Its idea time power point

 

Polly- why it works

The previous Hurtwood opening title sequence called ‘Polly’ worked in my opinion really well. In the sequence a approximately 17-21 year old woman plays outside in the garden and then goes inside where she sits down at a table but her presumed family has been brutally murdered, she treats them like puppets. The nondiegetic soundtrack, a cover of happy birthday in a slower tempo, instantly sets the mood and hints that something is wrong even as the viewer just sees her playing outside.  There are multiple close ups of a table filled with birthday cakes at the start. A shot then reveals Polly playing outside she is alone and isolated a typical theme in horror movies which is highlighted as the shot is filmed at a wide angel proving her isolation as nobody else can be seen. The slow pasted sequence consists of simple cuts thereby not distracting form Polly. I believe the scenes simplicity allows it to flourish as the viewer does not really have to concentrate and therefore is likely to read the titles. A creepy and unsettled feeling is being created form the start and the lack of information presented to the viewer creates interest.

Key learnings from previous Hurtwood openings

When looking at older title sequences there are certain patrons in them that work and don’t work. Arial shot usually seem convincing and often offer stunning images. Narrative driven peace are often really entertaining but especially when they feature a lot of dialogue don’t really resemble a opening title sequence but rather a tow minute short film with some titles thrown into the mix. Sequences featuring no dialogue but a simple a to b journey most often stand out and hit the right nerve as there is a story which can be exciting while not being to distracting from the credits/titels. These kind of title sequences constantly present new locations or new parts of a location keeping it interesting. Many of the opening sequences seem in parts repetitive especially the ones shot in one location featuring a lot of close ups. These concepts work for mostly for half a minute, after this point in time they start to be reparative. Openings starring only teenagers often seem armature like, as it often seems unrealistic, it seems like the directors wanted to hide the fact that these are infect teenagers. Age-appropriately casting can elevate a sequence just like fitting locations. Scenes filmed on location with a few exceptions always feel real which again elevates the hole scene.  Slower pasted sequences featuring excessive camera movement often intrigue. The placement of the titles can either ruin shot composition or raise the quotiety of the scene in general. Sequences featuring shots where the environment or characters impact the titles always stand out. 

Starting to develop ideas

 

Austin Kleon an US-American author is most famous for the quote ‘Steal like an artist’. He means to
combing impressions and ideas of creations to one new product. For example look at peace’s of media that had an influence on you, no matter if movies, books or any other kind of media. What do they have in common? What are the themes that appear through your list? 

 

My list: 

-Juno

-Rocket man

-Star Wars

-Community  

-Tschik 

-Minecraft 

-The smurfs 

-Minions 

-Ytitty 

-Brooklyn 99

 

Many of the media texts on my list feature characters who cope with tragedy through humour. A sense of escapism is in most of the texts. 

 

Another way to start creating ideas is through playing the ‘what if’ game. Simply think of anything for example Toys, what if Toys could talk and have their own life? The result toy Story. Or Dinosaurs, what if we could bring Dinosaurs back? The result Jurassic Park. 

Sources:

https://austinkleon.com

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Kleon

Kyle Cooper

Kyle Cooper is a graphic designer and director of opening title sequins born on Friday the 13^th and is quite ironically most known for his work on horror films like Se7en, which was covered previously on this blog,  or American Horror story series. He has produced a wide range of titel sequences differing instanly. Additionally to his work on horror he did multiple Super Hero movies or Familey comedy movies like Home Alone, cooper is also well known for his work on TV like for the oscars or ESPN and his work in the video game industry like for Resident Evil. Copper co-founded Prolog Films who since their start in 2003 established themselves as a well known team of directors and designers focusing on Title sequences.
 

His style isn't defined by a genre but rather by patterns. His title cards or rather his typography most often feature movement. This can differ from the hectic glitching movement of his horror work or the slow-moving floating work on pictures like Home Alone. 

The opening titel sequence of the  4^th Mission impossible movie ‘Ghost Protocol’ by director was disgend by Kyle Cooper.

The sequence portrays a fuse being light which then passes by different parts of the narrative. The sequence interduces the multipale side carechkteres as well as the pratagonist Ethen hunt (Tom Cruise) allthough the audiance allready know these actors the sequence interduces the tone of the sequence as well as offering some exposition to viewers who havent seen the previous movies. The flashing colours and fast motion in the sequence is hinting an action adventure. The fast wipes highligth this. There is a non diegetic orchestral soundtrack wich is a version of the main theme wich ewokes memorys of the privious movise the soundtrack  througth the sequence connects the diffrent locations and acctions as it is consitent everything. The sound of the ligth fuse is pleonastic, reminding the audiance of the constant passing of time. The sequence is fast pasted and often hides cuts with fast pasted mvment therby intesifing the action. The white opening credit contrast to the mostly darker toned rest of the sequence making them easy to read. The opening titles are part of the sequence the ‘Mission imposible’ is being created through to fuses coming together connceting the titel and symol of the films. The ‘Ghost protocol’ appears like a typical ghost. The sequnce sucsessfuly interduces the genre and main characters of the movie while enableing the viwer to read the opening credits. 

Sources:

https://www.artofthetitle.com/designer/kyle-cooper/

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0178204/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyle_Cooper

War Films Opening titles: Battle of britan

Battle of britan 

The opening title sequence of the 1969 war drama ‘Battle of Brittan’ by director Guy Hamilton  portraits a ‘a to b journey’ of a Nazi Commander being in a air plane then they drive from the landing strip to a Military base. Especially younger male adults seem to be the target audience of this pictures judging by the topic of war, the images of war machineries wich are stereotypically masculine things  and offcourese the historical context of cinema manly being made for men back then.  This being a war film is clearly set up through the mase if military gear and soldiers. Hundert’s of solders are being shown but only a few are actually seem important as emphasised by their status as they for example get driven around in a car. They are also the only characters shown in medium shot enabling the viewer to connect with them in a distant manner. A tilt medium shot implies the power of one of the commander as his movement controls the viewers perspective. The sequence features multiple pans which reveal new locations demonstrating the degree of facilities of the German arme. There is a non diegetic voice over by a radio anker at the begging of the movie offering some exposition. A non diegetic marsh accompanies the scene adding further feeling of precision and setting the mood for the military. There are diegetic snip bits of shouted German frasses emphasizing the strict militance. The scene is slow pasted and  consist of simple cuts  thereby not distracting from the scenery which features true to time uniforms, gear and signs. The credits are kept in a red blue and white layout reminding the audience of the topic of the movie and contrasting itself to the dark colour pallet used for the Germans. Nearly every shot features a swastika highlighting that they are Nazis and thereby implying their evil. The grey fogie sky further adds to the menace feeling. One commanders coat has white spots making him stand out of the crowd and from a long distance, the director hints his high status. The sequence seem at first glance out dated. But initslef it isshot beautifull the long lasting shots allow the viwer to emerge in the envaiorment. The soundtrack is questionable without context it seems as if it was celebrating the German military due to its heroic sound. A more typically evil soundtrack might have undue this effect. On the other hand is the soundtrack maybe the perfect choice as it highligthsd the threat of by the Nazis.

Sources:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064072/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

  

SciFi opening titles: Attack of the Crab Monsters

The opening sequence of the 1957 horror sci-fi movie ‘Attack of the Crab Monsters’ directed by Roger Corman starring Richard Garland, presents a underwater world where gigantic fish like creatures cause destruction. Back than this movie most likley tried to trgeted audiances who wanted be thriled by a scary fictional world. The sequnces features multipale extra ordenary creatures typical for Sci-Fi movies. The camara moves rapiedly through the scenery shaking when initalatey seeing the monstres higligthing their danger and creating a more intense feeling for the audiance. There are no soundeefect but only a epic non diagetic orchesteral soundtrack playing in the background making again ehmpizizsing the danger outgoing from the crab
monsteres. The sequnce paste speeds uo when ever the monsteres are viable and consits of cuts therby not distracting from the graphics. The scene is drawn making it seem childish for today standarts as modernday aduances are used to relaistic 3d animations. While featuting good artwork the sequnce probably lost its effectivnes in the last 75 yeas, alltough it might not have the same effect as back then the scene is still entertaing due to the grphics and music. 

Sources:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050147/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0