Title Research: American Psycho

How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences

to the film?

Throughout the four minute and 25 second title sequence there

was a total of 31 titles. 

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?

The image of the food being made and eaten at the restaurant is

prioritized. The credit cards are also prioritized. 

What connotations do the images carry?

The image of the food in the beginning of the title sequence makes

the audience think that the droplets of red is blood. However it is later

revealed that it is a type of liquid that looks like blood. The credit cards

connotes that the movie is about rich business men that might be

the main characters of the movie. 

How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from

the outset?

The genre of thriller is reinforced when different things are shown. This

includes the jam that looks like blood and the cutting knife. 

How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?

The main characters are established through dialogue that is used during

the title sequence. 

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

The very beginning of the title sequence has the establishing shot of the

blood which attracts those that are into this genre of film. 

How has technology been used effectively? 

Technology was used effectively through camera angles, transitions, and

editing techniques. Through camera angles like a close up of the food and

the setting of the title sequence, it only allows the audience to focus on that

and nothing else. Through the smooth transitions like the pan of the restaurant,

it lets the audience slowly see the setting and adjusts to it. The editing techniques

made the whole entire sequence flow naturally and not choppy.

Title Research: Halloween

How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences

to the film?

During the title sequence there are a total of 30 titles. The title

sequence lasts one minute and 45 seconds. 

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?

The only image throughout the title sequence is a jack-o-lantern

with a knife for a nose that ‘reverse rots’.

What connotations do the images carry?

The image of the jack-o-lantern connotes that Michael, the

antagonist, is coming back from the ‘dead’ on Halloween. 

How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes

from the outset?

The genre of thriller is reinforced through the sole image of the

jack-o-lantern. This is because it symbolizes Michael. 

How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?

The film establishes an enigma because for those that have seen the

past Halloween movies knows that the knife within the jack-o-lantern is

Michael’s signature weapon. 

What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target

audience?

The music throughout the title sequence is the classic Halloween theme

song. That alone appeals to the audience. 

How has technology been used effectively?

Technology was used effectively through editing techniques. The

reverse rotting of the jack-o-latern creates the whole plot for the movie

in a minute and 45 seconds.

Title Research: Split

How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences

to the film?

There are 26 titles that are displayed in a span of a minute and

37 seconds. 

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?

The only image that are shown are the ones of the girl being

kidnapped. 

What connotations do the images carry?

The image connotes that the antagonist/main character has done

this crime before. He knows exactly what to do. 

How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes

from the outset?

The sound throughout the title sequence creates an uncomfortable

feeling in the audience. 

How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?

The film establishes the main character as a creep and a kidnapper by

showing exactly that. It cuts straight to the point. 

What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target

audience?

The music is the biggest hint, other than the shots throughout the

sequence, that this movie is going to be eerie and a true thriller. 

How has technology been used effectively?

Technology was used effectively through camera angles, transitions,

and editing techniques. Through camera angles, the point of view shot

in the beginning and the low angled shots create the feeling of vulnerability

that the victims feel. The transitions are abrupt. The editing techniques are a

big part of the title sequence that creates the effect of the multiple personalities

that the main character has.

Title Research: The Silence of the Lambs

How many titles are displayed during the opening

sequences to the film?

There are a total of 32 titles that are displayed throughout the

title sequence. The title sequence is a total of five minutes long.

Thirty-one titles were the contributors to the movie, however one

was to establish the setting of the movie. Some titles were displayed

longer than others, showing the importance of each one.

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?

Images that are prioritized in the opening sequence include: The

woods, Clarice (the protagonist) climbing, Clarice running, two shots

including the FBI logo, signs that had the words ‘Agony, Pain, Love-it’

written on them, an elevator full of men, and another sign that had

‘Behavioral Sciences’ written on it.  

What connotations do the images carry?

The woods carry the connotation of establishing the eerie setting

of the film. Clarice running and climbing both carry the connotation

of how the protagonist is going to go through a trying journey throughout

the film. The two shots of the FBI logo gives the connotation that the

protagonist works for the FBI, insinuating that the upcoming movie will

have to deal with a crime. The sign that had the words ‘Agony, Pain,

Love-it’ connotes the foreshadowing of the film. An elevator full of men

connotes that the film will be male dominated against the protagonist, a

woman. The sign that says ‘Behavioral Sciences’ connotes the plot of the

upcoming film. 

How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes

from the outset?

The genre of ‘thriller’ is reinforced through symbolic and technical

codes from the outset of the movie through the establishment of the

setting and the FBI logos. Both of these give the audience watching

an eerie feeling and that something has happened already.

How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?

The protagonist, Clarice, is established through her training for her job.

Later in the opening sequence, one sees the rest of the agents inside of

the buildings working. Clarice, however, is working out and trains physically.

This shows her dedication to the job. 

What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target

audience?

Strategies used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience is

the casting. In order to attract an older audience, the actors in the

film are all adults. Using adults makes the movie seem ‘grown-up’. 

How has technology been used effectively?

Technology has been used effectively through camera angles, transitions,

and editing. Through camera angles, an aerial shot of Clarice is used in

order to establish how she is the one that is going to be the protagonist

and is going to have to endure a journey throughout the film. Through

transitions, it establishes the obstacles that Clarice is going to encounter

throughout the journey, may it be physical or mental. Editing techniques

used, like jump cuts, establish the visual effect of Clarice running and climbing.

Title Research: Watching the titles

After looking at the Art of the Title website, I was more than excited to

start imagining and planning my own title sequence. However, I felt that

I should continue my research before jumping into anything. While I was

looking up the websites that I can use for research purposes, I came across

a website called Watching the Titles. This website is really cool like the previous

one. Everything is completely from the last one. This includes the layout of the

website, the way you navigate around the website, and the things available to

look at in the website. You can even look at the different studios that created the

films. It also offers title sequences to tv shows not just films. I think after researching

this website I’ll have enough resources to watch some title sequences of the genre

I chose for my movie. Thankfully, there are many options to choose from the Thriller

genre. All I have to do is take notes down and truly observe what exactly happens

during the title sequence. Through watching all of the sequences within my genre,

I’ll be able to get a good idea as to what I need to include in my title sequence. Like

I’ve mentioned before, the title sequence is really important. The title sequence

establishes the most important part of the movie. The most important parts being

the setting and the tone of the movie. 

Title Research: Art of the title

To be able to make a professional movie, it takes hundreds of people.

You know the saying “it takes a village…”, well the production, editing, and

marketing crew is the village and the movie is their child. The title sequence

in a film is super important because it displays the names of those that worked

the hardest on the movie. Even though I’m not making a professional movie, it

is still important to include those that participated in making the film. The title

sequence is also super important because it establishes the setting and the tone

of the movie. After doing research in trying to find anything about creating a title

sequence I came across a really cool website. The website is called Art of the title.

This is a website that provides title sequences of movies in various genres. This is

really helpful since I’m creating my movie within the genre of thriller, I’m able to look

at all the title sequences they have within the genre ‘Thriller’. On the website it also

gives one the opportunity to look at all the designers from A-Z. It showed everyone

that contributed to the making of each sequence. I watched more than 5 title sequences

from this website alone! I was really lucky to find this website. Without it I would’ve found

another but this is one was really helpful. However, I’m not going to limit myself to only

one website. 

Genre Research: Split

Though Kevin has evidenced 23 personalities to his trusted psychiatrist,

Dr. Fletcher, there remains one still submerged who is set to materialize and

dominate all of the others. Compelled to abduct three teenage girls led by the

willful, observant Casey, Kevin reaches a war for survival among all of those

contained within him -- as well as everyone around him -- as the walls between

his compartments shatter. When I say that this movie fits PERFECTLY into this

category, it truly is the epitome of thriller films. 

In Split, the camera angles that were in the movie were all used to create a feeling

that the director wanted the audience to feel. Example of camera angles include:

Close-up shots, high angle shots, and low angle shots. Costumes used in the movie

changed whenever the main character changes his personality. Lighting used in the

film changes from the mood and tone of the scene. For example, throughout the whole

film there is a blue, white hue that stays in order to make the audience feel uncomfortable.

There is the main actor throughout the film that the movie revolves around. The makeup

of the movie changes when the main character changes his personality. It can be when

he changes into a girl or stays a man, the makeup follows with him. The props used in

the movie were based on the setting of the scene. For example, when the scene was

set when he was kidnapping his victims or doing things that his main personality does.

Since Split is a thriller, the editing reflects that. The editing has jump cuts, flashback

sequences, and some match cuts. The editing stays somewhat the same throughout

the movie to build the suspense and tension that the audience feels. The sound

throughout the movie is dialogue, diegetic sound when outside, and non-diegetic

sounds. 

There are many things I liked about this movie. Since I gravitate more towards

movies that fall into the genre of thriller, I almost always can conclude if it’s a good

movie that fits into its genre or not. However, I feel that Split does fit into its genre

of thriller. There is a HUGE psychological factor that comes with watching this movie,

the way he changes his personality and other things that are apart of this movie is

creepy and eerie. It truly fits the thriller genre

Genre Research: A simple favor

Stephanie is a widowed, single mother who works as a vlogger in

Connecticut. Her best friend, Emily, seems to have it all -- a successful

career, a loving family and a glamorous lifestyle. When Emily mysteriously

disappears one day, Stephanie launches her own investigation by digging

into her friend's past -- and finding a few surprises along the way. Even

though this movie was a low-key film, it’s one to not miss. In A Simple Favor

the camera angles that were used in the movie were all used to create a feeling

that the director wanted the audience to feel. Example of camera angles include:

Close-up shots, high angle shots, and low angle shots. Costumes used in this

movie range from middle class clothing to high class clothing depending on each

character in the movie. Lighting used in the film changes from the mood and tone

of the scene. For example, in the beginning of the film, the mom has her life with her

kid but everything is normal,  therefore the lighting is going to reflect that being bright

and warm toned. As the movie goes on, the lighting reflects how the protagonist feels,

shook that her friend has disappeared is going to be reflected through the lighting of

the scenes. The actors suit the roles they play. The makeup throughout the film matches

each character. The props used in the movie were based on the setting of the scene.

For example, when the scene was in a very expensive home, the items inside the home

were expensive. The editing has jump cuts, flashback sequences, and some match cuts.

The editing stays somewhat the same throughout the movie to build the suspense

and tension that the audience feels. The sound throughout the movie is dialogue,

diegetic sound when outside, and non-diegetic sounds. 

I liked this movie a lot. The majority of the movie is a mystery until the end of it.

It truly sticks to the thriller genre because of the plot twists and the dramatic irony.

Genre Research: Halloween

On halloween night in 1963, six year old Michael Myers brutally murdered

his 17-year-old sister, Judith. He was sentenced and locked away for 15 years.

But on October 30, 1978, while being transferred for a court date, a 21-year-old

Michael Myers steals a car and escapes Smith's Grove. He returns to his quiet

hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois, where he looks for his next victims. Halloween

made many sequels and even prequels through the past years. I focused more on

the most recent one that came out in 2018. 

In Halloween, the camera angles that were used in the movie were all used to

create a feeling that the director wanted the audience to feel. Example of camera

angles include: Close-up shots, high angle shots, and low angle shots. Costumes

used in Halloween are modern clothes that people in 2018 would wear, this includes

day clothing and of course halloween costumes.. The exception is Michael Myers

himself because he is wearing the old worker clothes. The lighting varied from scene

to scene in order to create the feeling that the director wanted the audience to feel.

For example, throughout the whole movie there is a continued white and hues of gray

lighting in order to give the eerie feeling of what was happening. The actors in the film

included those of the films of the past Halloween movies but also had new actors.

The makeup of the movie was the makeup of the time. The editing has jump cuts,

flashback sequences, and some match cuts. The editing stays somewhat the same

throughout the movie to build the suspense and tension that the audience feels.

The sound throughout the movie is dialogue, diegetic sound when outside, and

non-diegetic sounds. 

Re-watching this movie was a real treat. I first watched this movie in the theater
BEFORE it came out. My sister and I had won tickets to see Halloween from a
radio contest. I’m biased towards this movie. I think that the movie was very well
done and stuck to the conventional thriller elements.