Pitch for Title Sequence...

Our Pitch for our title sequence...

Costs
The Cost of the film would be expensive if made as there will be many special effects. Due to the explosions and flashy car chases needed within certain scenes. Plus the time element may end up costing the studio quite a bit of money as we want it to be filmed in certain conditions, under certain lights and for it to be edited in a certain way. So all of this may take a lot of time to get it exact for it to evoke the right emotions of betrayal, deceit and fearsome natures. Also the amounts in which the actors will be paid will be a considerable amount, within the millions margin. We believe they are much needed as we believe that this amount is feeble to the growth profit that will be created from them appearing within the film. We have also chosen martin Scorsese to direct our film, as he has plenty of previous knowledge of this genre of film it will be easy for him. This would be a massive time saver as well, therefore he would be worth the money it would cost us to employ him.

Actors/Characters
The actors that we would use if this were to be made into a real movie are Tom Hanks and Jet Li as our two lead roles. We decided upon using Tom Hanks as the investigator, as a group we feel that he could convey the right amount of emotion but still be very detached from the scenes. As this is a key element we want for the investigator for him to be emotionally detached from his fellow characters within the film. We spoke of how for our criminal role we wanted Jet Li to be him. As our gangsters will be that of triads and Jet Li has played a very successful gangster in many movies. We think that he will bring the right characteristics of a scary and devious criminal to the role.

Director
We have chosen to use martin Scorsese to be the films director as we think that he will bring a lot of film knowledge. As he has a lot of history with gangster and crime movies and he was apart of the film "The Departed" and in this film it incorporates a similar narrative to ours. The way in which he made this film is interesting and we would want him to incorporate a few elements from the film "The Departed" into our film. We think his camera and editing techniques will give the film a darker and mysterious edge to it.

Our plans
We have a plan to make the film have sequels, as we want to express this through the title sequence. for e.g. naming it PI means that if there was a sequel then we could just add a brief title below the main title. Also by giving the title sequence a catchy song and using a pacific typography that evokes the darkness and devious nature of the film. This means that audiences would be able to easily refer back to the film at any time.

Planning our title sequence...

GENRE
The genre for our title sequence will be crime with a gangster essence to it, we chose this as we thought it would an original option and because we felt it would give us a lot of freedom. As there was many angles we could put upon our title sequence, we chose to do it in the form of the inspector figuring out the cases. As a group we have decided to explore many conventions of a crime genre, such as using certain props for e.g. using a folder that symbolises the criminals past record. Another prop we would like to use for representation of the crime genre would be that of a big white board with images from crime scenes and information all over it, to indicate a surrealism to an actual investigators office. Also we want to venture into looking deeply at the cinematography and mise-en-scene that go into the title sequences of crime movies, such as lighting, body language and camera angles.

TITLE
The name of our title sequence will be that of "PI" (Private Investigator), this is because we feel like this title has a sense of realism as if this character could exist. The title was chosen as it was simplistic and it got straight to the point, we felt that this would make the film more relatable to people. As they would not be confused by hidden meanings they were informed from the start what the film would entail. Also we felt this made the film more relatable to other films within this genre as for example James Bond uses "007" it indicates the characters occupation and what will follow from there work becomes obvious to audiences.

CHARACTERS
The characters that we have chosen for this title sequence are that of the inspector and the criminal in which he will be investigating. We have decided to use a man to be the inspector just because we think this will give the character more dominance and a more rougher edge to the characters appearance and personality. We have chosen the criminal to be a man as well just because we feel that this will make the characters play off upon each other much more. As they will be equally physically strong and they will be naturally competitive due to them both being male. We felt that choosing both male leads will also create more tension between the two therefore giving the viewers more anticipation and making them insecure about how the film will unfold.whereas if we chose a woman inspector or criminal we feel as if a woman could hold a lot of strength over the man therefore rendering him weaker. Yet we want both lead roles to be equally as this will we make the plot less predictable.

NARRATIVE
The narrative of our title sequence is that our investigator re-opens a cold case and sort of task is apart of his normal day to day life. What he does not realise is that he is about to investigate a world that shouldn't be tampered with. The people in which he is about to investigate into find out that he knows what they are up to. So due to this the gangsters are all trying to kill the investigator, so he will be forever silent. They then kidnap him due to many failed attempts, they toture him so that he will give them everything he has found out about them. He does not let go of the most important pieces of information and with the gangsters thinking they have forever silenced him they let him go. The investigator has no real fear of the gangsters so he takes his chances and gives all the information his has of them over to the police. But the police are only able to bring down a few of the gangsters and the ones in which they are able to bring down are not the worst therefore justice has not been served. Meaning there needs to be sequels to this film that will divulge much further into this case and the individuals within it.

Journal- Planning Stages

lly22-26 November

During the last week as a group we have all been deciding the necessary factors that are the core to our title sequence. Such as we needed to decide on a genre we were in between a psychological thriller and crime, we all decided that crime would be the best. We decided to name it PI (Private Investigator) as the films basis would be on an private investigator and the troubles he goes through to get justice. We had a discussion on what type of characters we would want to be in title sequence and we decided that we wanted there to be two lead roles that of the inspector and the criminal he is chasing. We decided we wanted to the two lead roles to be male as we felt an equal state, as using a women would give her more dominance over the male. Whereas we wanted them to be equally strong as this would create and uncertainty and suspense.We decided on a narrative of the inspector chasing the criminal but the criminal being involved in a gang. So the whole situation spirals out of control for the inspector and his name becomes a mark for the gangsters to cross out. As a group we also wanted to give the illusion in our title sequence that we want this film to have sequels. We also looked into the props in which we wanted to use they are a telephone, a folder in which the suspects details will be in. Lastly we want to use a massive white board, where information on the suspect and his fellow gang members will be spread out amongst the white board with images and text to support the case. Then finally this week we were given two films to look at and these were "The Departed" and "The infernal affairs 2" and we all shall analyse these this week.

Looking at Title Sequences!!!

THIS IS THE "SONS OF ANARCHY" OPNING CREDITS..


I have chosen to look at the "Sons of Anarchy" title sequence as i thought there was a lot of interesting mise-en-scene, cinematography,editing and sound used. Firstly the lighting throughout the title sequence gives it an essence of a spot light as if the characters are in some kind of police line up. The darkness of the backgrounds makes the title sequence evoke brooding and dangerous emotions that seem to be amongst the characters and the programme itself. I particularly found interesting the way in which they used special effects to put tattoos amongst each of the actors illustrating their names. This gave familiarisation's with the biker image of that they all seem to be covered in tattoos. This type of special effect in this title sequence is what makes it original and unique to me as its evoking a stereotypical nature but in a harmless manner. Also the fact that the tattoos disappear off of the actors bodies, shows audiences that these are all real everyday people just like anyone else. Also i like the relation between the studio using the tattoos for representation as this is what it is like for real bikers as they are expressing themselves through tattoo's also.

The studio sound of the song used in this title sequence is what attracted me to it as well, as the singer has that roughness to his voice and the lyrics used really takes you on a journey. A journey in the life of bikers, i feel as if this song gives audiences the chance to hear the sort of music bikers might listen to. The lyrics really seem to some up each characters life giving the audience a relatability factor to them all. The rough voice used by the singer is also and indication to the sort of dangerous, reckless and manly characters that will appear within the title sequence and the TV show. The mise-en-scene in this title sequence indicates the body language of the bikers and there wives and girlfriends to be that of strong, sexual and intimidating. Through the use of them being semi-naked and the fact that the end image is of a man flexing his muscles connotes strength and that there all proud and that none are self conscious there all comfortable with themselves.

The quick editing used of images of weapons such as guns and bullets connotes there importance within the show, that these are the necessities to survive within their world. The quickness indicates these are all images you will see a lot throughout the show, so there's no need for real emphasis on them. The typography used in this sequence seems to look like that sort you would find on a wanted poster. Also it gives the programme some historical background to present it as being a bike gang that has been around for many years. Overall i chose this Title sequence as i felt this was very simplistic in its pure meaning and it was effortlessly stunning. The special effects, editing, sound and lighting all contributed to make the title sequence feel realistic and relatable to its audiences. I have never seen a title sequence take sterotypes and put them in a nature and non offence way, the title sequence to me was an overall success.

Analysis of The Infernal Affair 2 and The Departed Title Sequences...

The infernal affair and the departed are the chosen films that we will study in aid to help us with our title sequence. Both films are within the crime genre.

Infernal affairs- This film's title sequence has helped us a lot as it has shown us how to present our triad. It has also taught us a lot about mise-en-scene and cinematography. As we know think we can play a lot of tricks within lighting for example we can use a lot of dull and depressing lighting. This film has shown us that within our title sequence we should not focus too much on our suspect and our investigator instead we should only shoot them from side angles and long shots and extreme long shots.

The Departed - This film's title sequence has also helped us a lot, as we would love to incorporate what they have done with their lead role to our investigator. As they have also used dark and dull lighting like we would like to. They have concealed who their lead character is by never showing his face. We thought that we could now do this by getting our investigator to never look at the camera and only get the back and side of his head.

The Departed opening

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4nUFxsZqpA

The Infernal Affair Opening 2

Title Sequence Designer- Paul Donnellon.

Biography..
Paul Donnellon works within title sequence designing, he originates from Dublin this is were he studied animation and graphic design at Dun Laoighaire college for Art and Design. Paul has a background of work within animations leading back to his earlier work at TVC in London the company that animated the Beatles music video "Yellow Subarmine" and "The Snowman". Paul Donnellon's first piece of actual animation work was in Raymond Briggs "When the wind blows" and this was in 1986. From 2000 to 2002 Paul moved to the Oscar winning company The Mill as the consultant director of 3D animation. Since then he has been able to create his own company called Voodoodog with David Z. Obadiah. His work as a commercials director include: CBBC's launch idents, Mercury award-winning Talvin Singh, Pink Flyd ad Kate Winslet music video 'What If'.

A Catalogue of Paul Donnellon's work..
•Nanny Mcphee
•Nanny Mcphee Returns
•Smokin Aces
•Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
•The A Team
•The Life and Death of Peter Sellers
•Love in the Time of Cholera
•The River King
•Made of Honour.

Smokin Aces


With this title sequence we notice how Paul has used his ecperience of his Graphic Design. He uses this sort of typography as it is bold and shows a manly side to it and even though it is very simple it also shows us that you need to find a deeper meaning in the type. it shows that the film is very bold and manly and everything is to the point just as the text is. This sequence is very cimic book like the way he uses still images to slow things to look at tehm and puts it over a background to make it look like an animation which he also studied.

The Life and Death of Peter Sellers
http://www.voodoodog.com/work/film/title-sequences/peter-sellers/clip-player
(This is a link to the title sequence)

With this title sequence we see a more fun side to Paul as he once again uses his experience of Graphic Design and Animation to use in this sequence. The typography shows that it is a fun and comical film by using the bright colours, fun typography and how it pops up onto the screen or more of a hop. Also when the animation begins we see flowers around the first name from the movie and once again shows a fun bright side to the movie. Also when in the animation he knocks over the lamp and does not care it shows that the film is very comical.

Paul Donnellon's Comments on Nanny McPhee
"Nanny McPhee is a colorful kids movie. The director, Kirk Jones, saw our Peter Sellers title sequence and asked us to pitch on his opening credits."

"I drew caricatures of the main child cast and constructed cut out figures rather than going for full drawn animation, like we did before in the Peter Sellers sequence. It gave a different effect and still holds your interest and gives the audience something to leave the cinema with."

Continuity Sequence..

Firstly i shall sum up the meaning behind the sequence its about two best friends, one of which pretends to be a girl when really they are a man and are in fact in love with there best friend. This is what we chose to do Our Continuity sequence on, throughout we had to look at techniques such as camera angles these were the 180 degree rule, reverse shot and the over the shoulder shot. We kept to all of these not going over the 180 degree rule, and using a reverse shots between the two characters and over the shoulder shots when dialogue is being used.

There was only one minor aspect to the continuity sequence that failed and this is when we see the girls response to her best friend saying they are in love with her. The dialogue in this quick scene is "WHAT!" and there is a slight change in the camera angle as it looks as if the camera has moved down and is now slightly looking down on the girl. It is not that noticeable as this is were the continuity sequence picks up in speed and this quick clip is very short amongst the whole sequence, therefore little attention is drawn to it and it is rather unnoticeable.

I think overall everything went to plan, all of the speech used was right and we were able to use the room we wanted. So this overall makes the scene work better as its much quieter in there and this adds to the tension. We were able to find boy who would play the role, and one who could throw a funny voice, as this gives the scene the comedic element that we wanted to achieve. Everything seemed to flow in the scene due to its editing this was a key element we wanted, no jolts or messy camera work.

I like the contrast within the busy corridor and its loud noises arrupting from the other classrooms, then the character's are in this small little computer suite. It makes things seem much more tense and it gives the characters a niaviety and innocence. I also like all of the comedic elements we added such as the props for e.g. the boys brown haired plaited wig. I also like the continunity sequences length as its short this i think adds to the scenes simplisity which again adds to our comedic element also it makes this scene much more easily understandable for everyone.

I think the only thing i would like to change about this continuity sequence if i were to do it again would be that of the minor error that occurs throughout the speech of "WHAT!" Just because the slight difference in the camera angle although is not a major issue it would be the one slight change i would like to make, if i were to do this again. In doing this i would just allign the camera properly with the scene before it so every camera angle would be on the same level.

The things in which i have learn't from making this continuity sequence is that of a couple things, firstly the matter of rewinding the tapes in the video camera to the beginning when ever i want to start filming a sequence. Just because we found it quite hard to recover certain aspects to the sequence. Secondly i have learn't to film everything at once and if something needs to be re-filmed to be able to match the levels to the other scenes perfectly. For example by not taking down the tripod straight away. These are the two main elements i have learned from making this continuity sequence.