My evaluation

Below is a link to my evaluation presented on a website.

http://toadamb.wix.com/adamburtonevaluation

The final cut of Dog Eat Dog

Below is the final cut of our opening title sequence Dog Eat Dog. 

The Continuity Task

Our task was to create a continuity task which met a designated brief; to present a short narrative involving a series of specified techniques including a match on action and some form of shot reverse shot. The above video is the final product of our mini-project and demonstrates our understanding of various techniques which makes a simple collection of actions such as opening a door and engaging in conversation into something which an audience would be interested in viewing. Personally I think I beneficed from the task because beforehand my knowledge of different shots was decent but my method of using these appropriately at the right time was lacking. Below is a series of screenshots of where we intergraded the brief's requirements and used them in the task.

These two screenshots of out continuity task demonstrate our understanding of the editing technique of a match on action. Personally I think this worked quite well and was done to a decent standard. However it did take a while to get the position of the subject right as we had to make sure that body parts were in correct positions which ensured that continuity was taken in account. Additionally the actual use of the technique draws attention to the action and may be interpreted as a device which is used to build tension and suspense.

Below is another example of where our group compiled with the brief's requirements. We tried to use a shot reverse shot but as there is minimal conversation engaging both subjects, we found it difficult. We did use shot reverse shot however often they included one character speaking and another shot directly placed after, through editing, where it shows his reaction. 

Further audience feedback

As previously mentioned in a blog post I have realised that using our media studies class exclusively for feedback heavily limits the type of feedback we receive so I have decided to create a digital survey. This allows me to paste a link the questionnaire on various social networking sites allowing our group to fully take advantage of the internet. Below is a screenshot of me half way through creating the questionnaire using a website called Survey Monkey. Additional there is a link to the survey.

Survey

Audience feedback session 2

Similar to before we used our media class for a bit of feedback. Since the last showing we have edited the soundtrack and some of the transitions, which we find increases the pace and helps to build tension. Below is the video we recorded of the audience and their opinions on the second cut. To aid the session we gave them three key questions to focus on which we hoped would create better results. I am fully aware that by using the same group of people twice it it limiting the type of feedback we can receive. Since all of us our media students we can point out a lot of technical elements but a second opinion by a group of people who perhaps don't study Media would be beneficial. I plan to use social networks to gather feedback from our own age group.

Key points of criticism 

• The isn't an ident any more.

       The fact that the idents were missing at the beginning is due to an error when coping the title sequence across to be shown. We still plan on using the ones which were present in the last cut.

• The sound effects added, especially the cutting of paper was slightly out of sync. The footsteps which are heard at the end of the opening title sequence  are too loud and it gives the impression that the man is walking in high heels.

      These issues are quite simple to fix as the volumes of the effects can be adjusted in Final Cut before the next showing. Personally I feel that the scissor sound is not going to be suitable as it goes not fit with the visuals however after some adjustment it may be sound better.

• The bottle should have a different label and the amount of liquid should change throughout.

Even though we also find this a problem we have decided to leave it as it would require us going back on location and re shooting some film which we do not have time to do.

• The sound effect of the scissors snipping is too loud at some points and drowns out the music.

We will try and adjust the sound effect so it is not quite so loud however we want it to be noticeable for the audience.

• The time the titles are on the screen is too short and should be viewable for longer.

We are fully aware of this however we feel that keeping a relatively fast pace is in the best interest for our audience as it really solidifies the tone of the opening title sequence.

Points of praise

• The walking section at the end is shorter which ensures that it doesn't linger for too long and bore the audience.
• The transitions are seamless and add to the pace of the whole sequence. 

Further titles analysis

As I have taken the role of researching titling and I plan on adding them to our opening title sequence I did some research comparing different titling techniques and using them to give me some inspiration for our titles. Below is the video I created of me explaining a sample of opening title sequences and my thoughts on each one:

Audience feedback session one

As we have finished the first rough cut of our opening title sequence we needed to show it to an audience which will give us some constructive criticism to improve it. Below is an edited version of the footage we recorded of the audience discussing our film.

Key points of criticism 

• Some sound issues are present during the last scene. Some members of the audience pointed out that the sound and length is not correct as it drags for too long and the raw sound of the traffic could be changed.

          - To combat this we plan to change the length of the ending significantly, possibly involving               jump cuts to make it better. Additionally if we do plan on modifying the sound we could                     simply reduce the volume of the traffic.

• The reflections on the shiny map show the camera and figures which is not intended.

      There is not that much we can do about the reflection without filming. At the moment we do not         plan on refilming but we could alter the video concerning contrast to make it less obvious.

• The shape of the map points was debated as some thought that it should be more methodical however one person argued that it adds the frantic mind set of the detective. In hindsight I agree that a little more thought should have gone into it and research should have been done by myself before filming.

      Like the above point it is a critical filming issue and would require us to reconstruct the board and reshoot. Personally I agree with the person who liked the organisation of the pictures as it does indeed reflect the detective's mind.

• The titles were heavily critiqued which is something I expected as it was my first time on Final Cut Pro editing. Even though I used a typical order I made the mistake of putting 'music William Tomsett' which is not correct. Also the font of the text does not go with the opening title sequence. Lastly a small spelling error was present.

       This problem is quite easy to fix as it is a matter of editing the titles. I will let Aidan have a look and help to make the titles look better and more professional.

• The ident was also brought up and the issue of the penguin was focused on. The word 'cutise' was used on many occasions to describe the whole ident. It was argued that this did not fit the sequence as it directly contrasted key themes.  

Points of praise 

• The fact that we deliberately made sure the subject's face is not on show appealed to the audience as it created mystery and helped to build tension.
• The shots across the map were pointed out to be particularly effective and this is mainly due to the editing and the post effects added to the film.
• An audience member mentioned the mood which they thought was very well established.

Development of titles

                                                  

After receiving feedback from an audience it has become clear that the titles need to be improved. Due to the fact that I'm not particularly adapt with Final Cut Aidan is going to fine tune the text and make them more appropriate for our opening title sequence.

Sound foleying with Will

Today, to replace the stock sound effects we downloaded from the internet,  we recorded some sound effects using Marantz Dictaphone. Before we went out to record we constructed a list of sounds we needed to record.

• Penguin Patting- For this sound we tried walking on various surfaces but we decided on some concrete on the school site
• Stamp sound- we used an actual stamp for this but when we used it the first time we realised that the surface you stamp on affects the sound. We used a wood to give the sound a nice realistic sound.
• Typewriter sound - As of yet we haven't recorded a sound for this. We are undecided over the fact that we could use the e we have currently. The only downside to it is that as we didn't make it we would need to credit the source or look into the copy right issues around the website we downloaded it from
• Laugh - As we are experienced with sound editing software it was very easy to record this sound. Billy simply laughed into the microphone and in post we are going to change the pitch
• Rustling - Even though we do have some digetic rustling in the film, an amplified version would be very useful if we feel the sound is too quiet with the music as well.
• Scissor cutting - This was very simple in theory however it was a little hard to try and replicate the types of cut the subject uses in the film.
• File cabinet - We recorded the sound of us opening and closing a filing cabinet at different speeds to make sure we could sync it up with the film.
• Rustling of files - As well as the rustling we recorded earlier we needed a heavier sound for files being flipped through and exactly what we did.
• Standing up from office chair - At first we used a plastic bench to replicate the sound of the action however it was far too squeaky and we used a office chair to finally get a good sounding sound.
• Foot steps
• Snapping of blue tack - after initially making the list we decided that this was out of place in conjunction with the soundtrack.

Below is a video of all the sounds we recorded in their raw state:

Pete Buckingham and Audience types

Before we expose our third edit to an audience I have realised that it is of vital importance that we know precociously who are our audience is and what type of category they fall into. Typically modern and older noir films are consumed by film fanatics who are passionate about distinct styles within film.
Even though our opening title sequence's genre is noir, it can be argued that crime or thriller fans would also be attracted to our product. Taking this into account, I feel that our audience is quite wide but does include niche groups as well.
Below is a slide share, created by my teacher, displaying the different audience types and how individuals fit into each category.

Ident Reseach

To support Will's work on the ident Aidan did some research on the internet about idents which enable us to keep a professional quality throughout. Below is a link to Aidan's post

Aidan's post

Helping Billy with Penguin Productions

To credit the various sources for a film's production there are various animations and titles before a film. We plan to replicate this with our made up companies to increase credibility and production quality. As a working title we initially used AWA as a team name however as it does not sound professional, I had the idea of using the name 'Penguin Productions' as it uses alliteration to attract potential film partnerships. To increase the appeal Billy decided to animate a penguin across a space which sounded good in theory however we have discovered that it will take a while to do it as each frame needs to be modified within the animation to create  flowing movement. The chosen software Billy is using is Final Cut Pro as it is readily available to us and it will serve as experience for us when we use it again.

Collaborative Sound Testing

Over the past few lesson we have been listening to Will's work which consists of a soundtrack for our opening title sequence. He has gone with a slightly classical approach to the sound and contains lots of different string instruments which help to build tension.

Syncing the sound track: Time line

To enable us to sync sound effects and music Aidan created a time line which consists of what happens during our opening title sequence. This has proven to be very useful for Billy as he can adjust the music to be in time with the visuals which helps to create a fast pace:

0:00:00 - OTS begins 

0:08:21 - Adam sits down 

0:12:11 - cross dissolve to second shot begins 

0:14:04 - Cross dissolve to second shot ends 

0:15:15 - cross dissolve to third shot begins 

0:16:15 - cross dissolve to third shot ends 

0:17:24 - cigarette is placed in ash tray 

0:19:06 - cross dissolve to fourth shot begins 

0:19:22 - cross dissolve to fourth shot ends 

0:23:22 - cross dissolve to fifth shot begins 

0:24:09 - cross dissolve to fifth shot ends 

0:25:10 - cross dissolve to sixth shot begins 

0:26:07 - cross dissolve to sixth shot ends 

0:30:01 - cross dissolve to seventh shot begins 

0:31:01 - cross dissolve to seventh shot ends 

0:33:24 - cross dissolve to eighth shot begins 

0:34:14 - cross dissolve to eighth shot ends 

0:34:24 - cross dissolve to ninth shot begins 

0:36:06 - cross dissolve to tenth shot ends 

0:38:04 - cross dissolve to eleventh shot begins 

0:38:13 - cross dissolve to eleventh shot ends 

0:38:24 - folder blocks screen 

0:40:01 - twelfth shot 

0:40:05 - blue tac ripped 

0:40:18 - thirteenth shot 

0:42:16 - cross dissolve to fourteenth shot begins 

0:44:04 - cross dissolve to fourteenth shot ends 

0:46:06 - fifteenth shot 

0:46:12 - first flash in fifteenth shot 

0:46:23 - second flash in fifteenth shot 

0:47:07 - third flash in fifteenth shot 

0:49:17 - cross dissolve to sixteenth shot begins 

0:50:11 - cross dissolve to sixteenth shot ends 

0:52:13 - cross dissolve to seventeenth shot begins 

0:53:07 - cross dissolve to seventeenth shot ends 

0:57:02 - eighteenth shot 

1:00:05 - nineteenth shot 

1:02:16 - twentieth shot 

1:03:18 - twenty-first shot 

1:04:09 - sticky note placed on board 

1:04:16 - twenty-second shot 

1:05:01 - picture placed on board 

1:05:21 - cross dissolve to twenty-third shot begins 

1:06:17 - cross dissolve to twenty-third shot ends 

1:10:03 - cross dissolve to twenty-fourth shot begins 

1:11:01 - cross dissolve to twenty-fourth shot ends 

1:11:10 - Adam stands off chair 

1:15:05 - twenty-fifth shot 

1:28:16 - flash dissolve to twenty-sixth shot 

1:29:03 - twenty sixth shot

1:57:01 - OTS ends

Filming day 2

Today we made sure we had all of the relevant props needed to film the remaining shots including the evidence board. As soon  as we got there we set up the camera and began talking about the shots we wanted to film. Instead of just filming a completed board we decided on filming the subject putting things on the map and drawing lines across linking ideas and leads together. Furthermore we re-filmed some of the earlier film as we had changed the position of the map which would disrupt continuity if left as it was.
The reason why we decided to move the map was to make the lead board more interesting and make use of geological location within the opening title sequence. This will allow the credibility of the board to be increases as it is more realistic of what happens in a real situation.

Replicating lighting

On day one of filming the weather was very cloudy and darkening the scenes we were filming was not a problem however the filming conditions were very different on the second day. Even though we were filming inside the windows leaked lighting and did impact the shots we were filming however by turning the blinds we fixed this. On the second day the lighting was much stronger and lit the room up so much that the lighting differed between the previous days filming and todays. We fixed this by putting large pieces of paper over the windows.

Filming day one

Today we began filming for our opening title sequence at Aidan's mum's work place. Once we arrived we took some time to arrange the set and prepare for a few hours of filming which was going to take place over the day. Since Aidan had previously moved the furniture setting up did not take very long allowing us to start filming promptly.  However after starting we realised we did not have a particular photo we needed. This meant that we would need another day to film however in hindsight I realised that we weren't going to film it in one day anyway so it was good that we could spread it over two days and spend as much time as we thought necessary on different shots.
To film we used mainly one camera however we did have access to another of the same quality. This main camera is the Nikon D2300 which is capable of filming in 1080p as well as making use of the Rode Videomic we attached to it to increase audio quality.

Using such a advanced camera was very useful as it allowed us to control small variables such as light which will impact the final result in a large way. As we want the identity of the detective to remain hidden from the audience we had decided to use shadows to conceal his face however the level of light in the room prevented us from doing this well. By adjusting the shutter speed we could darken scenes and make them more like our desired ones.

As we didn't have all the photos I suggested that we filmed all of the board scenes the next day as this would allow us to film of the shots which involved the prop at once and minimized potential continuity errors which may be in our final product due to the misplacement of photos.

Even though this limited us to mainly desk shots we had an ample amount of props to make the scenes look realistic and entertaining. 

Lastly to make sure we were getting everything we had planned filmed we constantly consulted the storyboard to film as many shots as we could in the time we had on the first day.

A choice of prop

As we were experimenting with filming today we decided on using the bought cigarettes I have used previously instead of the ones I made as we were doing close ups and my ones did not look realistic

Editing a production log

Due to organisation issues Billy could not edit two of the production logs which we recorded previously. Even though the process of editing is relatively simple it does take a long time, generally longer than the length of the recording. As I have had previous experience editing audio through a programme called Audacity I edited both of them. Below is a screenshot of me working through the audio making sure the content of the production log is relevant.

Creating the props: Bottle and Sissors

On the storyboard we have a shot planned which involves a pair of scissors. Even though we could use the pair of scissors at the location I feel that we need a pair which have large blades to really emphasize the sexual imagery attached to the shot. Additionally larger blades allows for a much longer pan over them.
Even though we discussed using a bottle of Jack Daniels I do not have access to it therefore I am using a empty wine bottle with the sticker taken off. I plan to also use the cap as well to exaggerate the laziness of the detective by crushing it slightly and placing it on the desk we plan to use

Creating the props: cigarette

As we are filming shortly I need to make sure I have all of the props ready as they are critical for filming. As I know roughly where I am going to get the other props I am going to create the cigarette. I based the prop off the instructables website instructions which gave me a good method for creating the prop. Below is a photograph of the final result. Personally I think that they will be okay for shots which don't highlight the prop however as the storyboard does feature a shot which zooms in to the end of the prop so they may be unsuitable.

Instructions I used

Costume preparation

As my role in the production of the opening title sequence involves mise en scene I was responsible for organising costume. As I am going to be playing the detective I am able to use my own clothes for the costume. Below is a picture of the shirt we are going to use. As we are sticking to some conventions of noir we need a shirt which is formal and can be adjusted to look messy. The tie which can be seen in the picture is also going to act as a crucial piece of  costume to project the quintessential stereotype of the antihero. Going by our story board we do not have a lot of shots which include the integrity of the subject so I plan to wear dark jeans in addition to the shirt.

Aidan's Animatic

As director part of Aidan's role is to know how each shot is going to look so he created a animatic using a video game called Garry's Mod, a sandbox in which three dimensional models can be posed. He has used the software on many other occasions and created a very high quality animatic which has and will be proven to be useful for me and Billy. Using such technique allows everyone in the group to be able to visually see the opening title sequence the same way which discourages mistakes due to differences later on.

Aidan's Animatic post

Taking symbolism into account

After analysis of modern opening title sequences we wanted to include some imaginary within ours. Below is one example of an effort made by the group to try and do this. Originally it was my idea of using a pair of scissors in a shot and the rest of the group developed to shot into something which could be interpreted as sexual imagery.

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.