Title Research: Copelia

How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film?

.  During the opening sequences of this film there were fifteen titles displayed during the first two minutes. 

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence? 

. The images that were prioritized during the opening sequence include pictures of different flowing cells and other microscopic materials traveling through some type of plant based system.  

What connotations do the images carry? 

. The connotations the images carries is the idea that a form of a experiment has gone wrong resulting in a some type of plant based disaster. The constant appearance of plant cell cells flowing inside what seems to be a system of some kind shows that the disaster was a internal problem. 

How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?

. The genre is reinforced  through symbolic and technical codes by showing aspects of the genre such as Aliens, extraterrestrial lifeforms, and mutants that was shown in the outset and the equipment used could shows foreshadowing of a major event happening.

How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?

. The outset from the film establishes enigma by displaying different mysterious images such as the flowing cells and other microscopic materials that puts the audience in a paradox wondering what is really going on.

What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to it's target audience?

. Some strategies used to ensure the film's appeal to the target audience are the use of different back ground designs to catch the audience's attention along with the use of mysterious images from the film. Another strategy used was making a film that was more or less aimed towards a younger audience who are more likely to watch it.

How has technology been used effectively? You want to consider camera angles, transitions, and editing techniques. 

. The technology in the outset has been used very effectively, the use of high and low angles shows all the different variables that tie into the main motion picture.The transitions and editing techniques were also used very effectively, from the use of fade in/outs, fade in to black and wipes that jumped from different parts of the displayed system the cells were in to another to the use of dramatic and dynamic cutaways. 

Title Research: Panic Room #18

How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film?

.  In the opening sequences of the film there were eleven titles displayed within the first two minutes of the film.

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence? 

. Some images that were prioritized in the opening sequences include a Microscope, Glass sample lens, Glass flasks in different shapes and sizes, Hazard signs all over a laboratory, A glass tube with a strange alien creature inside, a Electroencephalography machine with active brain activity,and Some type of vault with a fully grown alien creature inside connected to tubes of sorts. 

What connotations do the images carry? 

. The connotations the images carries is the idea that the film will have something to do with a disease of some sort and the creatures shown have something to do with the hazard signs posted all over the laboratory as if some type of disaster happened. 

How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?

. The genre is reinforced  through symbolic and technical codes by showing aspects of the genre such as Aliens, extraterrestrial lifeforms, and mutants that was shown in the outset and the equipment used could shows foreshadowing of a major event happening.

How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?

. The outset from the film establishes enigma by displaying different mysterious images such as the creatures and the hazardous lab equipment that puts the audience in a paradox wondering what is really going on.

What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to it's target audience?

. Some strategies used to ensure the film's appeal to the target audience are the use of different back ground designs to catch the audience's attention along with the use of mysterious images from the film. Another strategy used was making a film that was more or less aimed towards a younger audience who are more likely to watch it.

How has technology been used effectively? You want to consider camera angles, transitions, and editing techniques. 

. The technology in the outset has been used very effectively, the use of high/low and dutch angles shows all the different variables that tie into the main motion picture.The transitions and editing techniques were also used very effectively, from the use of fade in/outs and wipes that jumped from one part of the laboratory to another to the use of dramatic cutaways. 

Title Research: Watch the titles

    After getting a feel with this whole title sequence situation my group members and I figured we should still do more research to really make us knowledgeable in this field. We wanted to do this in order to come to terms with the best way to make the most efficient title sequence we could make. So we did more research and found another great website. The second website that we found was called Watch the Titles. This website was made in 2006 and has continued to be a great source for people interested in title sequences. This website showcases popular title sequences for feature films, tv shows, video games, event titles, student projects, and french Fridays. This website is dedicated to the art and designers of title sequences and it also focuses on the creative process of making title sequences. We chose to look more into this website because it also included student projects, which we felt was something we should definitely look into. This was a great thing to expand research on. We went through all of the student projects, being that there were only a few, and analyzed them in order to help us with our project. Although the first website was very helpful we felt like this website was better for a few reasons. One it was slightly more organized. Also, it includes all the same amenities and more.  For example not only does it include the title sequences, designers, studios, and a search engine it also includes an easy link to all of the social media. Now after researching this website my group members and I feel like we are ready to start this project. 

Title Research: Art of the title

    My group members and I wanted to start getting a feel for how Science Fiction (Sci-Fi) shows/movies are generally introduced through a title sequence. We wanted to do this in order to come to terms with the best way to make the most efficient title sequence we could make. So we decided to research title sequences. The first website that we found was called Art of the Title. This website was made in 2007 and has continued to be a great source for people interested in title sequences. This website showcases popular title sequences to movies, tv shows, games, events, and conferences and explains the creative process that goes into making them. We chose to look more into this website because we felt that it would help us understand, in detail, the creative process of making a Sci-Fi title sequence. It offers a variety of title sequences. From old to knew, low profile to low profile, and classics to low rated movies, etc. This website also offers a variety of articles going into more detail on a specific film(s). Not only does it display sequences and articles, but it also gives background information and descriptions on title sequence designers and production studios. The best thing about this website is it is very easy to find title sequences with our genre. The website has a search engine allowing us to simply search our genre up, giving us Sci-Fi title sequences, designers, studios, articles, and news. This website helped us in many ways. It gave us a general idea of how Sci-Fi title sequences are. It also gave us something we weren't even expecting, which is the creative process behind making a title sequence. We now realize how important the creative background/intent is when making a title sequence. After researching this one website my group members and I already feel more equipped to go into this project. 

Genre Research - Transcendence

The final movie my group and I decided to analyze for inspiration is called Transcendence. This is an American science fiction thriller film which was released in 2014. It is about the world’a foremost authority on artificial intelligence conducting highly controversial experiments to create a sentient machine.

In this movie they were many different camera angles, movements, and shots. Some angles in it included level, over the shoulder, many medium shots, many close ups, and medium long shots. There were also many two shots and three shots. Some camera movements in this movie included tilts, zooms, and tracking shots. Lastly, some shots that I noticed in this movie were crane shots and there were a few stock shots.

As far as the CLAMPS for this movie, the aspects were very pleasing. The costumes in this movie included professional clothing worn by those characters high in power, scientific costumes worn by scientists, and everyday clothing worn by the normal characters. The lighting in this movie included basic three point lighting, hard film lighting, low-key lighting, natural film lighting, and practical site lighting. As I’ve watched the other movies in the science fiction genre, I’ve noticed that they tend to consist of the same types of lighting. Which would make sense because those types of lighting are part of the conventions for the science-fiction film genre. Moving on, the acting in this movie was serious and dramatic. Some scenes required violent acting seeing as they were violent scenes.
The makeup in this movie was not very over-the-top, because the characters in the movie played fairly normal rules compared to rolls and other science fiction movies such as aliens. The props in this movie consisted of normal items ranging from computers to cars. However they were also props such as large scientific machines and other scientific objects. There were also guns for props as well as other weapons. The setting for this movie took place in an average city. The setting changed a few times throughout the movie. The characters were in houses, as well as laboratories.

The editing in this movie was very well structured. The main types of editing I noticed were cross cutting, cutaway, eye-line match, shot reverse shot, and jump cut. I also noticed dissolves, fade ins, fade outs, burn ins, and burn outs. One other edit I noticed was a wipe. As far as the common sign in this movie, there was diegetic sound, dialogue among the characters, voiceovers, sound motifs, and sound bridges. As far as the soundtrack, the score enhanced the movie, as well as the incidental music and ambient sound.

Every element in this particular sci-fi movie enhanced the plot of the movie and made it very intriguing to watch. My group and I enjoyed the lighting in this movie because it went along well with every scene. We also enjoyed the diversity of the different types of angles, movements, and shots. One thing we disliked about this movie and felt could have been better was the acting. Johnny Depp was incredible, as he usually is, but the other actors and actresses could have been better. Watching this movie allowed my group members and I to gain even more insight on the elements we should include in our own sci-fi movie.

Genre Research - What Happened To Monday

Having decided to create a film part of the sci-fi genre, my group and I thought it would be best to watch and analyze a few movies part of the genre to get a better understanding of the conventions part of it to create ours. One movie we watched was “What Happened To Monday” released in 2018. We noticed that it had many different camera angles, movements, and shots. Some common angles in it were high-level, over the shoulder, medium shots, medium close-ups, close-ups, and medium long shots. There were also many two-shots and three-shots in this movie. Some camera movements we noticed were pans, flash pans when showing the setting, as well as tilts to show entirety. Tracking shots were used to move along with the action happening. Lastly, some camera shots I noticed in this movie were crane shots and I believe I saw many stock shots.

When watching this movie and the other movies, I do plan I made sure to take note of every aspect of CLAMPS present in the movies. In this particular movie, the costumes we saw were professional clothing worn by professional workers, scrubs worn by doctors and scientists, and every day clothing (such as a t-shirt and jeans) worn by the normal people in the film. The common lighting in this film was basic three-point lighting, hard film lighting, low-key lighting, natural film lighting, and practical set lighting. The actors in this film had to act sympathetic, dramatically, violently, and hopelessly for the many different moods the scenes had. I was impressed with their acting. They were very talented. The make up in this movie compared to other science-fiction movies was not too dramatic. The actors had make up that highlighted certain features of their faces, but not dramatically. The make up seemed to look like every day make up women would wear in the real world. The main props in this movie were technological items such as computers and machines. Some other props included regular items found in the household. There were three main settings in this movie which included the outside world, the inside of the houses, and laboratories. The majority of the movie took place inside the home of the seven girls and their father. It wasn’t until later in the movie when they began to leave the house to the outside world.

The main types of editing we noticed in this movie were cross cutting, cutaway, eye-line match, shot reverse shot, and jump cut. There were also many dissolves, fade ins, and fade outs. As far as the common sound in this movie, they were diegetic sound, dialogue among the actors, and voiceovers. For the soundtrack there was score, incidental music, and ambient sound. The sound enhanced the movie a great deal. It made the scenes more dramatic when they needed to be. As well as sad when something bad happened.

All of these elements in this movie “what happened to Monday“ made the movie very interesting and involving. Watching this gave my group and I ideas of the types of camera angles, shots, and movements to include into our opening scene for our film. It also gave us idea of the sound we should include, as well as the editing. In this movie we enjoyed the suspense and the acting. At some points in the movie some scenes were dragged on and became slow and that is what we would have to say we disliked about this movie. But other than that, it was a very good science-fiction movie. We hope to make our opening scene creative as this movie was. We will include many of the elements from this movie and the other movies we watched.

Genre Research - Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Another movie that my group members and I chose to research was The hunger games: Catching fire. This movie is a Sci-Fi thriller that came out in 2013. It has a very unique plot and storyline. It is a highly acclaimed movie, so we decided to analyze it to give us inspiration for ours.

In this movie specifically, there were many different camera angle, movements, and shots. The camera angles that were commonly used with a purpose were High, Low, and Eye Level angles. The movements that were commonly used with a purpose were Tracking and Pan. I also noticed the use of tilts and zooms. As far as the shots, the shots that were commonly used with a purpose were Close-Up shots, Wide shots, Two shots, Aerial shots and Long shots. Medium long shots were also present in this movie. A few three-shots also appeared.

Being a well structured sci-fi movie, we looked at the CLAMPS to give us more insight on how to go about creating our movie. The costumes used in this movie were different depending on the role. The characters who were regular people wore regular everyday attire, the people who were privileged wore dramatic/colorful clothing, and the people who went to the arena wore dramatic dressy clothing then in the arena wore battle clothes. The costumes overall did a very good job of depicting the different roles and the meanings behind them. They essentially served as symbols. The lighting used was often natural lighting, dim lighting, and basic 3-point lighting. The lighting depended on the scene and the mood needing to be set with the lighting.  The acting in this film was serious and intense throughout, seeing as it was a serious plot. There were many active and violent scenes as well, so the actors had to take up violence and portray themselves as aggressive in certain scenes. The props in this movie consisted mostly of weapons and battle equipment. There were also general items used as props as seen on a day-to-day basis. Lastly, the setting was mainly in the arena in which the characters fought in. When the setting was not the arena, it was the outside world. This included the districts from which the contestants were from, and the Capital.

The common sound used in the film was diegetic, non-diegetic, and dialogue among the characters. There were moments when the score was very intense and enhanced the scene dramatically. Incidental music was also present in some scenes, as well as ambient sound. The common editing was cross cutting, cutaway, eye-line, action match, and reaction. The editing ensured the film flowed well.

Overall this movie was very good. I liked almost all aspects except for the acting. As much as I enjoyed this movie, it needed more calm moments to balance out the chaotic, intense scenes that took place. This move also helped me develop ideas and brainstorm for our project.