The Title of the Film:
With our film we have tried as hard as possible to fit the forms and conventions of a real film for the opening off ours. Starting with the title of our film, we researched other opening sequences too see the style of the titles, the order they appeared and what names and jobs were most important to be in the sequence. After we had researched these, we fitted our chosen titles in to the 2 minute long film opening, so that the title ‘Disturbia’ would appear at the right time. We also made sure that we had the key titles in such as ‘directed by’ and ‘editor’. We decided the film title by the genre of the short sequence. As it was a horror film with a cliff hanger we wanted the title to have an effect on the audience, too give them a sense off terror, and uncertainty off the film. Real famous films, always makes the title unique and one to remember, this is so the audience wont forget it and will be attracted to watch the film. I think ‘Disturbia’ ticks all these boxes as it’s unique and explains the film in one short word which makes it effective.
Setting/Location:
We then decided on setting and location. For the title sequence we want somewhere spooky and extreme to then later contrast with the family home in the beginning of the film. Location is very important in the conventions of a real film. It explains most off the story line to the audience and adds a heavy genre onto the film. For the title sequence we chose Target Woods as it had trees and a river with a gloomy effect. It fit the film story line well, as it gave it a tense feeling and added to the uncertainty of the story. In contrast we then chose a warm feeling family home, on a hot sunny day too show a calm and safety feeling. Which at the beginning the audience is meant to feel this, but with the touch of worrying music you can soon make the audience hold on too their seats.
Costumes and Props:
We needed to then decide on costumes and props. This was essential tot the genre of the film. The opening credits we need bottle, covers, bags and other misused items to make the place look abandoned. These props would then worry the viewer wondering what had happened before hand. This was the reaction we needed for the next part of the sequence. In the second half, all we needed were a couple bags and the kitchen knife that the character ‘Lucy’ puts into her bag. This is again to represent the horror of which is about to happen, makes the audience have a need to carry on watching the film, almost gives the same feel as what a cliff hanger would.
Camerawork and Editing:
The camera work and editing was very important to hit the forms and conventions of a real film. We needed to make sure that the aspects of camera angles and the methods used were chosen carefully, as it needed an edgy effect, to give the film suspense and to make the audience almost feel nervous. The first technique we used was hand held camera. I think that this worked very well as it gave it a very abstract view on the dull scary woods and the happy exited teenage girls. The camera jumps constantly which makes you think what could happen next and it could make the audience jump in anticipation, but at the same time the hand held camera gives a different message when the girls are jumping round having fun and giggling. It shows excitement, happiness, hyper normal giggling girlie girls. This camera work is meant to show the past and the future. The past of happiness and loudness, then flick to the future, where it is deserted, scary, cold looking and dead.
Title, Font and Style:
We firstly designed the production label ‘Pink Rose Productions’. From this we wanted to make the rest of the titles to fit the same theme off pink so that they would match. We also needed the titles to have a certain style to fit the genre off the film. So to give it that edginess we chose a font that gave it the feel off threat and horror. After this we also added more effects to the the style of the titles such as shadowing them and spreading the letters further apart, which I personally thought gave it a uncertainty and contrast to the colour off the titles, which then related back to the theme we picked for the opening sequence (uncertainty of what was about to happen and cliff hangers). The actually title of the film ‘Disturbia’ fitted the same theme (style and font) as the rest of the titles apart from making it bolder and stand out more to the audience due to its importance in the film. The final aspect we needed to consider was the names off each title. As I have written about before, our group took out time to research into other opening sequences so see the style and layout of other titles. Which in the end really helped us decided on our sequence.
Story and how the opening sets it up:
The story line off our short sequence runs along the lines off a group off teenage girls all go on a camping trip, but it all goes wrong. We imagined the film to continue with one by one the girls going missing, leaving with a couple a girls too put the pieces together. Lucy the main character is the one who would have murdered them and would have been caught by those who were left. I believe the opening sequence does a very good job off setting the scene for this genre. It sets the scene and gives the audience a little too think about due to Lucy picking up the knife and acting very edgy to the other characters.
Genre and how the opening suggests it:
The chosen genre off our film is horror. I believe the opening sequence shows this of very well. The music plays a very good part to this as it has a horror theme and is very jumpy music. This type of music is used in many horrors which also makes the audience familiar to the theme of the film. We also used careful editing such as the slow motion to enhanced the look on Lucy’s face off worry and guilt, and the black and white, old movie effect on the title sequence. I think a couple of the references made by the actors make the audience wonder what is going to happen next.
How characters are introduced:
All characters are introduced by the title sequence from the mixture of past and present. When the film officially starts all characters are introduced by walking into the frame. The three girls at the beginning particularly. Lucy the main character opens the door to her friend but also it seems the way the camera is positioned, the audience is in the set and she is opening the door to them too.
Special Effects:
The only special effects we used, were the ones which are mentioned above. The old fashion film and black and white effects in the title sequence and the slow motion at the end to enhance the facial expression off the character. This is all to prove the genre and make it easier for the audience to understand the theme and what is about to happen.
