Friday 31 October 2014
Dexter: "the opening sequence is considered one of the most innovative of its era"
"The opening sequence is considered one of the most innovative of its era".
Dexter's opening title sequence follows the conventions of a film noir. Its use of imagery is very clever as it links everyday things like cooking and shaving, and links them to murder by the use of the colour red, or the sharp objects that cut though things. It explores the morning regimen of a man and links him to death, telling us that he is going to be involved in a murder in some way. Usually the people they show in the clips are the detective or the victim, but sometimes to flip the coin the murder can be shown, and we learn how they did it. It makes use of cinematography and uses it to brilliantly to tell us about the character of Dexter. The opening sequence provides us with clues about the TV show and what/who the narrative follows. The music in the clip builds tension as it sounds like someone is plotting a plan to murder. The diegetic sound effects (eg. shaving) makes the audience cringe over everyday things. Everyone does these things, but making the sound diegetic and load compared to the music gives us an uncomfortable feeling, however we can't take our eyes off it. the low key lighting represents the early morning, but also represents murder/death/darkness and we can tell our prevalent character is involved in some way especially with the contract in high key lighting at the end, as it makes him seem like an ordinary person, when we know he isn't.
"These opening credits depict Dexter Morgan's daily morning routine, showing everything that embodies his character in a neat, stylised set of actions that detail vibrant colours and themes explaining the series in a calm pace. Every morning Dexter is seen being bit by a simple mosquito, which he smacks leaving a blood spot which he just simply stares at with somewhat of a smile. After the title is shown, he proceeds to shave and fix his breakfast. Blood from a shaving cut being magnified towards the theme of the show as well as the food he prepares (from simple ham and eggs, which he slashes open to a blood orange that he juices). At the end of the sequence, Dexter pulls a shirt over his head showing that he's a normal man with deep, cold eyes carrying a dark expression but as he leaves his apartment, all that seems to disappear under a colourful nice guy mask as he nods towards the camera walking along the outside of his apartment."
"The main title sequence, shown before every episode, takes the morning routine of the main character, converting it into a highly unusual montage by adding new layers of meaning and expanding its significance beyond the literal (denotative message) into ideological, aesthetic, hermeneutic and ontological level (connotative messages)."
Friday 17 October 2014
Se7en opening title sequence
Se7en
This opening title sequence is very different from others, yet it still follows the convensions of a title sequence, and is true to the director David Finches. The title needed to set the pitch, plot and characterisation for the noir thriller. The opening title sequence has music playing throughout. The music matches the genre of the film and gradually picks up pace towards the end on the clip to increase tension and leave the audience on the edge of their seats. Unlike other tile sequences, we are not introduced to any of the characters, in fact we only see hands in the clip. The clips link together with hundreds of action matches telling the audience that everything links together at the end, revealing the murder element to this film. The font for the names is quite spooky, and the way they flash and flicker replicate a flashing light about to blow, that people associate with horrors/thrillers. The flickering also draws our attention away from the background for a second so the audience can take in the actor/director/production team involved.
This opening title sequence is very different from others, yet it still follows the convensions of a title sequence, and is true to the director David Finches. The title needed to set the pitch, plot and characterisation for the noir thriller. The opening title sequence has music playing throughout. The music matches the genre of the film and gradually picks up pace towards the end on the clip to increase tension and leave the audience on the edge of their seats. Unlike other tile sequences, we are not introduced to any of the characters, in fact we only see hands in the clip. The clips link together with hundreds of action matches telling the audience that everything links together at the end, revealing the murder element to this film. The font for the names is quite spooky, and the way they flash and flicker replicate a flashing light about to blow, that people associate with horrors/thrillers. The flickering also draws our attention away from the background for a second so the audience can take in the actor/director/production team involved.
Key conventions of a opening total sequence
Key Conventions
Key and conventions of opening title sequence from ownisr
- Title of the film
- key actors/actresses involved
- Cast and crew members
- Director
- Producers
- The production company
- Distribution company
- music
- Graphics/live action/both shots
- Themes in the film
- Tell the audience the genre
- Pictures/images/clips/introduction of characters
- Colour scheme to match the theme
- Establishing shots that show the location
Key and conventions of opening title sequence from ownisr
Thursday 16 October 2014
Codes and conventions and target audiences
"What are codes?
Codes are systems of signs, which create meaning. Codes can be divided into two categories – technical and symbolic.
Technical codes are all the ways in which equipment is used to tell the story in a media text, for example the camera work in a film.
Symbolic codes show what is beneath the surface of what we see. For example, a character's actions show you how the character is feeling.
Some codes fit both categories – music for example, is both technical and symbolic.
What are conventions?
Conventions are the generally accepted ways of doing something. There are general conventions in any medium, such as the use of interviewee quotes in a print article, but conventions are also genre specific.
Conventions are the generally accepted ways of doing something. There are general conventions in any medium, such as the use of interviewee quotes in a print article, but conventions are also genre specific.
How codes and conventions apply in media studies
Codes and conventions are used together in any study of genre – it is not enough to discuss a technical code used such as camera work, without saying how it is conventionally used in a genre.
Codes and conventions are used together in any study of genre – it is not enough to discuss a technical code used such as camera work, without saying how it is conventionally used in a genre.
For example, the technical code of lighting is used in some way in all film genres. It is a convention of the horror genre that side and back lighting is used to create mystery and suspense – an integral part of any horror movie."
This website has taught me that genre is has an impact on society. For example if you able something a horror, then people who usually likes musicals isn't going to pay to see the film. Certain genres have their own audience, and by breaking these genre codes and conventions you can increase the people who pay to watch it, for example if you make a film a horror/comedy then you are attracting two different types of audiences. Different Cinema's, have different target audiences as they show different films. Cinema's like Odeon and Vue show new releases, and show a wide variety of genres, to make sure they have something for all target audiences, to draw them in. Smaller cinema's like Hollywood cinema and Cineworld play films that have quite specific target audiences. This means that cinema lovers who know what genres they like can go what a film, and know what they are going to expect.Conventions of an opening title sequence
Conventions of an opening sequence from emiliefreddie
Opening title sequences is a scene (graphics, live action or both) that identifies major actors and crew and the production company that are involved in the film and more importantly, the actual title of the film. This is important so that the audience can see the film title in context and you can clarify the genre of the film with the style in which it is filmed. It also tell a little bit of the narrative, telling the audience key details and facts without giving away the story line.
Opening title sequences is a scene (graphics, live action or both) that identifies major actors and crew and the production company that are involved in the film and more importantly, the actual title of the film. This is important so that the audience can see the film title in context and you can clarify the genre of the film with the style in which it is filmed. It also tell a little bit of the narrative, telling the audience key details and facts without giving away the story line.
Codes and conventions of opening sequences from kcasmedia
opening title sequences contain themes and hints about what is to come e.g. if there was a murder, there is likely going to be a lot of red to symbolises what is going to happen and so the audience expect the unexpected. The Directors names name is often mentioned twice- at the beginning and end, to symbolise his important role and his status in the film.
opening title sequences contain themes and hints about what is to come e.g. if there was a murder, there is likely going to be a lot of red to symbolises what is going to happen and so the audience expect the unexpected. The Directors names name is often mentioned twice- at the beginning and end, to symbolise his important role and his status in the film.
An Analysis Of The Opening Sequence Of Vertigo from Media Studies
Opening sequences play a different roles in each film, for example in Vertigo it plays a central role in establishing the visual style for the film and is used for the marketing for the film. They uses camera and composition to introduce key influential characters, and immediately let us know who the prevalence character is.
Opening sequences play a different roles in each film, for example in Vertigo it plays a central role in establishing the visual style for the film and is used for the marketing for the film. They uses camera and composition to introduce key influential characters, and immediately let us know who the prevalence character is.
Conventions of a thriller opening from zubairkhan93
The title sequence is important to keep the audience on the edge of their seats, wanting to see more. Music is often used in film titles to create the mood of the film, and builds up tension and suspense.
The title sequence is important to keep the audience on the edge of their seats, wanting to see more. Music is often used in film titles to create the mood of the film, and builds up tension and suspense.
Monday 13 October 2014
Saturday 11 October 2014
Film noir story board
This is a typical film noir story plot. This follows the stereotypical narrative for a film noir. Film noir usually have a voice over that puts the characters feelings into perspective. Your femme fatale usually ends up getting murderd in the end of the narrative to get her back for all the bad things she has done my seducing the male characters and manipulating them into doing what they want, which can get them into trouble. The anti-hero usually end up getting shot/murdered as they also are taught a lesson.
Friday 10 October 2014
Film Noir in a nutshell
Origins of Film Noir from FilmmakerIQ.com on Vimeo.
This is a clip that tells you how Film Noir started and the conventions about what makes a Film Noir. I learnt all about the contributing elements of a film noir, they are low budgeting, low key lihting, nihilism and "hays code".
Monday 6 October 2014
Friday 3 October 2014
Femme Fatal character interpretation
This is my SlideShare on my interpretation of Film Noir shots and what is a typical Femme Fatal typically look like and examples. To create our photos we decided what scene from our story board we were going to create. We decided on the casino scene, so we could introduce the long sexy ball gown style dress of the femme fatal. For our props we had a casino set with chips, dice and cards, a table and a cigarette holder. For my costume I chose a black and white dress to follow the conventions of a film noir style. I had statement jewellery of a purl necklace and earrings to symbolise she is seducing her victims. My red lipstick adds depth to the picture and creates reflections of light and really stand out in the photos. The lighting we used was the softer more yellow light because the bright light washed me out on the pictures because of my skin tone and hair colour. We experimented with different amounts of light, and the angles to see which one created the best shadow to follow the film noir conventions.
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