Planning Blog: Title Design

 The opening credits of my film will be in the Goudy Old Style font. I really like the way this font looks, and think it fits my film well. It is very elegant and gives off a bit of a mysterious air. Overall, I think it will look very good in my opening credits.

The credits will either be bolded, italicized, or both. I will have to experiment with this while editing. I will end up choosing whichever looks the best.

The credits will not have any special sort of way of appearing. They will not be typed in for example. Additionally, they will not be embedded into the setting. I don't think this would fit the genre of my film. In all of my research for title design in my chosen genre, embedded credits were never used. Most of them were just presented on the screen and then disappeared. I plan to do this or I will take inspiration from some of the titles I saw and have it cut to a blank background with the credit on it. If doing this, the opening credits of my film would transition back and forth from actual footage to a blank background with credits on it.

The color of the credits will depend on multiple things. If I decide to just overlay the credits on top of the footage, then I will choose a color that contrasts well with the background. If I decide to overlay the credits onto a blank background, then I will have to choose a font color which contrasts well with the background.

The titles will dissappear after about 3-5 seconds. The working title of my film is "An Unknown Place."

Planning Blog: Other

 Location

• The main location for the film will be my mother's house

• I anticipate that some scenes will be filmed outside of the house and others will be filmed inside 

• Scenes will take place in various rooms of the house

• Some of these rooms include the kitchen, living room, and bedroom 

Participants

• I will be the main participant in the film

• I may ask my friends to participate in the film and star as characters 

• If they are not available, I could have my family star in the film

• The film will not have that many characters in it so there will not be many participants 

Health

• Not many health protocols will be taken

• Most of the filming will be done in and around my house 

• As a result of this, not many protocols will be taken

• If I have to go out and get props, then masks will be worn to prevent against COVID-19

Schedule 

• 2/25/22 - The planning blogs, including script and title design, will be uploaded as a blog.

• 3/4/22 - My storyboard will be created and uploaded as a blog.

• 3/7/22 - 4/13/22 - 10 production blogs will be submitted throughout these dates, including two filming blogs, two editing blogs and one blog about music. I plan on doing my filming first, doing my music blog second, and then editing.

• 4/15/22 - The final task will be completed and uploaded as a blog on this date.

• 4/22/22 - The CCR for the final task will be uploaded on this day.

Backup Plan

• There are not many issues with my plan already, and there is not much that I can think of that could go wrong. 

• If I am not able to film at my mom's house, I can always film at my dad's house instead. I have a few people I can ask to participate in the film if some are unable to. 

• If I am unable to film or edit on some days then I can always film or edit on another day.

Title Design Research: Good Time

 1. How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film? Which ones? -  There are many titles displayed in the film. There are around 20 to thirty of these titles. They begin with some of the actors. Then, they move on to other people associated with the film. For example, they have a title for the first assistant director. They also included a title for the re recording mixer.

2. What connotations do the images carry? (how do you they make you feel) - The images are very simple. They are only shown briefly. They contribute to the fast atmosphere of the film. They engage the viewer. They also create some tension. 

3. How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset? (Can you  tell what genre the film is) - The film included tense music. This is a common characteristic of thrillers. It makes the film more tense.

4. What conventions are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience? - Tracking shots are used. These tracking shots make the viewers interested and engaged. They make the viewers wonder what happened and what is going to happen. They also create a very tense mood. Additionally, some close ups are used to draw attention to the character's emotions and get viewers invested in the characters.

Title Design Research: Parasite

 1. How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film? Which ones? -  Around 12 titles are displayed in this opening sequence. There is much less titles in this opening sequence than a lot of other ones. It starts with the distribution and production company. Then, the titles move on to the name of the film. The rest of the titles are mostly comprised of the actors in the film. 

2. What connotations do the images carry? (how do you they make you feel) - The images mostly just get you interested in the film. They also set the basis for the introduction to the characters. You can see that they are not wealthy based off the images. There are unique shots which draw the viewer in. 

3. How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset? (Can you  tell what genre the film is) - You cannot really tell what genre the film is based off this title sequence. It subverts a lot of the typical symbolic and technical codes of thriller films. For example, there is no foreboding music, it is just peaceful and upbeat music.

4. What conventions are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience? - Close ups on the phone are used in order to draw viewers into what is on the phone. This gets them immediately invested. It creates a sense of wondering what the things on the phone are about. Additionally, tracking shots are used to keep viewers hooked. They work to tell a story and keep viewers interested. In other words, it makes viewers want to see where the story is going. Set design also helps to get the viewers interested. Since the house and characters all look poor, it makes the viewers wonder who these people are. This makes them want to stay and watch. 

Title Design Research: Glass

 1. How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film? Which ones? - Around 30 or so titles are displayed. The titles displayed first are the distribution company, production company, director, and then the title of the film. Then, it moves onto actors in the film. Then onto the casting director and the score creator. Then it continues with other roles associated with the film, such as costume designer, editor, etc. 

2. What connotations do the images carry? (how do you they make you feel) - The images create a bit of a tense atmosphere. They draw the viewers in. The striking purple color of the text really stands out. The footage takes the viewers on a journey. This gets them interested. 

3. How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset? (Can you  tell what genre the film is) - The score is a bit eerie. This creates tension in the film. By doing this, it gets viewers to deduce that this is a thriller film. Some of the diegetic sounds also reinforce the fact that this is a thriller. They exist to create a very tense atmosphere. This allows viewers to realize that they are watching a thriller film. 

4. What conventions are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience? - Dark lighting is used to creep out the viewers. This dark lighting gets them tense and eager to see what happens. Tracking shots are heavily used to take the viewers on a journey of sorts. They gets viewers eager to see what happens next and they keep them interested. 

Title Design Research: Split

1. How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film? Which ones? -  Around twenty or so titles are displayed in the opening sequence of the film. These titles range from the name of the movie to the director, actors, and composer of the score. Additionally, it also contains titles for the distributor, production company, and casting director. Additionally, there is also a title for the costume designer and the editor. 

2. What connotations do the images carry? (how do you they make you feel) - The images are simple, and flash quickly between title sequence and actual footage. This heightens an already tense atmosphere. They give off a very eerie and creepy mood. They make you feel tense. They help to create a lot of tension. 

3. How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset? (Can you  tell what genre the film is) - The eerie footage helps viewers know that the genre is a thriller. The score also helps the viewers realize this. It is a very eerie score. It creates tension and fear, something thrillers are known for. The score almost makes your heart beat because of how much fear it causes. 

4. What conventions are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience? - The film employs some dark lighting in order to scare viewers. it also uses this lighting to create shadows, which is a common characteristic of the thriller genre. The film utilizes tracking shots to keep the viewer invested. They make them wonder what is about to happen. This helps create a lot of tension and fear. The score adds to this fear by giving off an eerie mood.

Title Website Research

 While looking for websites to research title sequences, I stumbled across two websites which I think could be very helpful.

The first website is artofthetitle.com. This website is very interesting. It has a ton of title sequences for films. There is even a search bar to search for title sequences of specific films. You can also look at a specific designer or studio via a drop down menu. Additionally, there are a lot of helpful extras such as a list of 2021 Emmy nominated main title designs. This site also has a lot of interesting backstory about the title sequences. It is very easy to navigate, and very user friendly. I can see myself using this website a lot in order to research title sequences. I have a feeling it will be extremely helpful to me. 

The other website is watchthetitles.com This website is also very interesting. The presentation of the website is very stylish and sleek. It really appeals to my eyes. It contains some of the same features as the other website, such as a search bar to search for title sequences of specific films. It also contains a drop down menu of designers and studios, just like the other website. However, the selection on this website seems to be more limited than the other website. Additionally, it is a bit harder to navigate. I have a feeling I will be relying on the other website more than this one. 

Genre Research: Wind River

• Common Camera Angles, Movements, and Shots in the movie - There are some wide shots contained in the movie. Medium shots and medium long shots are present as well. Close ups are also used in this movie. There are some tracking shots as well.
• Common Mis-en-scene in the movie - The characters in the film are mostly dressed for cold weather. The setting is in a snowy Wyoming. Natural lighting is the dominant form of lighting in this movie. Makeup is also used to simulate things like blood. 
• Common Sound in the movie - The film has a lot of dialogue present in it. In addition to this, there is a lot of diegetic sound present throughout the movie. Ambient sound is also present in some scenes of the film. 
• Common Editing in the movie - Jump cuts and cross cutting are used throughout the movie. 
• Elements of the Genre in the movie - Elements include close ups, dialogue, diegetic sound, and tracking shots. 
• What elements of the genre did the movie have that you like? - The movie had some tracking shots which I really liked. They added a lot of tension to the film.
• What elements of the genre did the movie have that do not appeal to you? - Some of the diegetic sound was a bit loud and hurt the mood of the film. 
  
  
   
  
  

Genre Research: The Vanished

• Common Camera Angles, Movements, and Shots in the movie - Lots of tracking shots in the movie. Additionally, there are some low angles and high angles used in the film. Medium shots are also in the film. There are also a few two shots. Some close ups are in the film as well.
• Common Mis-en-scene in the movie - Actors dressed in mostly casual clothing. The child in the film is dressed in clothes that a young child would wear. Natural lighting is heavily used in this film. 
• Common Sound in the movie - Dialogue is present throughout all of the film. There is also a score and lots of diegetic sound in the movie. 
• Common Editing in the movie - Both cross cutting and jump cuts are used a lot during the film
• Elements of the Genre in the movie - Some of the elements are tracking shots, dialogue, and close ups. 
• What elements of the genre did the movie have that you like? - The dialogue in this movie was very entertaining and I liked it a lot.
• What elements of the genre did the movie have that do not appeal to you? - Some of the tracking shots really took me out of the movie and looked very out of place.
  
  
  

Genre Research: The Devil All The Time

• Common Camera Angles, Movements, and Shots in the movie - The movie features some zoom ins in certain parts. It also features things like two shots, three shots, and tracking shots. The movie makes heavy use of medium and medium long shots. It also contains a few high angles.
• Common Mis-en-scene in the movie - The costumes in the movie are casual clothing from the time period in which the movie is set. Lots of natural lighting is used in the film. Actors act and speak in a way that is common for the time period. 
• Common Sound - Lots of dialogue is used in the film. There is also lots of diegetic sound in the film. There is also some examples of voiceovers. 
• Common Editing in the movie - Jump cuts are heavily used, as well as cross cutting. There are some examples of inserts as well.
• Elements of the Genre in the movie - Some elements of the genre included in the movie are cross close ups, jump cuts, cross cutting, and dialogue.
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• What elements of the genre did the movie have that you like? - Some elements of the genre that the movie had that I liked is the dialogue. I thought the movie was very well written, and had a good script and great dialogue. 
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• What elements of the genre did the movie have that do not appeal to you? - One element of the genre that the movie had that did not appeal to me is jump cuts. There were many jump cuts, and they felt overused. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Genre Decision

For the genre of my film, I have decided to do a thriller. From the research I have done, this seems like the best fit for my pitch.

Thrillers are usually serious films, and my pitch is meant to be serious. It seems like it would fit the best with what I am trying to achieve. Additionally, thrillers seem to have more interesting elements and conventions. Drama could make sense for the film, but I believe that a thriller would be a better genre for my pitch. A comedy would not make a lot of sense either, as I would like the film to be serious rather than humorous. In addition to this, the conventions of documentaries are more interesting to me than the conventions of dramas or comedies. I believe that I could make a much better film using these conventions. Some of the conventions of dramas and comedies are a bit limiting. For example, if my film was a comedy, adding non-diegetic sound (laughter) to the film would prove challenging. Additionally, I just do not think I could make a good script for a comedy. 

While I do like some elements of dramas and comedies, I believe that the elements of thrillers would make a more interesting film. Furthermore, a thriller would be a more interesting genre to make for a film. I have a feeling that comedy and drama will be two of the most heavily used genres, so I would like to do something more unique. 

All in all, I think I have made the correct decision in choosing a thriller as my film genre. I believe that by making a thriller, my film will be much better than if I made a drama or comedy. Additionally, I think this will result in a more unique and interesting film. It will also be easier to make a thriller, as I believe the conventions of the genre are not as limiting as others. Overall, I am extremely excited to make my thriller film. 

Genre Research: Comedy

 Common Camera Angles 

• Medium Shots
• Close-Ups
• Two-Shots

Common Mis-en-Scene 

• Usually depends on subject matter
• Setting is usually in a bright place and towns/cities that have a welcoming atmosphere
• Natural, bright lighting

Common Editing 

• Jump Cut
• Eyeline Match
• Cross Cutting

Common Sound 

• Diegetic Sound
• Dialogue
• Non-Diegetic Sound (laughter)

Example Films 

• Jumanji: The Next Level
• Sonic the Hedgehog 
• Grown Ups

Elements That I Like/Would Use - Jump cuts and eyeline matches would be easy to employ, so I would definitely use those.

Elements That I Dislike/Would Not Use - Adding non-diegetic sound (laughter) could prove challenging, and two-shots could also prove difficult to shoot

Genre Research: Drama

Common Camera Angles 

• Close Up
• Long Shot
• High Angle Shot
• Over The Shoulder Shot
  

Common Mis-en-Scene 

• Setting is a real life location
• Costumes reflect character's personality

Common Editing 

• Jump Cut
• Shot/Reverse Shot
• Cross Cutting

Common Sound 

• Dialogue
• Diegetic Sound
• Soundtrack

Example Films 

• Steve Jobs
• Parasite
• The Irishman

Elements That I Like/Would Use - I think that dialogue would be interesting to use in the film, and I believe I could create a compelling script. Additionally, the setting being a real life location would be pretty easy to accomplish, and I would definitely employ that.

Elements That I Dislike/Would Not Use - Cross cutting would take a lot of work to accomplish seamlessly and therefore, I do not think I would heavily rely on it.  

Genre Research: Thriller

 Common Camera Angles 

• Close up
• Extreme close up
• Tracking shot
  

Common Mis-en-Scene 

• Low key lighting 
• Lighting used to create shadows 
• Protagonist in casual clothing, antagonist in dark clothes
• Settings have a mysterious or sinister undertone/quality 

Common Editing 

• Cross cutting
• Jump Cuts
• Cutaways

Common Sound 

• Non diegetic sound 
• Diegetic sound 
• Dialogue
• Score

Example Films 

• Shutter Island
• The Silence of the Lambs
• Zodiac 

Elements That I Like/Would Use - I like the close ups and extreme close ups. I believe I could probably get some interesting shots by employing close up and extreme close ups. Additionally, I also like using lighting in order to create shadows. I feel like I could use this in order to make some very good looking shots for my film.

Elements That I Dislike/Would Not Use - I dislike the tracking shot. I think it would be difficult for me to do this shot, as I do not have the proper equipment to actually do this shot. Due to this, I think it wouldn't come out great and I probably would not use it.

My Pitch

First pitch - A film about littering and pollution in nature and man-made areas and how it affects animals in nature as well as humans.

Second pitch - A film that takes place in a residential house where a crime has taken place, and a detective must investigate this crime. 

My first pitch is a film about pollution and littering in nature and mad-made areas. I think this would be a very interesting and informative film. While thinking about this pitch, my brain already starts to come up with potential scenes and things to talk about. Additionally, I can already think of particular music that I would use for this short film. I also believe that there could be a lot of interesting and captivating filming locations. The only downsides for this pitch would be that it could take a lot of traveling around to get to the different filming locations, and I do not yet have my license so it would be hard to get to the locations.

My second pitch is a film that would take place in somebody's house where a crime has taken place, and a detective is brought it in investigate and potentially solve this crime. I think this could be an interesting topic for a film. It would most likely take place in my house. I could potentially have my friends and family as actors in the film. In addition to this, I could incorporate real conversations into the film, which would be something fun to write. However, this pitch does have some downsides, such as the fact that a pitch like this is not very unique and a bit overdone. I would prefer to do something more unique. 

The pitch I chose is the second pitch, in which a crime has taken place in a house and a detective is brought in in order to investigate and solve the crime. In my opinion, this pitch is superior. I think it will make for a more interesting film. In addition to this, I believe it will be easier than my first pitch. All in all, I just think that this pitch will result in a superior film.