Monday 30 January 2017

Narrative Structure of Title Sequence

Todorov's Narrative Structure



Here is the narrative structure in which my group's title sequence will follow. This theory was created by Tzvetan Todorov.

  • Equilibrium - This is where Jack, the protagonist, is at school, his mum is a single mum, they are not well off and Jack has an interest in football but he is unable to fully pursue his dream of being a professional footballer due to the fact he doesn't have good football boots and has no encouragement. His PE teacher acts like a father figure to him and encourages him to keep on following his dreams. He has a contact who is a scout for Tottenham Hotspur and organises and trial for Jack. Jack then gets signed by Tottenham and has the ability to buy nice football boots.
  • Disruption - Jack starts to let the fame get to his head and some of his friends start to lose patience with him.  
  • Disequilibrium - Jack gets injured playing for Tottenham and the person who injured him was one of his bullies from Secondary School. Jack breaks his ankle and is out for a lengthy amount of time, whilst he is recovering a friend of his visits him a lot and they get closer.
  • Attempt to restore Equilibrium - Jack is recovering from his injury and is striving to hit the form he once hit. His aim is to return for the cup final. His girlfriend says to him that she doesn't want him to behave like he did before.
  • New Equilibrium - Jack returns for the cup final, against the team in which he broke his ankle against. Jack scores the winning goal.

Wednesday 25 January 2017

General Research into Title Sequences

Title Sequences
Titles and opening sequence of a new fiction film to last a maximum of 2 minutes.

Foundation Portfolio - 120 marks
  • Research and Planning - 40 marks
  • Construction - 60 marks
  • Evaluation - 20 marks
General research into title sequences

The Incredible Hulk - Thriller/Action (2008) Prologue
  • Newspapers
  • Pins, photos, classified evidence (props)
  • Point of view from the protagonist (The Hulk)
  • X-Rays
  • Live action scenes telling the audience the narrative
  • Setting up motifs
  • Romantic subplot - flashbacks
  • Intense parallel soundtrack - non-diegetic

Love Actually's title sequence is unconventional because it does not introduce ay characters or the narrative, but it is showing archive footage and this sets up the universal theme of the film.

David Fincher's "Seven" (1995) Title sequence - Kyle Cooper
  • Close-up of the antagonist
  • Parallel soundtrack
  • Same font used throughout the title sequence- small writing - handwritten typography -part of the narrative
  • Flashing - out of focus  
  • Pictures
  • Abstract and raw look and effect
  • Insight into the character (the antagonist)

                                                     
This title sequence stands out from most other title sequences produced due to the typography that is used. It is not big and bold and in the centre of the screen but it is small and on the side of the screen. This is very unconventional for big films because they usually have the protagonist's name in the centre of the screen to emphasise star power. An effect is also added where they flicker, this could possibly be to emphasise the names. Furthermore, the antagonist features throughout the title sequence and in this the audience gets some knowledge of how his character is.


In addition, the audience also gets some knowledge on the antagonist due to the things he is doing and using to create his "portfolio" of the one person he is obsessed about. He was using sharp objects and sharpening with his fingers, this shows the extent the antagonist is willing to go to in order to maintain his agenda. Images in the title sequence of him cutting film, writing and drawing a person's face was also shown. This tells the audience that the antagonist is after someone and that all of the things he is doing in the title sequence is about that one person.

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
  • Filming the revealing of the title - drawn with crayon - indicates young character
  • Close-up
  • Grabbing on a dolly
  • Moving slowly past props
  • In and out of focus
Dr Strange Love (1964)
  • Handwritten - big and bold - fills the entirety of the screen
  • Two images blending in with each other - dissolve
Vertigo (1958)
  • Extreme close-up
  • Parallel soundtrack
  • Moving text
American Psycho (2000)
  • Visual at the beginning and then establishes some of the characters and some of the narrative

Monday 23 January 2017

Kyle Cooper

Kyle Cooper

Kyle Cooper studied interior architecture at the University of Massachusetts and he then went on to study graphic design at Yale University. In 1988, he received his Master in Fine Arts. He has directed and produced over 150 title and VFX sequences. One of those being the title sequence for Se7en, which could be proclaimed as one of his most famous pieces of work. Other title sequences he produced was; The Spider-Man Trilogy, The Walking Dead and American Horror Story.  The great success and positive feedback on the Superman and Spider-Man title sequences grabbed Marvel's attention and this resulted him directing and producing the title sequences for other superhero films such as The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man. Cooper has also had great successes with television such as producing and directing the title sequences for Sherlock Holmes and Vegas, Elementary. Typically, his title sequences are very dark coloured, fast paced, manic and mysterious.

In this two part interview Kyle Cooper is talking about title design.

Wednesday 18 January 2017

Specification

Specification



Preliminary exercise: Continuity task involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180-degree rule.
Main task: the titles and opening of a new fiction film, to last a maximum of two minutes.
All video and audio material must be original, produced by the candidate(s), with the exception of music or audio effects from a copyright-free source. Both preliminary and main tasks may be done individually or as a group. Maximum four members to a group. 

Tuesday 17 January 2017

Continuity Sequence

Continuity Sequence



Here is the continuity sequence I produced with Kaan, Tolani and Kallum. The idea of the continuity sequence was that Tolani was being questioned for the murder of her husband. Kaan was the police officer who was questioning her and trying to get her to admit that it was her who killed her husband. After a while Kallum, who played the role of another police officer, came in to the questioning room to inform Kaan that there was a situation. With Kaan leaving Tolani received a text message telling her to get out of there and it finishes with her escaping out of the building. We used a number of shots, such as shot reverse shot of the conversation with Kaan and Tolani, 180 degree angle of the conversation and a match on action shot of the door handle being opened.


Tuesday 10 January 2017

Title Sequence Analysis

The Incredible Hulk


Firstly, the title sequence for the film 'The Incredible Hulk' is 2:39 long and in this title sequence it sets up the narrative for the remainder of the film, this is known as a prologue. The first images shown in the title sequence are of X-Rays of Edward Norton's character, which is the Incredible Hulk. These images and images that follow after these show the transformation of the character as he turns into the Incredible Hulk. This gives the audience some background knowledge of the protagonist and this information helps the audience understand what has gone on and leads up to the narrative.




In addition, the title sequence also gives the audience some information on the romantic subplot, which may feature later on in the film. The romantic subplot is evident due to the protagonist shown to wink at the doctor, his partner' before he undergoes the treatment and after images of the doctor on the floor bleeding with the Incredible Hulk reaching his arm out towards her, suggesting that he regrets what he has done to her and it signifies that despite him turning into the Hulk his feelings remain for her. Further images of Edward Norton's character visiting his partner in hospital are shown.



Furthermore, an indication of one of the genre's of the film is shown by the filming of newspapers, which are showing the incident that happened at the campus. The multiple newspaper headlines and the images of the scene shown indicates that the has the genre of thriller, as well as crime. The camera is zoomed in on certain words and the camera pans quickly. In addition, another effect that is used is camera keeps on jittering, which creates a mysterious effect.



Finally, every word in the credits are coloured in green, as well as the word 'Hulk' in the title. This was done because the colour of the Incredible Hulk is green and this was done in other action and adventure superhero films with the colour of the title being relevant to the colour of the superhero, such as the Green Lantern and Batman. This suggests that is it a conventional feature of title sequences of superhero films.



Love Actually

Love Actually's title sequence is unconventional because it does not introduce any characters or the narrative, but it is showing archive footage and this sets up the universal theme of the film. Typically in title sequences, they give the audience an indea about the narrative of the film or some insight on a character and their story. 



David Fincher's "Se7en" (1995) Title sequence - Kyle Cooper
                                                 


This title sequence stands out from most other title sequences produced due to the typography that is used. It is not big and bold and in the centre of the screen but it is small and on the side of the screen. This is very unconventional for big films because they usually have the protagonist's name in the centre of the screen to emphasise star power. An effect is also added where they flicker, this could possibly be to emphasise the names. Furthermore, the antagonist features throughout the title sequence and in this the audience gets some knowledge of how his character is.






In addition, the audience also gets some knowledge on the antagonist due to the things he is doing and using to create his "portfolio" of the one person he is obsessed about. He was using sharp objects and sharpening with his fingers, this shows the extent the antagonist is willing to go to in order to maintain his agenda. Images in the title sequence of him cutting film, writing and drawing a person's face was also shown. This tells the audience that the antagonist is after someone and that all of the things he is doing in the title sequence is about that one person.


Catch Me if You Can (2002)

In this title sequence the design of it has been heavily influenced by Saul Bass and I can tell this by the design and shape of the characters in the title sequence and the use of colours. Furthermore, from the title sequence I gathered that the director of the film was Steven Spielberg and this suggests to me that the film has a very high production value and this is because typically Spielberg's films have a high production value and this is because he is a very famous director. The title sequence showed a man being chased by another, who seemed like a policeman/detective, through different locations. Locations such as an airport, hospital, a basement and on the motorway were shown and this gave away the whole narrative, which is very unconventional. Usually, the title sequence gives some background knowledge on a character or a bit of narrative and this is to set the story up but in this instance the whole narrative was told within the title sequence. In addition, the use of typography was very good and effective in this title sequence because it moved and interacted with the visuals. For example, when the title of the film was shown an airplane went past and the word 'me' moved along with it. This is very effective because it helps the typography stand out and allows to audience to notice it.