AICE Media Studies

After completing my main planning for the opening sequence, the plan for my filming is entirely done. Settings, props, makeup, and schedule has been figured out, which just leaves editing! In the last two previous projects that had been the most difficult aspect of production. So looking forward to this project, there are improvements that need to be made. I have learned things since then that I can apply to this project, so I’m looking forward to working on! One aspect of editing that I will focus towards in this blog is the title design. The first font I will need to find is for the actors names, casting by, music by, visual effects, costume designer, editor, production designer, director of photography, producer, executive producer, story writer, and director. While these titles come on screen, the tone of the sequence will still be light and neutral. The setting is shot during the morning hours with the sun pouring in, creating a positive seeming film. To match, the font will be li...

 Now that I’ve laid out my script, I feel a lot more relieved into production! Since the start of this final task my mind has been muddled about what I would actually like to create, but as script planning has finished I can move on to the smaller things. This being, well, more planning. But for the more trivial things, all to get the opening film sequence together. First, the matter of actors must be figured out. I am working on this final task project alone, meaning my actors must come from outside the class! There are only two characters, and due to difficult schedule planning, it wouldn’t be ideal to have any friends work with me. So, my solution is to have myself play the main girl character, and my younger brother play, well, the brother character. Casting my younger brother is obviously most workable since he will be available at all times, which will come in handy for reshoots if any issues with footage arise. Additionally, we are siblings! We fit each role best. Then comes...

 For the past few weeks I have had a vague idea of where I want to take my pitch. Envisioning my pitch idea, I see somewhat of a muddled mess of a scene play out, with not much direction of what I want to do. It’s time I sit down and figure out how I want my opening sequence to be, and this is the blog just for that!  When I think of a script I think about the traditional ones real actors get, explaining all details of the scene. That being when people enter, dialogue, directed actions, and all of that fun stuff. So, a script of that kind is what I will be creating here. On we go! OPENING SEQUENCE: SUBURBAN HOME- MORNING SCENE ONE: We start in a bathroom. The camera is facing a mirror, as suddenly a girl is revealed by flipping her head up. She is brushing her teeth to an upbeat tune. SCENE TWO: we are now in the hallway setting. The camera is positioned on a door, as the girl walks into frame, knocking on it. She calls out to her brother to wake up. SCENE THREE: The next scen...

The Black Phone (2022) from www.artofthetitle.com What titles are displayed during the opening sequences? During the opening sequence of “The Black Phone” we are first shown the studio names. Following, we see the production studios, along with all contributors to the film, given their own slide. Lastly, the directors name is shown.  What images are prioritized in the opening sequence? In contrast to the two previously researched films, the images prioritized in this opening sequence are not the words. Rather, this sequence places focus on the actual images shown. These being screen caps and medium close up to long shots of the movies setting. Words are made a small size, and placed to the bottom of the screen, guiding viewers eyes towards the images. What connotations do these images carry? The images are accompanied by an eerie and sharp background music. A grainy filter is placed over the shots, and shots are edited together with flashes and cuts rather than smooth cutaways. The...

Relic (2020) from www.artofthetitle.com What titles are displayed during the opening sequences? Unlike the last three movies researched, the studio and mame does not come first, either because this film is independent or the studio was given their own opening before the title sequence. Relic’s opening shows only the titles of production companies, no writers, producers, or directors. After an acted out scene occurs, the title of the film itself is then shown last. Also different to the other films, here Relic has followed the exact title sequence formula I am meant to use in my final task, making this example very valuable in my research. What images are prioritized in the opening sequence? The images prioritized in this opening sequence are the names of the projection companies. They come first, all five of them each getting their own slide to be presented will slow fade-outs I’m between. Alternatively, you could also say the title is prioritized. It comes all the way last after a who...

Nanny (2022) from www.artofthetitle.com What titles are displayed during the opening sequences? The titles displayed in this opening sequence are the usual studio. Following, three different shots with fade in transitions, displaying the production companies names. Third, the directors names. After a short sequence featuring an actor, the title card is shown, then we cut back to the actor.  What images are prioritized in the opening sequence? Images prioritized in the opening sequence are the names of the studio, production, companies, director, and most of the title itself. This can be inferred by the fact that the title card came last after a sequence of an actor. It was shown alone, while the other names were shown together, connected by fade-out transitions.  What connotations do these images carry? The blue, cursive font relates to the ocean, which conveys feelings of peace and serenity. In the background we hear music that sounds oceany and aquatic, which doesn’t go in c...

Midsommar (2019) from www.artofthetitle.com It is traditional that our fair queen shall choose… —STEV What titles are displayed during the opening sequences? During the cut segment of this opening sequence of “Midsommar” the title is actually never shown. Director Ari Aster is known for subverting genre conventions, matter of fact, film conventions in general. Knowing this, the title was likely revealed at the end of the film, wrapping up the contents of the film.  What images are prioritized in the opening sequence? In this opening sequence, only the names and credits are prioritized. No other images are shown, as just contributors to the film, that being actors, crew, and companies/institutions involved, names are displayed. This is over a plain black screen and instrumental music, maintaining focus on them with little going on outside of those words.  What connotations do these images carry? The cursive font and flower images shown carry a calming peaceful mood. This, ...

  www.watchthetitles.com      Continuing my research of title sequences, the second website I decided to explore was called Watch the Titles. When first entering the website, I was given the option to sort by category for type of title sequences, an option I was not given with my first website. I selected "feature films", as my final task project is an opening sequence to a full-length film. Instantly I noticed the difference in material, as this site contained a smaller selection of much more obscure and smaller films! These included small films like "Are We Done Yet?" and both "Wowie" films. While these films are less popular, the site promises these were some of the most ingenious title sequences ever created. On the other hand, the other site were not specially curated title sequences, just more recent title sequences in general. I feel many of these more obscure films subverted conventions in their own ways. This may make them less valuable in my rese...

www.artofthetitle.com        Title researching for my final task project has begun! The first website I decided to check out was "Art of the Titles." I first assumed this would be a website of just title scenes, but after a look around saw this website gave the full beginning sequences to hundreds of popular films. Clicking on "title sequences", a scroll through the available titles showed me the differences between different film genres. Even without knowing the plot of these films, you can distinguish genre simply from the look of the title screen. Dramas like "Leopard Skin" and "The White Lotus" had a bold simple titles, with an elegant font. Meanwhile, horror films like "Antebellum" and "Ratched" were written in a cursive font with a black background, creating an ominous overall tone. Another convention I noticed was films title sequences matching the time period of where the films were set. "Pearl" a film set in...

 A Quiet Place Part II, 2020, directed by John Krasinki My last movie pick to look into is the 2020 film, A Quiet Place Part II. This film was a huge commercial success and the sequel to one of my all time favorite horror films. It differs from the previous two films because the film features a fantastical creature. Not all horror films are simply about slashers and murderers, but non-human species also make their way into the genre. Researching this movie will help in my creation process because my chosen pitch will include a non-human “monster” so to say. Now, let us look into the opening sequence of the film. •  What elements (Conventions) of the genre that you chose to base your final task on does this movie have? One element of the horror-thriller genre that is present here is the use of tracking shots. Characters are followed by the camera as they complete actions. This following not only creates a sense of being followed for the characters, but at the same time puts us ...

Us, 2019, directed by Jordan Peele. Perhaps one of the most defining horror films of the century, my second film I will be examining is Jordan Peele’s “Us.” I can confidently say this is my favorite horror film I’ve ever seen, right next to Peele’s breakout film “Get Out”. This director brings a fresh twist to horror, often deviating away from a lot of usual conventions scene in the genre. For this reason I will need to be viewing a larger portion of the movie, since the real horror doesn’t begin until a flashback 20 minutes in. That being said, let’s analyze the horror genre conventions in the beginning “House of Mirrors” scene in the film. •  What elements (Conventions) of the genre that you chose to base your final task on does this movie have? The most prominent convention in this opening scene is the low lighting. For most of the sequence, but specifically the beginning when the setting is still unrevealed, shots are extremely dark with only the subject lit. The director uses ...

Scream, 2022, directed by Matt Bettinelli-Oplin and Tyler Gillet The first film I will be delving into for my genre research is Scream 5, the most recent installment in the beloved classic horror series. The original scream practically inspired the horror-thriller genre and it’s techniques have been seen in films everywhere today. Because of its significance I believed the 5th movie of the series, released in 2022, would be perfect to dissect and examine its conventions. •  What elements (Conventions) of the genre that you chose to base your final task on does this movie have?   The first convention we are shown is the tracking shot. Our vulnerable main subject is shown moving around the set. Lighting is very low and dim, on The silence is broken with the diagetic sound of a phone ringing, breaking tension that will be rebuilt as the sequence moves on. The main character is kept at a casual medium close up shot to capture their sudden fearful expressions. These medium close up...

 Fort film opening sequence I have decided to go with… The thriller genre! Going into this assignment it’s safe to say I had my mind set on this genre. I was thinking that as I researched my mind would have changed after learning about some other genres. However, researching thrillers just made me want to try it even more. Before continuing on with my final task project, I would like to go over what I learned about each genre and why or why not they weren’t the best fit for me. Comedies : I’ve never been a big enjoyer of comedies, nor did I know much about what techniques went into making them, so researching was an exciting task. What I like about the genre was that it uses very simply shots, without very dramatic mis en scene to show very everyday people and situations. That would be the simple part, however the dialogue would be difficult. I don’t think I could be up to the task of creating comedic writing that would land right. I would get every other part of the genre down whe...

 The last genre I will be researching is the genre of action! This genre is not something that I personally consume a lot of, which makes it all the more exciting to learn about! Actions are defined as a film with a fast moving plot, characterized by violence and intensity. It’s one that seems most difficult to recreate with the small budget and materials of a j gib school student trike myself. But after research, if it’s something I am interested in, I may create a very interesting opening to an action film! Camera Angles, Movements, and Shot Action movies usually take place in unusual situations, so establishing long shots are used to show settings. We know where characters are and how they will be interacting with the environment around them. An example of this is in “Blade Runner 2049” (2015) where our dystopian setting of the films original city is shown. Another camera technique that is prominent in action movies are they high low shots. Are protagonists and antagonists are s...

 The second genre I will be researching is the genre of comedies! While it is not one I watch often, I'm really excited to get to do a deep dive into it here. Cmedies are one of the genres you don't think about much while watching and how each technique contributes to the feeling of them. That's why this blog should be the most interesting, because now, before I start, I don't think I could tell you one thing about them! Comedies are defined as a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter. They humorously exaggerate the situation, the language, action, and characters, taking everyday situations from life and turning them into something audiences can laugh at! Camera Angles, Movements, and Shots As stated before, comedies are often meant to show everyday people and situations in a humorous way. Therefore, the way the camera is used is often to make shots feel very normal. Most shots will be still and leve...

       For my first genre to research, I will be looking into thrillers! Thrillers are categorized as  a novel, play, or movie with an exciting plot, typically involving crime or  espionage . They are defined by the moods the enact o the viewer, these being shock, suspense, fear, anxiety, and anticipation. What makes thrillers special and unique to other genres is that they often blend together elements from different genres, these being horror and action. Horror is used to build anxiety and fear, then the action comes into play to build suspense and excitement. Pretty cool! Now, let us look more specifically into what makes a thriller: Camera Angles, Movements, and Shots      The way a camera is used in a thriller is what really makes or breaks the quality of the media. Camera shots are vital in building that sense of anxiety. Extreme close-up shots are often used to hyper-enhance the subject and leave out whatever may be going on around the...

 For my media studies final task, my first ideas for pitches all had to do with the horror and thriller genre! Here is what I was thinking. Pitch 1: A woman is seen preparing food, talking to someone else offscreen, when at the end it is revealed she is cooking human flesh. This pitch is sort of similar to a movie Ive hear about, called Flesh. I want to do something horror related, so this is what I came up with. It would incorporate gore with the props of the food. I lot would be simple to film as the focus of the whole beginning would just be shots of food being cooked. I can really focus on getting nice sound and lighting since it would mostly be stationary. With sound I could slowly build tension and clue viewers into the fact that something is not right. The final reveal  would just me opening the fridge to reveal other body parts. As I open the doors, I can also do something cool for the title. It could appear behind the doors, or show i as I close the door and walk away...