Credit Sequences

 Coming up with a Creative Thriller Credit Scene 

    Based on my research I've learned that credit scenes or title sequences have multiple purposes which include setting the tone/style of the film, giving credit to key cast and crew members, and even setting up the story. A credit scene is the very "first impression" you get of a film, so it's important that this opening is adding to the film in some way and resonates with the audience. On top of giving credit to the director, main actors, writer, producer and more, an opening credit scene is an artistic medium. There are so many artistic ways a credit scene can go, and some directors decide to keep them simple or create freely without limits. 

    In class, me and my partner Manuela came up with the plot of our 2 minute film opening and we are very excited because it fits the thriller genre conventions we have so far learned and researched about. We also discussed how we want to incorporate the credit scenes into the opening of our film. Our plan is to film joyful scenes of a family's past memories and then intensely switching back and forth between the present and the past, leaving a surprise twist for viewers to catch onto.

An example of a thriller title sequence is the film- The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

    What I find interesting about it is it's not like anything I've seen before. They chose to go through a symbolic/metaphoric route of a title sequence which I admire. Throughout the entire credit scene we see a black ink slowly seeping through everything like the keyboard, even pouring through a woman's mouth, and eventually it takes over her and everything surrounding through an intense and fast paced editing with rock music that gets louder and more intense as the opening continues. From the first watch I didn't quite understand what was happening but the more I replayed it and paused at different moments is when I came to the realization that the "ink" relates to the dragon tattoo (the title of the film). Although I'm not familiar with what happens throughout the film, I can infer that this ink represents a powerful or consuming presence rather than something harmful, which would explain the thriller genre of the film.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Opening Title Sequence

Another example- Zodiac

    Different from the last example, this thriller film uses a different approach in the opening title sequence. This film dives into the main character (the cartoonist) becoming obsessed with the hunting down of the "Zodiac killer" which derives from the true story from the 70s. In this particular opening I briefly get a better understanding of what the film is going to be about and hints at the characters development right off the bat. This helps set the narrative context, adding another layer to the film that is necessary later on. What I liked about this opening is I can already feel immersed in their world from the start and it makes me wonder what is going to happen next. I found myself trying to look for clues as to what the rest of the film may look like, which is a great starting point for a real audience of this film. It shows the director knows how to wrap people in from the start.

Another example- Vertigo

     This title sequence is simple but carries a lot of meaning behind it that people might not pick up on until later in the film. The purpose of this title sequence isn't supposed to explain the story of the film, it is simply supposed to make you feel uneasy and dizzy with the close up shots and spirals, hence the title of the film. "Vertigo" is the sensation of dizziness or spinning, so the title is used literally and symbolically which I found interesting. Me and my partner Manuela want to play around with titles to create something similar within our film opening, so this is a great reference for that. 

Sources:

Crawford, M. (2024). What is a title sequence in film? Setting the tone for the cinematic experience. FilmLifestyle.
Art of the Title. (2015, June 11). Zodiac (2007). Art of the Title.

Radatz, B. (2012, January 23). Vertigo (1958). Art of the Title.

Film Openings

 Thriller Film Openings

    Since I've decided that I want to work with the thriller genre for the film opening I've chosen 3 different film openings in my chosen genre with all different approaches. I decided to choose 3 very distinct thriller film openings to get a more well rounded view of how I should establish a suspenseful tone right from the beginning or decide which route I want to take myself.

Film #1 Se7en-Crime thriller

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BJkDyCdw0c&t=145s

    This film opening caught my attention the most when trying to find good thriller examples because of the dark lightning, fast paced and overlaps in the editing, slow beat music, amount of detail, and creaking sounds. The close up shots make the opening more mysterious since we can't put a face to the hands being shown throughout the opening. The mise-en-scene elements also help tie into that and give off that disturbing and menacing tone that thriller films typically include. The fear one may feel watching the opening comes from the tension and mystery building in the scene and watching it intensify.

Film #2 Gone girl-Psychological thriller

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

    This film opening starts off with a woman’s head in dim lightning with a voiceover of a man saying “When I think of my wife, I always think about her head… I picture cracking her lovely skull, unspooling her brains, trying to get answers.” Then it cuts to multiple scenes of random places in a empty silent town all represented through dark lighting. Starting right off the bat with a line as harsh as that creates an unsettling feeling in the viewers from the very beginning, knowing the man who said that is mentally ill. Although, it was a very disturbing image in my head I love how they established that it’s a psychological thriller from the first 2 minutes of the film and created suspense without scaring people away.

Film #3 Night crawler- Psychological Thriller

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m1_mZxbs-I

    This film opening is different because although it's a psychological thriller its shown through a different way. The way they engage viewers from the beginning is through dialogue. Here the film clearly shows he's taking part in something wrong since he pretends that he is lost and didn't read any of the signs that said do not enter. Eventually he takes the police's watch and gets away with it, at least in these first 2 minutes so we know it is going to be an interesting movie.

    I'm excited to brainstorm ideas for my own 2 minute opening film and decide how I can incorporate some ideas from what I've learned and researched about different film openings. 

Establishing a Schedule

Schedule for Project Completion

    During class today my partner and I decided it was necessary to start writing our breakdown plan and timeline for this project. As we only have 7 weeks to complete it, establishing a plan and starting this process as soon as possible is crucial for our success.

Breakdown

1. Research

-Research and analyze examples of thriller film openings.

-Research and analyze examples of thriller film credits.

2. Planning

-Brainstorming thriller plot ideas

-Develop film characters

-Create 2-minute script

-Create the Storyboard

-Create a cast (actors)

-Research location and organize filming schedule

3. Production

-Create company logo

-Film opening + extra clips

-Develop mise-en-scene elements (costume, set, prop, lighting, etc.)

-Create foley sounds

4. Editing

-Edit the film footage

-Create the title card and credits scene

-Re-record any necessary foley or footage

5, Critical Creative Reflection

-Plan script for individual reflections

-Film reflection videos

-Edit and review both CCRs

Timeline

Week 1 (1/19-1/25)

-Choosing film genre

-Researching thriller genre film openings

-Brainstorming film plots

Week 2 (1/26-2/1)

-Finish plot plan

-Look for actors

-Find filming locations

-Look to rent camera equipment for filming

-Create script

Week 3 (2/2-2/8)

–Start and finish storyboard

-Set filming days

-Begin filming 

Week 4 (2/9-2/15)

-Continue filming

-Record necessary foley/voiceover (if needed)

Week 5 (2/16-2/22)

-Finish filming

-Start editing/revising

Week 6 (2/23-3/1)

-Continue editing/revising

-Begin research for Creative Critical Reflection

Week 7 (3/2-3/8)

-Film and complete CCR

-Edit and review CCR

Week 8 (3/9-3/17)

-Extra week

    Note: I want to stick to this timeline as much as we possibly can because in the past we have struggled with finishing projects ahead of time but it's extremely important for this one. Which is why we have given ourselves that last week as an "Extra week" to ensure we get everything done in a timely manner before the deadline.

Here is a screenshot from when we worked on the breakdown and timeline throughout class today.

Portfolio Project Genre #2

Genre!!

    Coming of age films target specifically teenagers and young adults because it focuses on a protagonist following the transition of going from childhood to adulthood and the common internal battles they face as they go through that experience. It is a very loved genre because it has relatable themes such as breakups, independence, friendships, family, and social issues.

The perks of being a wallflower is an amazing movie I usually recommend to people and is a perfect example of a coming of age film:

    Common storytelling conventions of coming of age films develop character growth, dialogue, and social issues regarding teenagers. This is because in a coming of age film it focuses on the protagonist going through a rollercoaster of emotions as they learn to go through hardships and fall into human nature of making mistakes. It truly shows the realism of growing up mentally, physically, and through personal challenges but by the end these characters grow and learn valuable life long lessons from them that the audience can take away from as well. The audience consists of people who are teenagers or young adults themselves so they can relate to some of these life issues.

     As for my project, I'm not sure if I would choose this genre for my 2 minute film opening just because it might be a slow start and typically includes a lot of dialogue. Coming of age films also typically take place in a school setting so it may be difficult to get good footage for it. I am sure people are able to pull this off but I would lean more towards a genre like thriller (my other blog post) for this project. 

    Noticeable techniques in coming of age films is including a bit of drama such as conflict with someone close to them, but often leads to resolution. Characters within the film are teenagers or young adults (around 12-18) themselves so they often question themselves and others, thinking questions like:

• Where do I belong?
  
• Who am I?
• What should I believe in?

Another great example is Lady Bird where she is actively trying to seek identity and get away from her complicated life and relationships with people and showing signs of rebellion:

    Coming of age films are extremely good at making their audience feel connected which is why I personally love this genre. It gives me comfort knowing that I'm not alone in my own personal struggles as a teenager myself which is exactly the reason these films are made and why so many fans love them. Coming of age films are memorable because they resonate with the audience more than other genres.
    

Here is me doing some research!

Sources:

1. Coming-of-Age Movies: What Is the Coming-of-Age Genre? (2021). MasterClass.
2. IMDb. (n.d.). Coming-of-age movies [Film list]. IMDb.
3. ‘Perks of Being a Wallflower’ Still Blooms in a Field of Coming-of-Age Dramas. (n.d.). Film Daze.

Portfolio Project Genre #1

Genre!!

    The thriller genre is the first genre I am curious to research because it focuses on building anxiety and typically has manipulation and obsessive themes involved, keeping the audience constantly on their toes.

        Although many thriller conventions tend to mix with those of the horror genre they're still very different. I've never been much of a horror movie lover but there's something about thrillers that is so compelling. One of the reasons I love them is because it doesn't need theatrical scares or supernatural beings to create a sense of fear or suspense throughout a film like horror does. It creates anxiety through psychology, sound and character development.

    General conventions of a thriller include a continuous suspense with an escalating fast pace, scenes filled with tension, unexpected twists, a combination of emotions, and leaving viewers questioning and analyzing for clues in the film. Nowadays, thriller films focus on real world experiences or dilemmas which make audiences believe, engage, and relate more to specific characters. Since characters in thrillers are ordinary people put into suspenseful or stressful situations it may be easier to relate to their circumstances rather than let's say a horror film that features supernatural beings.

A great example is "The housemaid" with it's unexpected twist halfway throughout the film and use of purposeful sounds/music to intensify feelings towards specific characters:

The Housemaid:

    Character development in thrillers is extremely important and they often have traits of determination, intelligence, and moral ambiguity. They have these traits because they are often faced with challenging situations and need to know how to quickly problem solve for survival and for what they believe in. Often these characters have a special unexpected trait, skill, or talent that makes them stand out a little more, enticing viewers more. Since characters in thrillers are ordinary people put into suspenseful situations it may be easier to relate than let's say a horror film that features supernatural beings terrifying the audience. 

    Since I am creating a 2 minute film opening it's important to establish my characters strengths, weaknesses, fears, or desires from the start. I might not be able to capture all of that in the film opening however I now have learned I need to establish a strong character with elements of psychological depth to make it a great thriller opening.

Here is another example of a film in the thriller genre:

Carry on:

    When I think about this portfolio project my ultimate goal when filming is to create that wow factor sense for you people (Cambridge :)). I think doing a thriller is going outside of my comfort zone and will allow for my own personal growth within media production. It will help me better understand the importance of how to incorporate mise-en-scene elements at the right time, as well as properly editing and producing a film opening.

Sources:
    1. Sørup, J. (2021, May 13). Film Genre Analysis: What Sets Horror and Thriller Apart? FilmDaft.
    2. Landsborough, D. (2023, June 28). A Killer Guide to Writing Thriller Characters. DabbleWriter.
    3. Thriller Movies. Boolean Dreams.

Transitioning into Cambridge Portfolio Project

    Throughout the duration of class we discussed the upcoming portfolio project for Cambridge, what should be included in it, and how to go about it. From writing down notes about blogging, to establishing tone, to watching past student film openings I am intrigued at how I will personally go about this project. From what I have seen thus far, my plan is to work with the same partner I have worked with throughout this course. That way, together we can lean off of each other's ideas and create a great film opening. 

    From the notes I've gathered about this upcoming Cambridge portfolio project I know I have what it takes to succeed in this course and exam. I am very excited to start this transition in the course because it is a time of learning new skills and improving what I have already learned in class, but I am also nervous because it is real now.

    A technique we learned in class is developing a character within the 2 minute film introduction. This peaks my interests because it keeps viewers engaged and has more meaning behind it. Within developing a character comes a lot of thought and I respect that. I can't wait to put my filming, editing, and creativity skills behind this project because I aim to eventually work in the media industry so this will give me the perfect practice for that. Once I research more about this film opening project and different film genres I can then decide which route I want to take. The past blog posts I've written have prepared me for this moment. I wrote one on Comedy as a genre which I enjoyed so I'll be excited to research the genre that will be incorporated into my film opening.