Title Research: Split

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

In the opening sequence, there are 26 titles including some of the actors' names, producers, directors, etc.

2. What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?

The screen goes back and forth between footage and a black screen with the titles repeated multiple times. The footage shows a girl being taken down a long hallway.

3. What connotations do the images carry?

The footage adds to the suspense aspect of the opening sequence, making the audience wonder where the man is taking the girl. The multiple copies of the same title on the black screen goes with the title of the movie, Split.

4. How is the genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?

The beginning of the film automatically has the audience on the edge of their seats, which is a main theme in the thriller genre. The suspense hooks the audience into the movie right away.

5. How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?

Again, the opening sequence establishes suspense upon the audience almost immediately. It foreshadows what the movie is going to be about and keeps the audience wondering.

6. What strategies are used to ensure an enigma from the outset?

By adding the footage of the movie in between each title screen, the audience gets a peak at what's going on between the man and the girl.

7. What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?

The strategies used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience included using suspense music to build the moment and the camera shots that showed some detail but not enough to give away the movie.

8.How has technology been used effectively? You want to consider camera angles, transitions and editing techniques?

Just as I stated in the previous question, this opening sequence gives just enough detail to draw the audience in by using small shots and suspenseful music. Some of these shots include: tracking shots, close-ups, pov shots, and low angles.

Research Title: Get Out

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

There were 24 total titles displayed in the opening sequences of the film.

2.What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?

The prioritized images in the opening sequence were photos that one of the main characters have taken himself. They were black and white images of the natural environment that he knew, or, in other words, the everyday events that happen in his surroundings. There were mainly wide shots of an event that contributes to the plot of the story, tracking shots of trees on the side of a road, dolly shots and a pan of the two of the main characters' apartment, and one-shots each of two of the main characters.

3.What connotations do the images carry?

The connotations that the images carry are of a common, raw, and gritty tone and ambiance.

4.How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?

The genre is reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset by them leaving people bewildered as to what's going on by presenting them with a very suspicious scene then switching to a series of calm, everyday scenes.

5.How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?

The film establishes an enigma from the outset by beginning the film with a confusing, suspicious scene that leaves the audience in awe; then switching to a series of calm, natural scenes.

6. What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?

The strategies that were used to ensure that the film appealed to its target audience were dialogue, a sound bridge, and incidental music. The use of dialogue added a comedic tone to an overall suspenseful and suspicious scene. The use of a sound bridge and incidental music built on to the suspense even more. The use of all of these techniques appealed to a variety of audiences; ones that enjoy comedies, thrillers, and action films.

7. How has technology been used effectively? You want to consider camera angles, transitions, and editing techniques.

Technology has been used effectively by the use of eye-level angles, many different camera shots like close-ups and wide shots, the use of jump cuts, and the use of dissolving titles. These techniques added to the film's genre and left an appeasing impression on the audience making them longing for more.

Title Research: Silent Hill Revelation

1. How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film? - There are a total of 28 opening sequences.

2. What images are prioritized in the opening sequence? In the opening sequence of the film the  images that were prioritized were of ballerinas trying to protect themselves in a chaotic scene.

3. What connotations do the images carry? The images carry the connotation that something horrific has occurred within this place and the outcome of it is can be seen by these images.

4. How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset? The genre is reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset of the film because the beginning of the film because it creates a mood of suspense within the audience and it has viewers questioning how all of the chaos could have started.

5. How does the film establish an enigma from the outset? The film establishes an enigma from the outset by establishing a scene of mystery that creates some suspense within the audience. The different images of a ballerina trying to catch a knife and another ballerina trying to protect herself from things that are falling from above.

6. What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience? The strategies that were used to make the film appealing to its target audience were: creating a sense of suspense, adding in incidental music that assisted with the mystery mood, and the directors left it off with a cliff  hanger so it would leave the audience wanting more.

7. How has technology been used effectively? You want to consider camera angles, transitions and editing techniques. Technology has been used effectively because, the editing of the opening was done by using many different/unique camera angles that aren't normally used. The transitions from title to title also shown how well technology used when creating this film. The titles would appear then disappear and afterwards another title would appear on the screen.

*I got this movie from the website: www.watchthetitles.com 

Research Title: Art of the Title

In order for my group members and I to learn more about adding titles into the beginning of our films, we were told to take a look at two websites. One of these websites is called https://www.artofthetitle.com/titles/ aka"Art of the Title" which is a website that is used for showing title sequences at the beginning of films. When a person clicks on the website a grey background will appear with posters from movies such as "the Politician". This website is a good website for learning about title sequences because it gives background information of the movie as well as a visual of the title sequences being shown. Located at the top of the home page is a drop box that gives people the option view all titles or to view all features. There's also a search box in the right corner so that people can just search up a film instead of exploring the sight to find it. It's basically a quicker way to find what you are looking for. This website also has a box at the top of the page with the names of designers as well as studios. Another good thing about this sight is that it doesn't just give the titles of movies it also gives titles for things such as short films and tv shows. The films that are on this sight date back to the 1900's all the way to 2020. The films on this site include many different genres such as: horror, comedy. action, and even thrillers. In addition, to what was previously mentioned this site is also good because the films are organized in chronological order. If they weren't in chronological order then it would be harder to find what you are looking for. In my opinion, this website is truly a helpful website. Not only for its titles but for the information that comes with it as well. All in all, this is a website that I would recommend to others if they are wondering about how titles work.

Title Research: Watch the Title

In order to learn more about the titling that should be included in our project, we were recommended sites that specialize in showing the title sequences of shows. One of these websites were https://www.watchthetitles.com/. It's website is titled, "Watch the Titles! A project dedicated to the art of Title Design". Once clicking on to the site, you will see a black background with dissolving slides of different movies. The good thing about this website is that it is extremely organized. At the top of the screen, there are four sections or main categories: Title sequences, designers, studios, and search. These categories will drop more categories when hovered over. Below the slides at the top, there are many more categories that assort the title sequences by their common traits.  Examples of this include feature films, event titles, TV shows, and student projects. Shockingly enough, the movies in these are not ordered chronologically. To the average eye, the movies are randomly assorted. The movies range from comedy, to animation, to horror. The website also has a section for interviews. These interviews are ordered by actors, not interviewers. I personally am impressed by this website's design.

Genre Research: Bird Box

1.) Common Camera Angles (CAMS)

      -High angles

        In the movie, there were majority high angles. This varied from slightly above eye level to aerial shots in order to convey different purposes, mostly towards the climax and the end of the movie. For example, when Tom went outside to check who was at their door, the people unaffected by the murderous force were viewed from a high angle purely because of the angle that Tom was standing at, somewhat similar to a POV shot. However, the scene where they had to travel the river (nearing the waterfall), the high shot was utilized to show how drastic and treacherous the situation had become.

     - Wide Shots

    Wide shots were extremely common, and were used not only as establishing shots, but as shots to drive and evoke emotion. It was noticed that wide shots are always used in some way, shape or form when the force takes over the people. (Except for Tom). When Saundra was hit by the bus, when the mother of Boy (Olympia) jumped out the window, and when the old lady(Cheryl) collapses after stabbing herself. It can be noticed that all these shots took place at their deaths, perhaps to give the viewer the full visual of what had occurred

    - Close ups

     Close ups were also commonly used shots, but they were used for a different aspect of the possession. While wide shots were used to show the product of the force, the close ups were used to show the event taking place. This, also contrary to the wide shots, apply to every individual. Right before their deaths, there would be a close up of the fear on the faces of those impacted right before they die, most likely utilized in order to represent them being impacted by the force. (They were used in other senses, but this is the most frequent utilization)

    - Zooms

  Zooms were extremely common and occurred typically between a medium shot to a close up. They were used to enhance close ups in order to further excel the mood that the creators intended to display. However, this was not the only purpose, and they were also used to accompany tracking shots.

    - Tracking Shots

   Tracking shots were used very frequently throughout the film. Similar to high angles, their use was very versatile and was inserted for many different purposes throughout the film. In the beginning during the hospital scene as she walked past the lady banging her head on the glass; as she was driving with Saundra, who later crashed the car; and as she was running with the group to find a place of refuge. This was the most common use. However, towards the end the purpose of a tracking shot changed- although used to follow people nonetheless, it was also used to surround them as the camera circled the faces of focus. This was seen when Tom became impacted by the force as well as when the main character heard the sounds of the force and ran with her children to the sanctuary.

2.)Mis en scene (CLAMPS)

  -  Costume: in the beginning of the movie, everyone wore vibrant and clean clothing. However, as situations deteriorated, clothes became dull and dirty (climax to falling action). As the movie came to a close as they entered the safe place (school for the blind), the clothes, though never returning to the level of brightness it once was, returned to its clean state.

- Lighting: the movie, as commonly seen in thrillers, had started out with bright lighting. Partially attributed to the close and setting, the colors bursted through the screen in the first few minutes of the film. This was met with a contrast after the death of Saundra— the colors were no longer bright, though the light still shone, and as the film progressed, the lighting gradually became darker and less vibrant up until they found refuge in the school.

- Acting/Actors: the actors used to create this movie were experienced in their craft and included people such as Sandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes and Jacki Weaver. The excellent acting skills of every individuals propel the film, contributing to its immense success.

-Makeup: aside from your average makeup design in the beginning of the film, the sole purpose of makeup in this film was to make the characters look worn and dirty or to add blood for effect. This included full body makeup.

- Setting: the setting was elaborately thought out and planned. Although a few of the scenes were attributed to green screen, most of them were properly scouted by the producers. The most commonly  used setting was likely the forest, which was used when the mother and her two children ultimately had to travel alone to find safety.

3.) Common Editing

 - Cut: cuts were extremely common, simply because they are the most basic transition between non-correlated elements.

- cross cutting: cross cutting was seen throughout the film in various representations; most commonly between a POV shot of them looking through the blind folds and their present actions. An example of this is towards the end when they are running up the stairs and there is a constant switch between the blind fold POV and an extreme close up of the family scurrying up the stairs

- shot reverse shots: shot reverse shots were also extremely common, used in most every two person dialogue.

4.) Common sound: 

-Scores: scores were the most common usage of background sound in the film. Music in the background was intense, but under no circumstance did they use words or a singer to contribute to that.

- Diegetic sound: diegetic sound was used throughout the film. Steps, creaks, scratches, ruffling, and leaves were all used appropriately according to the location and the action.

-Dialogue: dialogue was also used very frequently; there was constant communication between the characters in the movie so long as they were not alone. 

-Non-diegetic sound: on occasion when the force would come on the people, particularly towards the end, you would hear noises that did not properly suit the scene or location. The best examples of this is at the end when the main character hears Tom calling her to look at him even though he’s already dead. His voice does not fit into that scene, nor did the noise that accompanied his pleas. 

5&6.) Elements we liked and didn’t like

- The use of lighting and color design in the film was marvelously executed throughout the film. The contrast between the beginning and the ending of the movie was subtle but impactful, slowly luring the audience. However, everything including the execution, the editing and the shots were marvelously placed to create this excellent film. The camera movements and angles were excellently placed for it to seem realistic, and the editing used for the glint in the eyes was spectacular, and really. improved what already was excellent acting.

I found no fault with this film.

Genre Research Powerpoint

In order to explore and test a different genre, my group members, Jahrvia, Lauren, and Anishkaneel and I made a PowerPoint on the genre war. In this PowerPoint we discussed all of the aspects that are found within films of this genre. These aspects can be identified as C.A.M.S., mis en scene, editing, and sound. C.A.M.S. stands for camera angles, movements, and shots. In the PowerPoint, we described the most common of each in the genre. Mis en scene is everything that you see that makes up a scene. These can be identified as C.L.A.M.P.S. It stands for costumes, lighting, actors, makeup, props, and setting. When discussing editing, we described the most common ones for the genre; we did the same process when discussing sound. To add on, in the PowerPoint we also discussed the elements that we did and didn't like. Overall the PowerPoint was a very helpful and constructive tool to help us explore another genre.