lighting, which allows for scenes with darkness that isn't too intense.

Camera Angles, Movements, and Shots: Extreme wide shots are a critical part of the apocalypse genre. They emphasize the isolation and destruction. Some wide shots are taken from a bird's eye view. These shots are often accompanied by pans, tilts, and trucking.

Mise En Scene: In movies where the plot takes place during or after the catastrophic event, the costumes and makeup of the cast look run down and torn up. Makeup is for gore purposes. In movies where the plot takes place before the apocalypse, the cast may wear clothes that are normal for their characters. Additionally, costumes change depending on what sets off the plot; a nuclear bomb could require a character to wear a hazmat suit, whereas a zombie apocalypse would not. Props can be used to show how much society has crumbled. For example, a pile of rubble could be used to show the destruction of a city. Finally, movies in this genre use special effects to make realistic gore or make a location seem as if it has fallen apart and is deserted.

Common Elements: In most apocalypse movies, the story revolves around a character or group of characters having to escape or live with the events of a post-apocalyptic world. Causes for the apocalypse include nuclear war, pandemic, the rise of technology, and in some cases, things like zombies and aliens. A major theme in apocalypse movies is survival.

Common Sound: The sound in apocalypse movies vary depending on what causes the apocalypse. For example, some use long moments of quiet to build up to a sudden, loud noise for horror purposes. However, others emphasize the chaos of the apocalypse by having constant loud sounds, such as screams, growls, or destruction noises.

Aspects I Like: I'm interested in the scenarios presented and how realistic they can feel.

Aspects I Dislike: The plots can be repetitive.

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Science-Fiction

Common Lighting: Sci-fi movies utilize intense, fluorescent lighting to create a sterile and metallic futuristic setting. They may also use colored lighting to create a mood.

Camera Angles, Movements, and Shots: Similar to apocalypse movies, extreme wide shots are used heavily in sci-fi films. However, instead of showing destruction, wide shots are used to show the growth and development of society. Sci-fi movies use close-ups to show details of the technology shown. Low and high angles may be used in science fiction films that focus on a dystopia to show characters in positions of power and weakness.

Mise En Scene: Movies in the sci-fi genre typically take place in space and other futuristic settings. Depending on how far into the future the society in the film is, the costumes can range from regular clothing to technologically advanced suits and accessories. Props consist of complex technology, such as robots, weapons, and phones. The lighting in sci-fi movies may be bright and colorful to emphasize a change in society. Special effects (specifically CGI) are used to make the world seem more realistic and help the viewer imagine the future presented is close.

Common Elements: Sci-fi movies heavily feature futuristic elements, such as robots, space travel, aliens, and the rise of technology. Popular themes in modern sci-fi movies include artificial intelligence, how technology changes society, and dystopian societies.

Common Sound: Sound in science fiction movies are mostly computer generated sounds, which are used for things like robots or computers.

Aspects I Like: I enjoy the concepts that are presented and how thought-provoking they are. I also like seeing the special effects.

Aspects I Dislike: I dislike sci-fi movies that don't build upon the world and instead focus on the characters.

Genre Research: War

Back in September, we were given a genre at random to research and create a powerpoint on. On that assignment, I worked with a partner, but for the final task, I'm working alone. In the powerpoint, we put music that matched the genre, but that can't be heard due to the powerpoint being uploaded as JPEGs. The information in the powerpoint is simple, but it helped me understand the basics of researching a genre. The genre we researched was war. Most movies in the war movie have a similar mise en scene of greys, browns, and muted greens. They also have a variety of shots ranging from wide shots to extreme close ups. The sound will often be loud and filled with diegetic sound such as gunshots, but war movies also have quiet moments with non-diegetic music. This music aims to inspire a feeling of patriotism, which is a major theme in war movies.

Choosing the Pitch

      For the final task, I need to decide on a pitch. This choice is crucial because it will decide the path of the entire process. The first pitch idea I had was, "A man will do anything it takes to protect the strange secret behind his fortune." Story-wise, the pros of this pitch are that I can take it in many different directions. It would be easy to make the ending of the two minutes be captivating and make people want to watch more. From a technical standpoint, this pitch would be one of the easiest to make. It wouldn't need too many other actors or overly difficult editing techniques. However, I think the con of this pitch is that if I would have to plan the story beyond what I'm a filming a lot so I would be able to think of a convincing and interesting secret. Additionally, what I have in mind may be too comedy-leaning for this project. This could be easily fixed, though.

     The second idea I had was, "When a foreboding nuclear test site is disturbed, a town must cope with it's disastrous effects." This idea was inspired by the concept of long-time nuclear waste warning messages. These messages are meant to warn future civilizations about nuclear waste burial sites, even after language ends. The pros of this idea are that I already have a general idea on what I'd film for the first minute or so. Also, I feel that this would be the most interesting pitch to turn into a two minute clip. Above all else, I am the most inspired by this idea, which I think would make the quality of my final product much higher. However, the biggest issue with this pitch is where I would film it. I would have to find an abandoned, wasteland looking area, which may be difficult. I would also need to buy some costumes, which could end up being expensive, especially since they're just one time props.

  The third idea I had was, "A man with the ability to know the exact consequences of his actions uses his power for frivolous things." I am not going to use this pitch simply because I am the least inspired by it. I don't think the final product would make people want to watch more. Therefore, the choice is between the first two pitches. With everything considered, I am choosing the second pitch. I think that, if I can pull it off, it will make for a good final product. Additionally, there are workarounds to the costume problem I mentioned.

Starting the Final Task

      I'm Ava and I am a sophomore taking AICE Media Studies. Originally, I joined this class because I thought it'd be mildly interesting. However, after a year, I have a new appreciation for film making. I've found that I enjoy the pre-production process and have discovered that I enjoy storyboarding and planning out stories. This class has encouraged me to want to pursue writing as a hobby. This year, I have worked on a commercial and a music video. Today, I will be beginning the final task: making a two minute introduction to a movie. I will be working alone for this project because I think it will be more efficient. I won't have to work around other people's schedules.

     Throughout the year, I have gone from knowing very little about the film-making process to being able to make two full projects. Before this year, I hadn't used any high-quality camera equipment like the ones we utilize in class. I had only used one editing program and only knew how to do basic cuts and transitions. After completing the commercial and music video, I learned how to handle a camera and use more complex editing techniques. Specifically, I am now able to add, cut, edit, and overlay sound in Pinnacle Studios. However, for the final task, I am most excited to put my new knowledge of camera angles to use during the production process. In class and through the music video project, I learned about how different angles can be used as storytelling devices. I think this information will help me make a visually interesting movie introduction and enhance the filming experience.

       A pitch is a Hollywood term used to describe an idea where a film is encapsulated in 25 words or less. This type of pitch is specifically called an "elevator pitch", and it's typically 1-2 sentences. I have come up with 3 pitch ideas I am interested in using for my final task:

1. Pitch 1: A man will do anything it takes to protect the strange secrets behind his fortune.
2. Pitch 2: When a foreboding nuclear test site is disturbed, a town must cope with it's disastrous effects.
3. Pitch 3: A man with the ability to know the exact consequences of his actions uses his power for frivolous things.