Story boarding

After presenting to the class we had a very good idea about how our opening title sequence was going to look like however they all differed slightly as we had different ideas. Once we began storyboarding we worked together, offering ideas and shots we thought would be suitable for our OTS. At the beginning we all worked on the story boarding however as Aidan's role in the production is director he took over towards the end making sure everything was practical and adding some of his own ideas as well. Below are pictures of the storyboard. Addionaly the exact props we would need began to become more overt therefore my job has has a lot more direction now.

At the moment as we are still planning and altering small elements of the concept we have not yet decided on the location of the titles however we have discussed possible solutions such as in the photos on the board. We have also decided as a group to use a single picture as a transition between our OTS and the rest of the film if it was to be created. It will involve a lingering shot of one photo before changing into moving film.

Title order- then and now

Modern films and programmes,after cross referencing, all follow a similar structure when displaying titles and credits during the opening title sequence. However After researching older films including classic noir films I realised that they differ widely from films made in the last few decades.

Title hierarchy

After analysing two of the featured title sequences on my blog and looking at others I have come up with a typical order of display. However it is rare when this list is identical to the display on screen as it varies from film to film.

During the 1940s opening title sequences were very basic and were confined to very simple conventions. They often included a series of pictures of simple animations with text super imposed over the top. Unlike modern OTS' they relied heavily on sound to establish a genre and the type of cinematography as the visual elements are limited. Evidence which reinforces this can be shown below in the form of the Maltese Falcon opening title sequence.

 Many different factors have influenced the modern hierarchy of titles within the film industry including Russia. These typically involved including the majority of the credits during the opening title sequence instead of the end credits. This has influenced modern film however the fact that older films had limited individuals working on films therefore there were not as many credits to be displayed.  Below is the opening title sequence of Casino Royale which is demonstrates how title sequences have changed and developed since the 1940s.

Title order for our opening title sequence

Penguin productions presents
In association with 666 Studios
Dog eat Dog
Adam Burton, Maria Hills, Jack Stelson
Will short, Brian Smith, Sam Tyler, Lauren Smith
casting director, Steve Mates
Music producer William Tomsett
executive producer Ryan Johnson
Leading writer, Adam Burton
Director, Aidan Rawlinson

Film footage 1# The alleyway

Today in preparation for filming I, Billy and Aidan went into a location to film the very last piece of film which will be in our opening title sequence. We went to Anglia Square where there are multiple alleyways and small areas which would be perfect for the shot. In the end we filmed in two places in an under path which proved difficult to film 
The reason why the under path was difficult to film was due to the amount of people which used it when we were filming. However after a few failed attempts I acted as a lookout at the other end to warn the others when someone or a group were coming. Below is the first shot of the underpass which gets interrupted and the second which has the same event happening in.

As previously mentioned this became tiresome and the interruptions were effecting the quality majorly so I stood at the other end on lookout and this allowed us to get better results. Finally we managed to film a shot which did not get interrupted however the we decided that the speed Aidan was walking was too past so we asked him to do it again but at a slower pace. The two videos below show both fast and slow version

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The alleyway proved considerably easier and in the end we have decided on using that one in the final opening title sequence however when we filmed it there was a considerable amount of background noise but this should not be a problem as we will be taking the sound out and making our own.

Will's presentation

As Will's main role within our production includes sound,within his presentation he focuses on this heavily and goes into explicit detail on the subject. He comments on what kind of music we will be using in the opening title sequence touching on the matter of creating original music or using loyalty free music. Additionally he shared some inspiration in which he feels could fit well with out concept. Below is a video of Will doing his presentation and a video of the music I refereed to.

A problem with embedding prezis

To add to my research I have created some detailed presentations using the online service called prezi. This allows me to create more interesting and engaging presentations however I have come across a problem when trying to embed them into posts. After I have embedded the code into the post the prezi becomes invisible and cannot be seen. I am going to look into this and work away around it as I think the prezis are very effective at delivering critical background information to noir.

Fake cigarette reaseach

After Christmas we will be filming the opening title sequence so I have been researching and brainstorming where I can get the props we need during the holidays. In particular I have been researching a technique I can use to make cake cigarettes. Below is a link to several websites I have found which may be useful later when I create the prop. The suggested use of tea to act as tobacco is something in which I plan to integrate into my version of the prop.

http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_2247312_make-fake-cigarettes.html
http://www.instructables.com/id/Fake-cigarettes/

Location and setting

Even from the start we were not sure where we were going to film however Aidan has come up with a very promising idea and we are going to film at his mothers work place, a office location where we will have a lot of freedom to film without disturbance if we go on a weekend. The other alternative we have is the dark room which is used for photography within the school. This would also be suitable as we can control the lights very easily to give the right effect. However as it is used on a regular basis it may be impossible to film when we need to therefore Aidan's alternative is a better option regardless of the minimal control of lighting. Below is a presentation Aidan has made featuring location shots and their potential uses.

Aidan's Presentation

Aidan's presentation included a detailed talk about the concept and some ideas about what physically happens  within the opening title sequence. Also he mentions the technicality of the filming and how the OTS is going to be captured. Furthermore he points out what his role within production is. He is going to be directer and be responsible for the overall organisation of the project. To see his presentation click the link below.
Aidans presentation

Presenting our concept to the class

Even though we were collaborately happy with our concept it was important to pitch the idea to others to confirm its validity. We were given a short period of time to prepare a five minute presentation to show to the rest of our peers. Additionally a short brief was given to us detailing the kind of information we had to include. This meant that the five minutes had to include the main concept and what are individual roles are within the project. Instead of speaking in front of the class I constructed a video which covered the necessary points.

I used a program called Camtasia Studio which is a video editing software available to be tested for 30s days for free. I think my pitch benefited from my decision because it made sure I did not leave any points out and ensured that the information I was sharing was clear Below is the featured video in full and a picture of the plan we worked on as a group created beforehand in preparation.

A discussion on props

After discussing together as a group we decided on the time in which our opening title sequence was going to be set. This is extremely important as the time period majorly affects the type of props which are going to be stationed in shot. For example, a type writer would be suitable in a classic noir film however it would not be appropriate for us due to the modern setting.
             Even though this does limit us considerably it does make the generation of props and my part in this process easier as I have easier access to modern props than older ones for obvious reasons.

Analysis of 'Priest' concerning sound

Below is a video I have made concerning how sound it used in film. To accompany the extract I have commentated over it and highlighted key use of the various types of sound. I comment on each and discuss why they are used and the effect they would have on a potential audience.

A change of concept

While on skype discussing potential ideas and concepts we decided to not carry on with our current concept involving a superhero. This is for many reasons but mainly due to how conventional we can make our final opening title sequence. We decided as a group that we could explore conventional noir much  more deeply with another theme which involves more iconic props and other pieces of mise en scene.

Production Log #2

Within this log, edited by Billy, the group discusses ideas which revolve around the concept of using a antihero superhero as a protagonist. However due to other commitments I was not present to meet with the others to inject my input. The following production log includes the others recapping the topics touched upon in this log and I react to this.

Production log #2.5

After the last log in which I was not present in this one is more of a update video for myself where the Will and Aidan recap ideas they talked about previously and I input my opinion on them.

Neo-noir Investigation

Red Riding Trilogy (1974)

Typical	Untypical
Voice over/narrator	Brown tint
Rain in exterior shots	cars
Trench coats	Small town
Crime	British
Death themes	Young protagonist
Substance Abuse	Acoustic guitar music
Weapons/violence	Child victim
Solemn music

Blade Runner (1982)

Typical	Untypical
Large city	Sifi
Smoke/haze	Flying cars
Drug use	Futuristic buildings
interrogation	Synthesised music
Rain in exterior shots	Blue tint

Bound (1996)

Typical	Untypical
Femme fetale	Colour
Heels	Sound collage
Flash forward	Female protagonist
Sexual themes
Jazz music
Gangsters
Money and manipulation

Sound within film

Even though the most prominent factor of film for most people sound, in all its forms, is incredibly important and influential within the scene it is placed. There are five different types of sound within a piece of film and these can be broken down even further into the nature of the sound.

Dialogue: Audible noise which comes from a characters mouth. This could include grunts and moans in combat and standard conversation. This is usually digetic however it may be amplified if it is meant to be particularly impacting within a scene.

Sound effects/Foleying: A collection of sounds which are direct audible reactions to actions. This could include the sound of a door opening or the reloading of a gun. Despite their frequency in film they are one of the most impacting ways of effecting the audience without direct visual display. When this is the case the sound effects are often nondigetic or amplified so they stand out from the rest of the scene. The source of such sounds are varied but the majority of the effects are collected through a process called Foleying, (please see my post about this process for information.)


Silence: Within the use of sound simply leaving it out can be largely beneficial for a scene. Without sound the audience is forced to absorb the film in another way, mainly visually. This can be particularly effective within battle scenes as an audience member can take in the massicur on screen without getting distracting by screams of the clashing of weapons.

Ambiance: This form of sound, in the majority of cases, is nondiagetic and forms a natural base layer of sound for the scene. This type tries to mimic the distinct and subtle sounds of a environment such as distant movement or creaks from thermal contraction in an old building. On many occasions these sounds are reverberated to distort them into something beyond recognition by changing their frequency and blurring temporal characteristics.

Noir Narrative structure example

To enhance our knowledge of how narratives are constructed within noir we ordered a series of plot points into a sensible order which would be suitable for a film noir. After arranging the paper me and Harley were told that we had a different one from the one below . Even though it was not the same as the official one it still worked as a narrative and proves that the conventional points involved in a noir film can be changed around without loosing too much style which links it to noir

To see a typed up version of the below picture please visit Aidan's blog post with the following link

Aidans post

Production Meeting and team roles

Within this first meeting we discussed our initial ideas and offered potential concepts in which we as individual felt would be a good idea. Additionally we seperated the project into parts and who within our group will be responsible for each part. Below is the our first production log, created by Will, which describes our roles and how we are going to accomplish them.

A problem with embedding with Youtube

To try and document our production logs I have been trying to embed YouTube videos from other channels instead of downloading and re uploading them from my channel.  After a series of research sessions online and experimenting  I have found a way to do just that. Above the comment section is the share tap where you can directly creates  post which embeds the video automatically .

An investigation into the Antihero

An investigation into the femme fatale

Above is a presentation which goes into detail about the femme fatale.

Key conventions of an OTS

After analysis of a series of opening title sequences and additional research I have constructed a list of typical conventions which we must as producers take in mind to optimise the quality and for fill the brief. Below is a presentation I have found on slide share which goes into detail on each of the convention necessary for a title sequence.

Key conventions

• Correct hierarchy of production companies and appropriate placement of the other titles, including the film title.
• An expression of style which is allows the audience to interpret what genre the production is.
• Clues and foreshadowing of plot/narrative
• A fitting soundtrack which fits the genre
• Cinematography of the film 

Please note I did not create the below presentation however I have found it incredibly useful and I deemed it pointless to recreate a nearly identical presentation.

Analysis of opening title sequences

To enhance my knowledge of the conventions of opening title sequences I de constructed a sample of different sequences including amateur attempts which allowed me to see what is going to be possible for my own project. One of the most apparent things I obtained from doing this is what a suitable OTS is precisely what is needed to make it engaging and meet the requirements which credit individuals who were involved. Additionally I think this activity exposed me to a wide range of techniques to present titles which has inspired me to begin thinking and evaluating how to present the titles in my own opening title sequence.

"Two detectives, a rookie and veteran, hunt a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his modus operandi"

Film/TV programme title	SEVEN
Date Of Release	1995
CONVENTIONS Form/ length/structure/media type	The form of the opening title sequence seems to be quite overt.  It follows a reasonably simple pattern which includes showing an action and then associating it with a credit which is shown on a black background. For example the fingering of the razor blade and Morgan freeman's name. The length of the title sequence is 02:08 and this allows all of the required credits to be awarded in an inventive and engaging way. The opening title sequence is in the form of live action yet I believe some post production effects were added to give it a unsettling style and interest the audience .
CODES Outline the style/content and scheduling of titles/credits	The integrity of the sequence is presented in a way which appears gGothic with a few aspects of mise-en scene which bring it into modern-day. The use of photos and close ups of unpleasant fingertips projects onto the audience a feeling which makes them uncomfortable or digusted. Paralleling with the short gestures and movements of the subject within the film, titles have been edited in which appear onto black which support the Gothic/horror theme of the title sequence.
INDUSTRY/INSTITUTION Studio information Production Info	The majority of the screenplay of the film came from Andrew Kevin Walker who lived in New York at the time of production. The film itself was created and distributed by New Line Cinema, an American film studio which was founded by Robert Shaye in 1967 and merged into Warner Bros. The studio is based in Los Angeles, California. The Film  had a budget of $33 million for production.
NARRATIVE DEVICES Exposition of narrative/characters	The opening title sequence exposes the main character very early on through close ups of his actions. Using this method the creators prevent the majority of the character from being prevailed that therefore generates mystery and suspense. Even though key plot points are not shown in the opening title sequence the style gives impressions to the audience which  presents the plot as something which includes horror or thriller elements.
NARRATIVE DEVICES Creating a hook/ developing tension or suspense	With the use of limited acting in the sequence it creates a defined enigma. The audience would begin asking questions concerning the figure featured and why he is doing the actions he is performing. The numerous props used in the film generates suspense and tension as the intention of the person in the sequence is unclear however it does suggest that this person in not completely sane.
REPRESENTATION Character types  and introduction/reference to characters	Even though not a lot of information is projected onto the audience from the opening title sequence the use of mise-en-scene introduces the character present and stereotypes them into a well known category. The props the character holds gives the impression that he has no regard for his own safety. In particular when the figure rotates razor blades through his finger tips it reinforces the idea that this person is a psychotic killer or madman.
FORM Structure of transition from OST to main film	Towards the end of the OST the piece of film uses amplified bars of music as a signifier for the end of the opening title sequence. Additionally the frames become a lot more separated and seem to flicker. This was used to form a transition and works very well due to how it flows into the actual film. The flickering in particular removes the barrior between sequence and film reinforcing the idea that the unsettling events in the title sequence are happening in the world featured in the film
GENRE/ AUDIENCE What generic pleasures are met.	The nature of the opening title sequence does please a considerable amount of audience pleasures regardless of its unsettling theme. Horror and thriller fans would be very interested as it meets the generic pleasures which are attached to such genre. The unsettling nature would appeal to horror fans as it meets conventions which are typically found in the highlighted genre and thriller fans would be engaged as it gives the impression that the police may e involved.
GENRE/AUDIENCE Introducing style and genre	The use of the minimal acting and whole body shots presents a more "art house" feel to the opening title sequence as it does not conform to generic  conventions. However the lighting used, especially hard light, gives the impression of a neo-noir film.

Below is a screenshot providing evidence of the kind of imagery the opening title sequence. The close up of the fingertips really exaggerates the unsettling feeling the audience would feel due to the tone. Along side this the blade adds to the predictions of the audience that the man involved is not sane and is the antagonist who features in the film.

This particular screenshot takes a large role in the process of introducing the character or killer. The fact that he is disfiguring money gives the impression that he may be wealthy or simply disregards what others value. This adds to the mental image or profile which begins to generate of the killer in the audiences head. Additionally the particular word which is getting cut out could be linked to the subjects mentality as it could represent the his/she's mentality. This in particular element of the opening title sequence I like and I would like to use the concept of complex imagery in my own film. I believe that it allows the film to have a strong sense of ambiguity which in some cases makes the viewing more pleasurable.

The Walking Dead tells the story of the weeks and months that follow after the apocalypse"

Film/Tv programme title	WALKING DEAD
Date Of Release	13 October 2013
CONVENTIONS Form/ length/structure/media type	The structure of the opening title sequence is conforms with a lot of the general conventions of the media type. However the walking dead sequence heavily relies on imagery to present the various titles. It follows a pattern of showing a piece of film and then a title super imposed on top. An example of this can be found at 0:16 when a grave stone is visible. The actresses name which is visible plays a character who kills a considerable amount of zombies and therefore the title and image are connected. The length of the title sequence is 00:40 and is particularly short compared to other OTS due to the fact that the Walking Dead is a television show and has to short to engage the audience episode after episode. Also it could be said that the cold open before the sequence is already quite long and a further length of titles may put off a audience. The media type of the opening title sequence is live action however is has been heavily edited upon in post production and could be mistaken for CGI.
CODES Outline the style/content and scheduling of titles/credits	The style of the opening title sequence focuses on the theme of abandonment and horror. The continual use of abandoned building in frame really builds upon the idea of isolation and separation. The titles themselves in the sequence have been organised in a particular way. After the production company has been shown the titles are ordered in terms of the importance of their character in the series. Andrew Lincoln, who plays Rick Grimes, is displayed first as Rick is the main character in the show.
INDUSTRY/INSTITUTION Studio information Production Info	The Walking Dead has a very large amount of production companies working together on the show. These include the internationally famous company AMC Studios. Headquartered in New York City, they are responsible of many very popular series such as Breaking Bad and of course Walking Dead. The company emerged from a series of separations and stock sales of Rainbow, a company set up in 1980. The show has team of writers and a very large cinematography team which is necessary of a show of such popularity as the Walking Dead due to the huge audience and expectation.
NARRATIVE DEVICES Exposition of narrative/characters	Other than an extreme close up of a eye the sequence does not contain actors. Even though this is the case the characters of the show are still exposed through imagery. When the actor, who plays Rick Grimes,  name is visible so is a sheriff badge which is a key piece of iconography for Rick. However the fact that the sequence is from season three of the programme the creators are presuming that the audience are fairly familiar with the characters.
NARRATIVE DEVICES Creating a hook/ developing tension or suspense	The opening title sequence creates a lot of enigmas due to the placements of the props used. The fact that most of them look discarded and dropped gives the impression that whoever misplaces them did so in a hurry and zombies could have been involved. Furthermore the music used creates alot of tension as it is quite slow and strings are used to give it a unsettling tone.
REPRESENTATION Character types  and introduction/reference to characters	Even though the OTS is not explicit when giving information about the characters the props and locations allow the audience to classify the different character types. One of the most overt is the arrows sticking into a tree. This reinforces the stereotype of the archer and the shadows underneath the door could be the antihero.
FORM Structure of transition from OST to main film	After all of the titles have been displayed the OST transitions into a frame with the show's title on. After this the episode starts, continuing on after the cold open. Furthermore s flickering transition is used between the titles and the final title frame.
GENRE/ AUDIENCE What generic pleasures are met.	As the target audience is aimed at people who follow the show the amount of pleasures and what they are, are tailored at them. The references to the characters would be highly appealing as they know the individuals already and seeing key pieces of iconography is enough to engage them. However there are another generic pleasures which are met through the suspense of the sequence. Along with the music the shots all leave the audience guessing what happened and why for example is there saw in that particular place.
GENRE/AUDIENCE Introducing style and genre	The use of mise-en-scene during the opening title sequence is a very overt signifier of the genre of the show. The use of weapons gives the impression of violence or action. The location and the centipede suggests horror. The fact that a lot of the scenes have a small of light acts a s evidence to support the horror genre.

Below is a key piece of iconography which features in the opening title sequence. The use of imagery as a whole is very effective and this clock is one my own personal favourites. As The actor's name appears during the frame it physically connects the two subjects in the picture. The clock represents the passing of time in the show and how anyone of the characters could die at any moment with the exception of Rick Grimes.

Textual analysis of film

To enable us to competent at understanding various areas of film and why they are used we were given a textual analysis grid which highlights key areas of critical understanding with questions. This has allowed me to perform a deconstruction of a promotional film poster. By doing this it has allowed me to recognise particular pieces of mise en scene and which individual elements appeal to specific audiences. This is going to be very useful when planning for our opening title sequence and analysis of existing ones. Below is a picture of the grid we are given and a annotated film poster.

The 180° Rule

The 180 degree rule is a wide spread technique used during the filming process which keeps the camera one one side of the action. Below there is a diagram which displays a axis of action. When taking the rule into account the camera must stay on one side of the axis throughout the scene. This ensures that the characters are composed in a fixed position in the frame. Additionally if this rule is ignored or not used to execute a shot correctly it could risk giving the impression that the actor's positions have been inverted or reversed.

Noir style photo shoot

Above is a final copy of my groups photos after they have been edited and refined in post production. Each one adopts certain aspects of the style and uses this to give a atmospheric and sophisticated image. Below is a link to my Flickr page where I have undertaken a full evaluation where I have printed out the good aspects of each photo and what we as I group could have done to improve the final product.
Flickr

Film certificates

Below is a presentation displaying the different film certificates awarded to films by the BBFC. Within it mentions how the certificate is relevant to the content within and if a noir film could be constructed abiding by the requirements for each age. However it is very important to remember that these age ratings are relevant to modern day and therefore many noir films which were made in the last century may fall into much lower certificates due to how society has changed.

Examples of Universal films

Monsters Inc
Chicken Little

Nanny Mcphee

Examples of  Parental Guidance films

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Frozen
The Nightmare Before Christmas

Examples of 12/12a

Guardians of the Galaxy
Skyfall
Batman Begins

Examples of 15 

21 Jump Street
Zombieland
American Pie

Examples of 18
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover
The Devil's Rejects
Battle Royale

Lighting And Film Noir

To enable me to contribute towards the filming of the opening title sequence I researched different types of lighting used in the filming process on a professional level. When I analysed pieces of film noir I realised that lighting is very important in the highlight genre. It often acts as a device used to create mystery and exaggerate enigma.

High Key Lighting

this type of lighting involves the process of trying to reduce the lighting ratio in the scene. It was originaly used to fix early technical problems as early film cameras did not deal with high contrast very well. The amount of light is quite large and the subject is very visible. Scenes using this type of light tend to have minimal shadows and dark areas. This type of lighting may be useful in our opening title sequence as it could highlight a particular prop or object in the room. However if it is used to much it could effect the tone and atmosphere of the piece as it remove enigma.

Low Key Lighting

This type is particularly relevant as it is very common in noir films. This is mainly due to the use of shadows. As you can see in the picture above the subject in low key lighting is a lot more mysterious and the scene  can be taken more seriously. Furthermore in high-key lighting the subject appears to be    a lot more innocent. Low key lighting generally involves only one key light and no others which minimises the amount of contrast between the background and the subject. I personally think that this type would be the most suitable for our title sequence as it provides enough light yet it shrouds the subject enough to maintain mystery.

Types of lights

Open Faced Tungsten: Larger versions of standard household lighting which uses a filament of tungsten wire.  Within this sub category there are two types; Studio and baby.

The open faced Tungsten studio lights can be virtually any size where as the baby edition is a lot smaller therefore a considerably more portable. If we use this type of lighting the studio version would be much better as we will be working within only one location therefore the portability is not relevent.

LED: The head of the light consists of many diodes which produces studio quality light. These particular lights have become very popular in the film industry as they are very efficient and keep costs low. Furthermore they do not become hot easily so this allows long periods of filming without causing damage to equipment and potential bodily harm. This type of lighting would be suitable for our opening title sequence however they produce a very white light which would be suitable as high key however if low key is used it may look bad due to the colour of the light.

Fresnels: A type of lens which is commonly placed over other lighting equipment to focus the light into a controllable beam. In the filming bussiness this technique is used to create spotlight effects. Before LED heads were used they were placed over tungsten lights.

HMI: This type of lighting, even though expensive, is a very efficient and powerful way of producing light for film. Generating approximately three or four times the level of lux than Tungsten Lights. Furthermore they, like the LEDs they do not produce large amounts of heat making them a very good option when filming for large periods of time while minimizing accident.

Conclusion:

Due to the minimal budget our production team has it does narrow the choices considerably however the school does own a series of Tungsten lights with fitted Fresnels which will allow us to customize the beam and essentially the effect on the scene