Dexter Title Sequence Evaluation

1. Summarise the conventions of title sequences that were most important to this task.

It was important that we included the starring actors and significant people tasked with production as this is not only a convention, but is also often a term in a contract and therefore a legal obligation. We also followed some basic conventions of title sequences, including:

• Showcasing the name of the Show
• Varying the placement of the titles
• Keeping a consistent style throughout
• Using suitable typography and font colour for the genre

2. How did your group plan to edit the title sequence (consider timings, industry requirements etc).

My group, consisting of Vivian and I, decided we wanted to use the dynamic elements of the background action in an attempt to integrate the titles into the sequence effectively. Unfortunately, this forced us to place each title in one shot only and no longer, which was not ideal. We planned to follow industry requirements by including a variety of names in the title sequence, including actors, the director, produce etc. We also planned to adhere to Dexter's style through our choice of typography.

3. Explain the creative decisions made by your group.

We used a red font colour to ensure they style was consistent from the main title 'Dexter' to smaller titles of actor names. The colour also has connotations of blood and danger, themes featured strongly in the TV show. The simple typography prevented the titles from dominating the screen, allowing the audience's attention to firmly focus upon the action. Including dynamic elements within the title sequence (such as the rotating title over the coffee-maker) creates interactivity and is visually engaging for the audience. We attempted to place titles where there was a light, consistent background (allowing for contrast) that did not overly distract from the action. 

4. How did your re-edit compare with the original.

In terms of the font used, our re-edit has a striking resemblance to that of the original. The placement of our titles was reasonably similar to the original, as we attempted to place the titles over the blankest of backdrops. This gives the audience a chance to read them, while remaining relatively subtle. Where our title sequences differed greatly was in the timings of each title. Vivian and I decided to place each title over only a single shot. In hindsight, we should have given the audience more time to absorb the information from each title. Another difference was the sheer number of titles showcased by the original compared to the four titles in our re-edit. However, this was not out of choice but due to the restricted time in which we were tasked to create the sequence.

Art Of The Title Grid Activity

 

1) Summarise your film idea. Provide a brief synopsis and outline what happens in your film opening.


Our film, The Art of Alchemy, is predominantly a crime-thriller with elements of horror and science fiction. The protagonist, portrayed by Louis Caldwell, has an underground lab in which he practices the ancient art of Alchemy, an aspect of science banned worldwide due to it's potentially devastating power. Despite being pursued by the police, the Alchemist is able to use his skills for the betterment of Mankind. The film opening introduces a major setting (the lab) as well as the protagonist. The Alchemist is portrayed experimenting within his lab.

2) What kind of information has been included in your film opening?

The film opening informs the audience of the producer, director and starring actor. The protagonist is also introduced to the audience as well his science/chemistry-related profession. The scene ends by revealing the name of the film.

3) How do the titles link to the main film idea?

The typography we used is very sharp and distinct, reflecting the Alchemist's meticulous and academic nature. The simplicity of the font encourages the audience to focus on the actual shots.

4) Summarise the expected audience reaction. What should the audience be thinking by the end of your opening? Is your opening clear or ambiguous?

Our expected audience reaction can effectively by split into two categories: intrigue and shock.
Intrigue: Our film opening is indeed intended to be ambiguous. The majority of the shots are CUs or ECUs, preventing the audience from viewing the full picture. The protagonist is also portrayed in an intriguing manner (see question 5). The audience should be thinking about the scientist's identity by the end of the film opening as well as his motives.
Shock: Shot 4 and 6 are intended to shock the audience. The ECUs of dead animals have connotations of horror as well as adhering to the scientific theme. The shock engages the audience effectively, ensuring that they are attentive straight from the get-go.

5) Identify three things you included in your grid that are important in the construction of an opening sequence and explain their role in understanding the film.

Representation of the Alchemist- It is a common convention of thrillers to create a sense of mystery around the antihero from as early as the opening scene; a convention that we duly followed. Significantly, the audience are never able to view the Alchemist's whole body from the front, and are instead subject to several close-ups of different body parts. This enigma is kept up throughout the movie.
Framing and angles- The close up framing as well as the tilt used in shot 7 create a feeling of discomfort within the audience, typical of the thriller genre. This discomfort is replicated throughout the film.
The opening and final shot- These two shots in particular are effective within the opening scene. The opening establishing shot introduces the protagonist and the setting. The framing and camera positioning is also visually appealing. The final shot is extremely interesting and epitomises the intriguing cinematography we attempted to achieve.

6) How effective is your project as a film opening? Explain your answer.
I think our project has the potential to be very effective, held back by a few lighting and title mistakes. The titles appear rushed and incomplete. With more time, the typography and positioning of the titles would be thought out more thoroughly. In addition, the lighting of the shots was far from ideal, with our group having to resort to the night-vision effect in an effort to rectify this problem. Fortunately, the effect was not too bad and contributed to our chemical theme and mise-en-scene.
 The most effective aspects of our sequence are probably the enigma of the Alchemist as well as the creative and sometimes shocking camera-work, displayed in all nine shots.

Analysis of a Film Opening Scene

Analysis of the opening scene of 'Jaws'

The opening scene of Jaws is set years before the rest of the film, when the protagonist is only a boy. It is used as an example of the danger of shark's as well as explaining the man's fear of them.

• The first nine shots of the opening scene are all establishing long shots, which effectively introduces the beach setting. Pathetic fallacy is used effectively, as the dark clouds forecast tragedy ahead. The long shots and extensive use of pans create a feeling of isolation.
• Chrissie is presented as outgoing through dialogue such as 'Come on!', However, as she undresses, the audience sense her vulnerability.
• Jaws is most famous, perhaps, for it's bone-chilling music. The slow increase of tempo increases tension dramatically, without the audience even noticing it. The audience are lulled into a false sense of security by the peaceful sea and the gentle lapping of the waves. 
• The underwater shots provide the audience with a POV shot from the perspective of the shark. This invokes intrigue within the audience who are unaware of Chrissie's danger.
• The fact that the shark is not pictured in the scene, increases the tension. The audience fears the unknown and the enigma of the shark is infinitely more frightening than any special effects.
• Throughout the opening scene, the director cross-cuts between the protagonist (whose name is currently unknown) and 'Chrissie'. The juxtaposition created by the cross-cut is extremely successful in highlighting both the danger to 'Chrissie' and the oblivious nature of the boy:

1. The sound transforms suddenly from screaming and tense music, to absolute silence, save the gentle hush of the waves.
2. The violent movements of Chrissie are in extreme contrast to the boy's relaxed pose, as he enjoys the sunset.
3. The representation of the sea also differs greatly; as it is presented both violently and peacefully.