Our finished Title Sequence

Evaluation

BRIEF: To create the title sequence and opening scene of a new film.

Genre: Action Thriller.

Target audience: 15+ both genders.

In what way does your media product use, develop or challenge forms of conventions of real life media products?

During the research and planning of creating our opening title sequence I looked at in depth the codes and conventions of a title sequence in the same genre as ours to make sure we followed them.

In the title sequence we wanted to make the audience want to carry on watching as we left them in suspense to find out who the kidnapper actually was. I believe this to follow the conventions of an action thriller title sequence as throughout the film more and more is revealed. Some of the elements we wanted to add to our sequence were an edgy feel, creepy, dark and most of all a feel of unease. We felt by using these elements we would be able to start off the narrative strongly and successfully. I think that we created tension and suspense which plays a key part in all thriller crime films. We created this feel by the different use of camera shots and through the editing process. One major thing we did in the editing process was to use two shots but play them in a split-screen at the same time. As the two camera shots we both moving in different directions, as they play together it give a twisted feel which adds to the concept of it being a thriller film. This will also give the hint to the audience that there is more to the narrative then they have already witnessed. As we were able to consider these codes and conventions into our title sequence I believe the finishing product is much more successful and also looks very professional. If we hadn’t of done all the research into title sequences then we wouldn’t have been able to work to the best of our ability. Our title doesn’t give too much away, however ‘Seized’ means taken so this will give some insight to the audience of what the narrative is about. We came to the name ‘Seized’ as we was thinking of other words that can be associated with ‘kidnap’ this is why we chose ‘Seized as it didn’t give too much away, and would keep an element of surprise for the audience as they kept watching.

Who would be the audience for your media product? How does your media product represent particular social groups?

The age group we targeted for our film was 15+ for both genders. We chose this because we wouldn’t have many restrictions on what we can and can’t add into the narrative, however if this was based to a younger target audience we would have had to of been very careful in the storyline. To target this age group we used characters around a similar age as we thought that it would make them think that it could happen to anyone they know and how it would affect them. It would make them think about safety and put the idea in their heads that they have to be careful. This will help them relate to the film and for it to have more of an impact on them. We also targeted this age group as they are young and love films with suspense and energy; these are features that we wanted to add into the title sequence.

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

As a group we put in a lot of time to research what different types of films were distributed by who. We wanted a distributer who had distributed similar films to our idea and also one that was well known to give our film recognition. We decided that we would use ‘Lionsgate’ as this has distributed films like ‘American Psycho’ and ‘Saw’. We thought as they had experience distributing similar films in the same genre as us then that would be the best choice for us.

How did you attract/address your audience?

We addressed the audience by showing an ordinary girl walking home from school, which is a normal thing most people do each day, we thought that this would draw in the audience as it will be a subject close to home. They will be able to relate to the storyline, which will keep them hooked.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

By doing this project I have had the chance to be able to gain many different skills using Final Cut Pro. None of us in our group had used this before which made it really difficult at first and made the editing process very slow at first. I really enjoyed using this software, as now I feel comfortable in the future to use it again.

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

From the preliminary task I have learnt many different skills that I shall use again. I now know the importance of storyboarding as it is a crucial part in the planning process to make a professional title sequence. I have also learnt how important it is to calculate our time efficiently. This was important as we had lots of work to complete in a set time period so we had to make realistic time slots for any obstacles that may of risen. We had to make sure that we was well prepared by making sure the camera was charged and that we had all the equipment we needed before we set off because if we didn’t it would of just wasted time! Another thing we have learnt is how difficult filming can be. We would start filming and a car would approach down the road, making us have to start again. This was all time consuming.

Overall, I think that we created a very successful title sequence that told the storyline well as we had done lots of research and planning before hand.

Feedback on our title sequence!

Journal - 9th February 2011

In todays lesson we got lots done! We made a questionnaire to get audience feedback from, made an animatic, done screen shots of our editing process and updated everything on our blogs. We are way ahead of our schedule so we can now focus on making sure all the finishing touches are perfect!

Screen Shots of our editing process

Here is all of our different shots that we had to put into our sequence. This is was very hard to do at first as we wasnt really sure what we had to do as we had never used 'Final Cut Pro' before. This element of the software is very useful it stores everything that has been edited into our title sequence.
This was the starting point of our title sequence. We decided to use Longate as our distributor because they have distributed films that come under the same genre as ours, so we thought it would work well and fit in with the overall mood of our piece.
This is when we started to add the titles to our title sequence. This was a very long process!! We had to cut the image into lots of different pieces and move them up down to make it look like the titles were jumping about.
Here is the logo that Daisy created. I think this works really well and gives the eerie effect that we wanted.




This is the stage of the editing process when we added music to it. This took a very long time to choose the right piece of music that will not make the film too obvious!

This is our finished title sequence!! I am so happy with our finished product and believe that it has been very successful!

Questionnaire

Here is the questionnaire Sophie produced. We plan to give this to people so they can give us some feedback about our title sequence, we hope that this will give us an idea of things we could change and make better.

Final Typography!

This is our final typography idea for out title. We decided to use this as it is bold and stands out as the writing is white on a black background. We created this in a website called Picnik. We then decided to download the font we used so we can use it throughout our title sequence. We feel as a group that this font represents the stalker/investigator very well within our film as it looks like its decaying.

Journal - 7th February 2011

In todays lesson we showed our media teacher our FINISHED TITLE SEQUENCE!! She said it was fine so we were just finishing everything that needs to be done. We added the cast photos to our blogs and the music ideas that we had and our chosen ones too. Things that we still have to complete are to make some screenshots of our editing process. This shouldnt take too long then we can hopefully start on our evaluations so we should be ready well before the deadline hopefully!

Cast Pictures

Jon Purday our Media teacher starred in our title sequence as the Investigator.

Emily Neil - me, I starred as the girl who gets kidnapped by the investigator.

Final Music Choice!!

Click Here To Listen :) - In the Beginning

Music Research

A very important part of our title sequence was the sound. We found this very difficult to find but here are the ideas we have so far....

Track One - Cold City

Track Two - In Memoriam

Track Three - Hells Harp

Journal - 4th February 2011

We made all the finishing touches to our title sequence today and changed all the things Miss Whittaker told us to! We are very pleased with how our title sequence planned out as we did put so much effort into making it the best we possibly could.

Hopefully now we dont have to make any changes to our title sequence but if we feel the need to change something we will :)

Journal - 2nd February 2011

In todays lesson we finally found some music to go with our title sequence!! It works really well with our piece as the timing works aswell as fitting in with the mood of the piece. Miss Whittaker said that by the end of the lesson we must have a piece to show the class and I am very pleased to say that we did!!! YAY :D

Feedback:

Fade out our titles as they just disappear.

Make some final tweeks to tighten it all up.

Change "A Sparky Productions" to "A Sparky Production".

Our Final Production Logo

"With each of the previous production logo's we used a white background with black imagery and typography; in this design we used a negative effect to vary our possible options. The typography resembles the different strokes of the feather. In this design we were able to incorporate all the different elements we realised from our first few designs. The contrast of the white on the black creates a softness to the image without losing the sharpness on points of the feather. So far this is the design which we are most likely to use in our opening title sequence as it fits in with the whole look of the sequence."

Journal - 28th January 2011

In todays lesson we basically carried on editing our title sequence. We are nearly finished however, finding music to fit in with our piece of music is very difficult so we are still on the hunt for this! A thing that we did start to do today was to add our titles to our title sequence. We searched Final Cut Pro for ages to find an effect for our titles that we like but we couldnt find one. The kind of effect we wanted to use was to make them look like they are jumping and moving about in a awkward way. To do this we asked Jerry, a technician to help us. He told us to cut the titles into small junks and move them about. This worked really well but takes a very long time to do! I hope to get this finished next lesson.

Journal - 26th January 2011

In todays lesson we finished editing all the clips together FINALLY! However, we just now need to add the titles in and find some music which fits in with the themes we are portraying. The editing process was actually quite easy once you know how you want your piece to look and how to use the software you have been provided with. Final Cut Pro was tricky at first to use but once you get used to it its fine. We started to look for music today but we havent found anything that we like yet. I am going to carry on this search now and hopefully I will find something that could work. I am really enjoying this project and look forward to getting it finished.

Journal - 25th January 2011

Today I didn't have a media lesson but decided to come and do some extra work so we can keep on schedule. I came to the Mac room last lesson and deleted all the editing I done so far! I know this was risky but am so glad I did as now the editing has improved! I decided to start the title sequence with the main character walking down the street instead of the investigator at his table which is now placed second in the piece. I keep cutting back and forth from the street scene to different shots of the book and investigator sitting at his desk. I believe that the start of the title sequence is now more succesful and I am VERY happy with what I have done so far and believe that my group will be aswell.

Things we need complete:
- Shoot the opening scene of our title sequence, which the sequence will go in to.
- Keep up to date with everything on our blogs.
- Finish off all editing.

Journal - 24th January 2011

In todays lesson we cracked on with the editing process! We really want to get this done ASAP so we can keep on our tight schedule. When we first entered the Mac room and signed on I thought I had lost all my work!! But had realised I had saved it onto Sophies area instead of mine. Silly me!! Miss Whittaker gave us the idea to add the stalking section down the road into the different clips of the investigator with his book. I believe this is a very good idea and we plan to go ahead with this. We are now getting the grips of Final Cut Pro and I am going to do some further editing tomorrow. I am very excited now to get our editing finished to see our finished title sequence.

Production Logos

This is the very first production logo we created, the feather itself has slightly been softened, and the typography we used follows a movement which mirrors the feathers movement. The typography colour has been faded in a way which adds a softness to it again relating make to the feather image. This is not my favourite production logo because it is very basic and there is no dimension to it or fading of colours or graining of the image.

This was the second production logo we designed; from the first design we realised the different elements we had to consider to create a production logo which was the opposite to the first one we designed. Firstly we began by strengthening the dimensions of the feather making it more darker adding further depth to it- which we did not achieve in the original design. Also we added graining over the entire logo this give's an essence of the silent movie era. I thought it would be a good idea to use a typography which resembled an earlier period therefore I chose a font which looked like it had been hand written with ink; the typography also has a motion to it which follows the feathers shapes. A criticism of this design was that the heavy graining could have a harsh effect on the eyes.

By coming to the conclusion that the heavy graining on the image is harsh on the eyes we used a different effect where there is a focal soft point in the middle of the images and the brightness gets darker towards the corners of the production logo.Firstly we began by strengthening the dimensions of the feather making it more darker adding further depth to it- which we did not achieve in the original design- as we did in the previous design.

Journal - 21st January 2011

In todays lesson we started to attempt to edit our title sequence. First of all we began to experiment with all the different effects and try and work out how to do things as we had never used this program before. The program we decided to use was 'Final Cut Pro'. The editing process at first was really difficult, things kept going wrong and we wasnt completing anything! However we then got a member of staff to help us and now we are okay and know the basics. I hope by next lesson we will be able to use the program how we like.

Journal - 19th January 2011

In todays lesson we wanted to get all of our filming for our title sequence complete AND we managed to do this!! We then uploaded it all onto the macs ready for editing. Our filming process I feel went really well and run smoothly, we did however have to do some retakes as some shots were hard to do first time round. We are hoping that we wont have to film any more but if we do feel that something isnt working then we will re-shoot it.

Journal - 17th January 2011

In todays lesson we decided to film some close up shots of the book as we would like to edit these in as a fading effect throughout the title sequence. I believe these shots where VERY successful and think that they worked really well. I now cant wait to start editting!!! We also then uploaded them to the macs and are going to film more on Wednesday to then be able to edit them all together :)

Journal - 14th January 2011

Plans for todays lesson:

As I was in late to school today because of a doctors appointment my group decided to wait for me to film so in todays lesson we plan to:

1) Update everything on our blogs

2) Start filming!!!!

........

WE STARTED TO FILM FINALLY!!

We asked our teacher Mr Purday to star in our title sequence as the investigator, and thankfully he agreed! We made our classroom dark and got a light from art to add the effect of the investigator sitting at his desk. We filmed from three different angles to see which one looked best. We then uploaded them to the macs and saved it. We are now back on task and think that we will be able to make a successfull title sequence.

The Book!

This is the book that we are planning to use as the investigators book. We are going to edit in our opening credits when we edit the whole piece together. I think this worked really well and will add to the effect of our finished title sequence.

Journal - 12th January 2011

In todays lesson we couldnt do much as there was only 6 people in!! All the others were on a trip and as I had a exam I couldnt go :( so today we just updated EVERYTHING onto our blogs and made sure our investigator book was finished! As Sarah was on the trip we couldnt start filming but we must start filming soon as we will then be behind our schedule!!

Here are the images of the places that we decided to use for our title sequence. These images show lots of possible places that we can use if one is busy.

The images below are the various places we could use for our desk scene.

The next set of images that we took was the area that we thought we could use for the stalking part of our title sequence.

Finally here are the images where you will see the struggle between the girl and her kidnapper. We have decided to shoot these in the dutch tilt shot which will think will give the edge to the scene thats needed.

Type of Audience

There are some questions which need to be asked before deciding the audience of our piece these include:

• What kind of people may be interested in your story?
• Young people, older people?
• People from different communities?
• Specific groups of people?
• What else might your target audience go and see?
• What would they watch at the cinema?
• What would they watch on television?
• Would you want to watch your film?
• How would you rate the content of your film?

Q:What kind of people may be interested in your story?
A:I think the type of people who may be interested in our story would be those who enjoy the excitment of the unknown and the constant questioning of what may happen next.

Q:Young people, older people?
A:The age range which we decided to aim our film at was the over 15s, therefore we would expect above 15 year olds onwards. So our film is aimed at both young people and older people.

Q:Specific groups of people?
A:There is not a single specific group which our film is aimed at although we would not recommend it to those who do not enjoy the genre of crime, thriller or drama.

Q:What else might your target audience go and see?
A:Our target audience would most probably go see films within the genre's of horror, crime, realism, drama possibly period drama's and also thriller's. Films such as 'The Stepfather', 'Disturbia' etc.

Q:What would they watch on television?
A:There could be a range of programmes which our audience may go see from documentries on the topic of crime to social realism as our film relates to some issues which arise in society.

Q:Would you want to watch your film?
A:I would watch my film because it falls into the genre of film I enjoy watching, also there are constant climax's and cliff hangers throughout the film enabling the audience to want to know what is going to happen next. Also I would enjoy watching the film because it is the type of film which always keeps its audience on edge.

More Typography Ideas

Journal - 10th January 2011

In todays lesson we was making our final decisions for when we start filming on wednesday. We made some more typography ideas and placed these on our blogs also. We need to stick all of our images into the detective book, this needs to be finished in time for filming on wednesday.

MORE CCTV photographs

Here are some more CCTV photographs that we took and edited in todays lesson . We plan to use these images but I don't believe that they are as successful as our other ones. We were unable to go outside because it was raining which meant that we were limited to the space we could use. We have decided to take more photographs when we start filming as then we will be able to be outside of school.