Title Research: The Reaping

How many titles are displayed during the opening sequence film?
In the opening sequence, “The Reaping,” it includes 23 titles. Providing credits to the directors, editors, producers, and etc.

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?
Altogether, there weren’t many actual images shown in the sequence. Fairly, they replaced this aspect with small objects such as leaves, salt, pepper, and the legs of a frog.

What connotations do the images carry?
As mentioned before small objects replaced the perspective of images. However, they retained the same responsibility, to establish a perception of the movie. All objects illustrated in the sequence established the same feeling, mysteriousness, and creepiness. This connotation may give the audience a sense of fear or uneasiness.

How is the genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?
As for technical codes, a microscopic camera was used to film the salt/pepper. The seasoning didn’t seem too obvious instead it appeared to be tiny particles under a microscope as if you were a scientist conducting an experiment. As for the leaves and the legs of the frog, I’m not really confident what it symbolizes but I’m sure it would be introduced to us later on in the movie.

How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?
The sequence somewhat foreshadows a summary of the film. By doing so, it establishes an enigma. Although we do not know exactly what happened in the film the opening sequence gives us a feel of what the movie will be about.

What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?
In my opinion, the main element that caught my attention was the use of colors. The sequence started out with the color black but later on showed us red. This continued for the remainder of the sequence. The way the editors went back and forth between colors is what kept me engaged. Even though this is what appealed to me there are plenty of other components used to keep the targeting audience interested. Such as music, images, and editing.


How has technology been used effectively?
Throughout the whole sequence a song was playing, this song gives the audience the feeling that the film would be something creepy. In addition, technology was also presented in a variety of ways, including angles, editing techniques, sounds. Many of the snapshots were presented at a low angle. They transitioned from one another using techniques such as fade-in and fade-out.

Title Research Split

How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film?

There were 23 titles displayed in the opening sequence which included the starring actors, production company, casting agent, the editor, and more.


What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?
The opening sequence contained quick clips and images of the kidnapping situation that that takes place throughout the movie. The clips are scattered and quick as to not reveal too much about the film but still create a suspenseful introduction.


What connotations do the images carry?
The images create a feeling of suspense and fear through the fast unexpected cuts and the terrified expression on the young girls face. The images in the sequence also set the mood for the film by depicting a frightening kidnapping situation, which will clearly contain a lot of thrill and terror.


How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?
The genre is reinforced by through the symbolism of the frightening images

How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?

It establishes enigma by adding a horror effect so the reader can assume something is wrong

What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?
For this specific movie, I would say the target audience would be someone looking to enjoy an intense thriller, and could most likely endure violent or frightening scenes. So, the film appeals to this type of viewer by maintaining elements of the genre and insuring the film appears to be thrilling and frightening from the start. The title sequence conveys these moods by quickly cutting from the fast appearing titles to disturbing clips of the victim being kidnapped while also including intense but eerie music.


How has technology been used effectively? You want to consider camera angles, transitions, and editing techniques?
Technology has been used effectively through the use of color, and simple, but purposeful effects that align with the common elements of a Thriller. The use of color is seen by the absence of it, when I say this I mean how the film maintains a black and white color scheme that clearly depicts not only the seriousness of the film but also the intensity of a physiological thriller. Additionally, the effects used in the title sequence appear to be minimal but this only adds to the mood that is tying to be achieved. The effects are the flashing back from each title and the random but fast-moving appearances of phrases across the screen that almost indicate a theme of horror.

Title Research Mission Impossible

Throughout the opening sequence of the film, "Mission Impossible - fallout" a total of 15 titles appear. This titles portray the actors names, such as Tom Cruise, the major film studio, Paramount Pictures, and other subsidiaries, such as Skyline Pictures.




What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?
The images that are prioritized in the opening sequence are largely the characters. This includes Tom Cruise, Sean Harris, Simon Pegg and Alec Baldwin. The images also introduce settings on events that may occur in the film. For example, during the opening sequence a helicopter crash can be observed.

What connotations do the images carry?
The images that appear in the opening sequence of the movie, have a very broad connotation of being suspenseful. Hand to hand combat, weapons, helicopter crashes and high speed chases are some of the very many action-packed images that can be seen. Additionally, there is a very fast pace to the titles and images. This may signify that the protagonist will be racing to save the day or defeat the antagonist.

How is genre reinforced through the symbolic and technical codes from the outset?
Thriller is a genre of fiction, having numerous, often overlapping sub genres. Thrillers are characterized and defined by the moods they elicit, giving viewers heightened feelings of suspense, excitement, surprise, anticipation and anxiety. Conventions of thriller include action packed scenes, multiple perspectives, weapons/fast vehicles as props, fast edits, etc. The opening sequence of Mission Impossible reinforces genre by following the conventions of thrillers. To begin with, it is obviously apparent that the movie will contain action packed/suspenseful scenes through the strong edits and prioritized images. Also, the opening sequence introduces many characters (although not as protagonists and antagonists), hinting at the idea of multiple perspectives in the film. The props used include motorcycles and helicopters, which can travel as extreme speeds, as well as, weapons such as guns and knifes. Finally, the fast edits tie the cuts between characters together keeping the audience following along.



How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?
The opening sequence is able to establish an enigma, through the introduction of key plot events that will lead to the climax of the story. For instance, throughout the opening sequence, images that are prioritized include high speed chases, fight scenes, helicopter crashes, and timers. These choice of images intrigue the audience and makes the audience want to continue watching the film. The audience is excited to see how these events will contribute to the protagonist either completing their goals or fail trying. However, since the climax of the film is not introduced this leaves the audience confused, establishing an enigma.


What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?
The James Bond franchise is a well known franchise of films that have developed a lot of revenue in the box office. As such, some audiences and viewers become such fans, they wish to see the next film when it is released. This film's target audience is likely previous fans or action seeking viewers. Strategies that are employed to have these viewers return include using the original cast, for example Tom Cruise as James Bond, action scenes in the trailer and opening scene, and a suspenseful sound track. These factors combine together to excite the audience and make them crave to continue watching the movie to see what happens next.


How has technology been used effectively?


Technology has been used effectively through the fast paced editing, development of suspenseful sound, as well as, camera angles/movements that imply certain meanings to the audience. To begin with, the opening sequence of the film has very fast paced editing that would have taken a long period of time to complete. Fire effects, quick jump cuts, and dynamic color grading all contribute to the opening sequences suspenseful connotation, which is why i believe technology was used effectively. As another example, the development of the suspenseful sound was a very effective use of technology. It is a fan favorite and is often thought of in a suspenseful situation with high risk and high reward. This name/song recognition encourages audiences to go see the film while it is still at the box office increasing sales.

Title Research: Watch the Titles

Watch the Titles! is a project dedicated to the art of title design and its creators. Launched in 2006, the recently renewed website features a growing collection of over 200 title sequences and behind-the-scenes content, offering a unique glimpse into the people, ideas and processes behind their creation." Watch the Titles is large website consisting of numerous blockbuster, television, and movie opening sequences. Some examples of the films that can be found include Rango, Ricochet,
Terminator, and one of my favorites Godzilla!

Watch the tiltles lets us in on the processes, and the results of some opening sequences. A main source of the information given can be obtained through the interviews provided. For instance, on the sites homepage they have interviews with Kyle Cooper, Daniel Kleinman, Laurent Brett, Man vs Machine, Michael Riley, and Danny Yount. In part one of the interview with Kyle Cooper, "the acclaimed title designer, art director, and filmmaker" discussed composition, handmade things, and the titles he contributed to. The main titles he mentioned are Darkness Falls, Se7en and Spiderman 2. In part two of the interview with Kyle Cooper, he analyzes and discusses "integrated typography." He also mentions another 3 "classic titles" that he contributed to including The Dead Zone, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Walk on the Wild Side.

Title Research: Art of the Title

Art of the Title is a website which is available for anyone, in which you, the viewer, can watch opening sequences to movies. On their homepage, they list their top 10 best opening sequences of 2019 in forms of media such as film, television, animation, video games, events, and conferences. The website claims that these opening sequences were selected by "originality and innovation, impact, atmosphere, relevance to subject matter, and technique."In addition to the list of 2019's best opening, sequences the website also gives the viewer the ability to watch other movies opening sequences. Some movies that you could preview include Climate and Control. The website highlights key qualities that makes the opening sequence/titles better than other movies. Overall, the website will be very useful in constructing my opening sequence because it highlights key attributes and features of good opening sequences, that will be useful in constructing my opening sequence.

https://www.artofthetitle.com/

Avatar Genre Research

The last film I'm analyzing is Avatar. This is the first film I'm analyzing that doesn't have previous titles. The first category I'm analyzing is camera angles, movements, and shots. Common angles and shots include aerial and establishing shots. This is because the camera would often be filming these vast landscapes. The most common movements were pans. This would happen when the camera panned across these expansive locations.
Secondly, I'm going to analyze Mis-en-scene. There weren't that many memorable costumes. Most of the movie was CGI. Although, the lighting was quite memorable. Most of the film had bright daylight. The main actors in the film were relatively few. Most of them were pretty much also unknown to me. Since most of the film was CGI, makeup isn't much to talk about. There also weren't too many many memorable props.
The common sound of the film was non-diegetic. This is because most of the sound had to be added since it was a CGI film. Common editing used was cross-cutting and jump cuts. This is because there was a lot of information that needed to be established. Elements of the adventure genre that were in the film were world-building. The element I liked was the bright expansive world. The elements I disliked was the exposition.

Avengers Endgame Genre Research

When looking up movies of the genre most were superhero films. I decided to do Avengers endgame because I watched it most recently. The first category to analyze are the camera angles, movements, and shots. The most common shots I remember were establishing shots. This makes sense since there are a lot of areas and worlds you need to get familiar with. Other angles and shots were aerial and long shots. These follow the same trend and purpose. There were a lot of camera movements. The most memorable were the pans.
The second category to analyze is the Mis-en-scene of the film. This was a lot. Costumes were plentiful for obvious reasons, it was a superhero movie, their suits are iconic to the film and the world they're in. The lighting was different in almost every location they were in. This was important for establishing an atmosphere in each place. The actors of the world were long-established and helped the story develop. There were also many actors to boot. Makeup was common and in use to create the characters. Although the film relied more on CGI. Props were also everywhere to be seen since they are also very important to the characters and the world they're in.
Common sound within the film was mostly non-diegetic since they had to be added to the film. Since the world and locations, they were in were mostly fabricated by CGI. the most common editing used was probably cross-cutting. This is because they were switching between worlds and locations so much. Elements of the genre that were included were the rich world they inhabited and the lore and story-telling. The thing is though this was developed across multiple films. Like I said in my previous blog the element I enjoyed was the immersive world. The story you were watching was very enveloping. Elements I disliked was that so much was going on in the story that it was hard to keep track.