Movie design title

 Hello, we finally chose a name for our movie! My group and I came up with: “‘Signed, The Watcher’”. This Google slide shows how the opening credits of the film will be displayed in our project. We chose two fonts for the titles. The first font is called “Permanent Marker”. We chose this font because it had a rough and mysterious look to it that matched the aesthetic that we were going for. We chose to space this font out to make it more dramatic. With this font, we also decided to make it a dark crimson red color to add a more negative connotation to it and to add a more symbolic approach because the color that we chose as a strong association to the color of blood. The second font that we chose is called “Shadows into the Light”. We chose this font because it is closely related to our first font. This font also adds to our creepy horror aesthetic. We decided not to space this font out be we will be putting it in all caps to have it create a greater Impact on the audience. We will be keeping this font color white so that it will be able to contrast into our dark scenery. The titles that we want to prioritize are the film title, actors, and the director slide. The decisions that we made are not final because we may come up with better ideas along the road.

Planning for movie, location, participants, schedule, health and safety

    Hello! Within this google slide my group and I have come up with some more planning for our big movie project. The first thing we needed to decide on was our locations. We decided that we will be filming at Avalon/ Morgan's house and Jake's house and picked which scenes will be filmed where. Next, we listed out our participants. The whole group will be acting and on camera crew while Jake will be the director, Alex will be the editor, and Avalon will be on makeup. Our next step in planning was creating our schedule. We collectively decided which days we wanted to do what and are going to try our best to stick to that plan. And last but not least we made sure to include and plan out the safety aspects of our movie making. We will all make sure to remain safe during this process. We are all excited to continue on with this project and create our movie.

Shooting script

Hello! This is a google slide of my group and I's movie shooting script. In here we have each scene written out play by play including the camera shots and angles we will be using. The first scene is where we will be establishing the setting and characters. Scene two shows a different P.O.V. shot to show that they are being watched which inflicts a sense of fear and mystery. Scene three is the beginning of the conflict and apart of the rising action of the characters starting to realize they're in danger. Scene four is just the back and forth conversations of the friends. Scene 5 cuts to the other friend in search for the missing friend and her over hearing the friends in the kitchen argue. Then scene 6 is about the friend in search of the victim girl going back to her friends explaining they need to stop arguing and just look for their friend. Scene 7 shows more detail about the murderer and their approach to the victim and their encounter before she is killed. Scene 8 is where all of the friends hear a scream and run to the scene of the murder and realize what happened and are all super terrified. Scene 9 is where a note from the murderer is found and read aloud. The final scene is the friends all together right outside of where the girl was murdered where they notice the open window and then the power shuts off and its ended with a big scream. That is our plan for our two minute movie with our shots and angles, however we have not picked a title yet.

Sound Script

Hello! This is our google slides for our sound script. We wrote out the sounds needed to accommodate the actions which were written in the previous shooting script. The sound script includes all the sounds and dialogue in our film. The first scene starts off with eerie music and a sound bridge between the first two shots, accommodated by dialogue between the friend group. Scene two has dialogue between the friends concerning the missing member of the group. Scene three has one member of the group looking for the missing member, then being startled by a "prank" that was done by one of the group members. Throughout this scene there is dialogue concerning the "prank".
Scene four is a heated conversation between the two members. Scene five doesn't have any dialogue, it only has diegetic sounds. Scene six has a lot of dialogue and some diegetic sounds. Scene seven has some non diegetic sounds and dialogue. Scene eight has some sound effects and dialogue between characters. Scene nine throughout the scene suspenseful music plays while the character have dialogue. scene ten has dialogue and diegetic/non diegetic sounds.

Title research blog: Insidious

Each movie has its own title sequence in the beginning to show the credits and most of the time particular tactics and designs to help build the story of the movie. My group was told to look at a few examples of title sequences and research them. The first one I chose to do was the title sequence from Insidious. There were 23 titles displayed during the opening sequence of this film. Images that are prioritized in the opening are all black and white location pictures such as an empty hallway, street, parking lot, or trees. All of these have a negative connotation and give off an extremely creepy, scary, and mysterious mood. The genre of horror is reinforced through the symbolic and technical codes of this through several ways. The main purpose of horror is to scare and spook the audience and by using the uncomfortable and eerie images that the creators imputed is very likely to have an effect on the audience in the way a horror film should. The titles are also in red text that slowly fade out of the screen which adds to the scary feeling being projected to the audience. The viewer may see the red as creepy because of the association of red and blood, which would seem fitting for a horror film. This film establishes an enigma from the outset because it doesn't show any specific characters or setting or any sense of plot, only imagery to set the mood. This could get the audience hooked and interested in watching more. They target their audience in this way. If someone is going to watch a horror movie it is obvious they like creepy crawling situations that freak them out and most likely like a little mystery so that's exactly what the title sequence creators incorporated. The technology has been used effectively by using technology to alter the lighting to low and put in shadows and also adding in filters of black and white. Not only that but also with the technology that was used to put in the frightening background music adds a great deal of eeriness to the mood. The transitions had lots of fade in and outs which in a way prolongs the imagery and adds a scary feeling because it seems like the subjects are being drawn out. All of these techniques are chosen for a reason and are very effective in reinforcing the genre of horror into the film .

Title research blog: American psycho

For this next part of our project we were instructed to research an example film of our genre.Then research what they did for the opening titles of the film. One of the example films we choose is the movie American Psycho. Directed by Marry Harron, made in 2000, this horror film told a story of  a wealthy New York City investment banking executive that had an alter ego that had a psychotic urge for killing. The reason we chose this film was because the opening of this horror film has great images that makes the audiences think about whats happening.
1. How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film?
       While watching the movie American Psycho, my group and I watched and notice thirty opening titles. These titles went from the beginning to 04:26 minutes in the movie.
2. What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?
       In the first part of the movie sequence, it shows what looks to be drops of blood dripping onto a white background. A few sends later we soon find out the substance that looks like blood is actually a red sauce that is being poured onto a dinner dish. Along with the "blood" the camera shows a big, sharp knife that swing up to then chop a big piece of meat. The sequence then continues to show what seems to be a normal group of men, then only to show the main character yelling in a psychotic why to a bartender in a loud and crowded bar.
3. What connotations do the images carry?
      The images that were shown in the opening sequence of this movie made the audience think that the red sauce was blood and that in the knife scene someone was probably going to stab someone. The images gave a feeling of surprise when the audience finds out the images were not what they seemed. The image of the main character shows how easily he can turn his psychotic alter ego on and off.
4.How is genre reinforced though symbolic and technical codes from the outset?
     The purpose of horror movies is to scare and to bring the feeling of fear into the audience. This film used the visuals of the "blood", the knife and the scene of the "American psycho" yelling at the bartender to bring the feeling of fear int the audiences. These scenes in the opening sequence gave an unsettling and eerie feeling to the beginning of the movie. The red sauce symbolized blood. When the audiences saw the red substance it reminded them of blood.
5. How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?
      The film established an enigma from the outset by not establishing any specific characters or the plot. The film makers didn’t explain who the group of men were and where they were in the opening. The eerie scene when the main character yelling at the bartender created a tense and eerie feeling to the opening of the movie. This makes the audience entriged in the movie, ensuring the audience will watch the movie.
6.What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its targeted audience?
     Film makers will use many different tactics to ensure their films appeal to its targeted audiences. When people watch horror movies, they usually want scary and eerie aspects in their movies. The film makers use this and make sure to add these aspects into the title sequences to grab the audiences’ eye.
7. How has technology been used effectively?
      Technology has been used effectively by using technology to create the image of “blood” in the opening titles. Along with the CGI the editors also used technology for the eerie music that played in the background while the titles were rolling. All of these techniques come together to help reinforce the genre of horror in the film.

Title research blog: Ginger snaps

Hello! To help my group and I get a better understanding of how the opening titles of our final project should be, we watched a couple of examples of title sequences from different horror movies and then answered some questions for each film. One of the title sequences that we researched was of the 2000 film Ginger Snaps. Directed by John Fawcett, Ginger Snaps tells the story of two death-obsessed sisters, outcasts in their suburban neighborhood, must deal with the tragic consequences when one of them is bitten by a deadly werewolf.
How many titles were displayed during the opening sequences to the film?
For the main opening title sequence of the film, 21 slides were shown that displayed the cast, the writers, who the music and make-up were by, the producer, the director, etc... but in the early beginning of the film 3 titles were shown that displayed the movie company credits and the name of the movie.
What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?
The images that are prioritized are a slideshow of gruesome, macabre, deaths. The reason these images are prioritized is so that the audience can get an idea of the personalities and character traits of the two main leads. Another reason is to set the un-nerving tone for the rest of the movie.
What connotation do these images carry?
The images displayed carry a heavily negative and dark connotation. The images of violent, gory deaths create an unsettling feeling of melancholy and dread. The images help to show that the movie will not be a happy one and that the main characters in the film will not be the usual nice or friendly girl that are frequently shown in other horror movies.
How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?
Genre is reinforced through the technical codes by using the hand-held shaky cam. Using this type of shot gives the opening a raw and real feeling. The way the camera pans over the images of dead bodies helps establish the un-nerving feeling that horror movie are supposed to give. In-between titles, clips of the main characters were shown laughing and being happy, this action of the characters show the audience that these girls are not totally evil or psychotic.
How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?
This film is able to establish an enigma by not giving the main characters any personality traits other than the fact that they have in interest in the macabre. The opening also does not give a shred of any information on the plot of the film, and it allows the audience to wonder “what is wrong with these two girls” or “what is going to happen to these girls”.
What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?
The strategies used to ensure the film appears to the target audience are the overwhelming amount of blood and gore. A huge element of horror movies is the use of gory imagery. This movie opens with horrific violent images such as a girl with a pitchfork in her throat to another girl was run over by a lawnmower. The use of this element will appeal to gore-lovers and persuade them to want to keep watching the film.
 How has technology been used effectively? You want to consider camera angles, transitions, and editing techniques?
The technical use in the film is very clever. The camera jumps and flashes between an image at multiple different angles eventually landing on one of the images for a prolonged time to display the title. The way the shot of the images jump and flash before each other makes it look as if a photo camera were taking those pictures with the flash on. This transitioning technique becomes impressive after the titles are done and it is revealed that the images shown in the opening are part of a slideshow presentation. There is also a very diverse use of camera angles. The film uses a lot of oblique angles and high angles to make the opening a little more cryptic and it also separates the audience from the film.
All in all, Ginger Snaps was a film with a great opening title sequence. The opening used many of the horror movie elements and will definitely leave an impact on the audience.