Title sequence analysis

Why do films have Title Sequences?

Films and TV programme's have title sequences because it allows them to show the title of their production, who it was directed by and written by, any main actors within the film/TV programme.

Why are they useful?

They are useful because they allow features of the film to be shown like the genre and sometimes, the characters and settings within the films. They also allow the main actors to be shown before the end credits so the audience know who is in the film before watching the end credits.

"The Shining"

http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/the-shining/

After watching the title sequence, timeline that was created;

The Shining is a film directed by Stanley Kubrick that was released in the 1980's. Throughout the title sequence we see a range of different shots like long shots of the setting and weather and tracking shots of the car travelling along the road. This title sequence is effective because we get long shots which show the audience the setting of a desolate are surrounded by mountains, rivers and one long winding road so the area where the movie takes place is clear because of how much it is shown within the titles. The use of the repetitive deep-toned trumpet from the start to finish is effective because it shows the audience that this is a dark film because the tone is low down and slow instead of upbeat and cheerful.

"Signs"

http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/signs/

After watching the title sequence, timeline that was created;

Signs was a film directed by M. Night Shyamalan which was released in 2002. The title sequence within this film doesn't really show a lot about the film itself and there is no clue as to setting and characters within this because it is all blue and black backgrounds. However this title sequence is also good. At the beginning of the sequence, music starts to play but starts to get louder and faster. This is effective because its the same type of music that is used when someone is following someone else getting closer and closer to them to cause harm to them. The effects used in the title sequence to switch between titles is also useful because the titles suddenly appear on your screen and then fade out which suggests that there will be some sudden shock scenes or scenes that will make the audience jump in this movie and also suggests that the genre of this movie may be a bit dark  instead of happy and cheerful.

"The Conjuring"

http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/the-conjuring/

After watching the title sequence, timeline that was created;

The Conjuring is a horror film that was directed by a man named James Wan and released in 2013. The title sequence for this film is very good and really does clearly show the genre of the film. The music used in this title sequence is low pitched, slow paced and quiet which really creates a spooky and uneasy atmosphere and this helps portray the genre of the film as well. The images used within the background are all old photos of different family's and old newspapers, locations and events. This is useful because it helps show the setting of the film which is useful because it gives the audience the information about the film before it actually starts.

Summary:

Overall all three of these title sequences all have differences and similarities, they all have different backgrounds, different fonts and different edits. However, they all show the main actors, Director and other important people at the start, they also give off hints to the genre in one way or another either with the music they use, the colours, or the editing. Overall the one i enjoyed the most was The Conjuring title sequence because it all flowed together nicely, it really showed the genre well as well as covering the setting, time and main actors involved and the music worked really well. When it comes to my title sequence, i would aim to create the same type of creepy and uneasy atmosphere as they did because it really provoked the horror genre just by watching the title sequence because of the sounds, editing and shots photo effects they used.

Analysis of The Woman In black clip

Woman in black clip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POBDh1o-gE8

What I saw: 

• Waist coat
• Candle
• An axe
• Old toys
• Dull colored wallpaper
• Hand print on the wall
• "You could have saved him" written in blood on the wall
• Musical monkey starts to play loudly (Sudden break in the silence)

Within this clip, I noticed that a lot of micro elements were very different to how they would be in a comedy film or a action film. The bits I really picked up on was the costume and the props. The costume was very old fashioned like a waist coat and white puffy shirt, This stood out because in modern times we don't see that type of clothing very often and in the olden days, that was the common clothing of a man in day to day average life. This type of clothing is also very common in the "Gothic horror" genre.

The props also stood out to me because they really created a spine chilling atmosphere, not only did the look creepy, but there was also one particular scene where the man was walking with the candle in his hand and the camera was on a close up of the toy monkey, and in the eyes of the toy, you could see the reflection of the light from the candle as he walked and it looked like the toys were following him with their eyes.

Sound was also used effectively within this clip. There was also another scene at the end where out of no where the toy monkey started playing and it was quite shocking because it was unexpected and it broke the silence. This was also another typical convention of the "Gothic horror" genre because props are very useful and used a lot to create an uncomfortable atmosphere for the audience and can make an even better jump scare scene. The setting of a old, abandoned child's bedroom also is effective because of the writing and hand print in blood on the wall. This is effective because of the supernatural feel the writing provokes and how there's blood on the wall in a child's room would make the audience feel uneasy.

Within this clip there isn't really a lot of camera variation however, it is still really effective because of the long shot of the room in a static position. They are effective because they show the room  but its empty however you still feel as if something's watching you. Then when the camera changes to a extreme close up of the ghost, it makes you jump and makes you feel uncomfortable because it catches you as the viewer, off guard.

Analysis of Van Helsing clip

Van Helsing clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIBTN3qSB44

What I saw:

• Waist coat
• Werewolf
• Rusty cage
• Guns
• Ropes
• A forest
• Sword 
• Cross of Christ necklace
• Old tatty clothing

Within the clip "Gothic horror" is really apparent throughout, a big part of this scene is the costumes of the Werewolf, this really portrays "Gothic horror" as one of the key conventions is mystical creatures, so the werewolf really does represent the genre. its really effective because the creature looks so realistic which is good at creating a horror atmosphere for the audience. 

The setting is also effective in this clip because it is based in a Forest surrounded by trees with leaves all over the floor and bushes all around the area. because of the setting being in a dark and abandoned area which looks desolate, it represents "Gothic horror" because its a place where you would feel like someone is watching you.

The sound is also effective at the beginning of this clip because when the man is rope to the pole, there is no sound and its very spooky and builds up a lot of tension. Then you hear the growl of the Werewolf right before the jump scare of the creature jumping out to kill, and it adds effect because it breaks the silence and catches the view in a anticipating state which also scares them.

The narrative of this clip also conforms to the gothic horror conventions because its all about evil mystical creatures who are only out to kill and wont go down without causing suffering and pain.

The camera is effective within this clip as well because there are a lot of long shots where we are shown the setting and we are made to feel like something is lurking within the dark bushes and misty woods. When the action of the clip takes place, the camera switches to a lot of close ups and mid shots to show a lot more facial expressions of the characters and the fear they feel within the presence of this creature.

Analysis of The Conjuring clip

 The Conjuring clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOgC_YUyTYs

What I saw:

• Old wooden cupboard
• Dark room
• Old baggy night gowns
• Bookshelf
• Looked like a poor persons room
• Tatty curtains
• Painting of a cat
• Candles
• The demon girl

Within this clip I noticed that a lot of Micro-elements were used to portray a typical "Gothic horror" feel towards the film. For example the demon, in the clip we see her with wet and messy looking hair, a grey face with dark colored teeth, and a tatty, ripped and dirty night gown. this shows a typical "Gothic horror" feel towards it because it uses a demon from the past, as the horror object of the film. her costume and make up also portrays it because she is dirty and just overall messy, and she wears a nightgown, these are very old and not really used anymore but in the olden days this was very commonly used by women and girls.

Also Props are used in this clip, because we see a lot of old and dusty props like, old books, a big wooden cupboard, candles and paintings. these show "Gothic horror" because it creates a uncomfortable atmosphere, you as the viewer feel on edge as you are not really used to seeing these objects and because of the setting and the film itself, you feel scared and this is the aim of "Gothic horror films"

Sound is also effective with in the clip because there is a lot of silent moments where the setting is also dark and it creates a atmosphere where the audience expects something to happen, then suddenly you hear a bang from the cupboard which is really loud and it makes the audience both shocked and scared because its unexpected and spooky. Then when she leans back from the cupboard you hear a loud screen and the camera zooms in on the girls face and its really loud and really effective at making the audience jump.