Title Research: Slice

1) How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film?

  - There are 25 titles displayed during the opening sequences to the film.

2) What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?

  - Pictures of eyes and a forest were prioritized in the opening sequence.

3) What connotations do the images carry?

  - These images carry a stalker and creepy associated connotation.

4) How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes for the outset?

  - Between both the knifes, eyes, and forest the genre is conveyed as horror because it leads the audience to feel scarred.

5) How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?

  - The use of the eyes throughout creates a sense of creepiness that leaves the audience curious. This enigma ensures the audience will want to watch more.

6) What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?

   - The slicing of each title is  pleasing to the eye which would make the audience watch the whole film.

7) How has technology been used effectively? You want to consider camera angles, transitions, and editing techniques.

  - Editing techniques were used to slice the names. Both eye level and low angles are used to capture different angles of the forest during the opening scene. The transitions are smooth and include the use of a knife to further portray a horror genre.

Title Research: Split

1) How many titles are displayed during the opening sequence to the film?
  - There are 22 titles displayed during the opening sequence to the film.

2) What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?
  - The images that are prioritized in the opening sequence are of a girl being taken and put on some sort of table.

3) What connotation do the images carry?
  - The connotation that the images carry are that the girl has been kidnapped by an older man which gives the audience a chilling feeling.

4) How is the genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?
  - The genre is reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset, because the fact that the girl looks sedated and is taken by an older guy allows you to assume a lot of things, which can be considered horrific.

5) How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?
  - The film establishes an enigma from the outset, because the use of music and pictures from the film gives a gory feeling.

6) What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?
  - The strategies that are used to ensure that the film appeals to its target audience, is the way that it suddenly switches back and forth from the picture of the film to the titles, the music that makes the audience scared, and the short clips the opening sequence gives.

7) How has technology been used effectively? You want to consider camera angles, transitions, and editing techniques.
  - Technology has been used effectively in this film, because editing was used to cut from each short clip to the title screen, editing was also used to create a cool effect to the titles to bring it in, the music that gives a scary vibe, and it was also used to capture different angles in the film.

Title Research: The Final Destination

1) How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film?

  - There are 21 titles displayed during the opening sequences to the film.

2) What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?

  - Pictures of the skeleton and bones were prioritized in the opening sequence.

3) What connotations do the images carry?

  - These images carry a death and creepy associated connotation.

4) How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes for the outset?
  - Between both the skeleton, bones, and knifes the genre is conveyed as horror because it leads the audience to feel scared. 

5) How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?

  - The use of weapons on the skeleton creates a sense of aggressiveness that leaves the audience curious. This enigma ensures the audience will want to watch more.

6) What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?

  - The music and pictures are pleasing to the eye and ears of the audience which would make them watch the whole film.

7) How has technology been used effectively? You want to consider camera angles, transitions, and editing techniques.

  - Editing techniques were used to make the skeleton and bones look 3-D. Both high angles are low angles are used to capture different angles of the bones during the opening scene. The transitions are smooth and include the use of weapons to further portray a horror genre.

Title Research: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

1) How many titles are displayed during the opening sequence to the film?
  - There are 30 titles displayed during the opening sequence to the film.

2) What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?
  - The images that are prioritized in the opening sequence are computer generated images, such as trees and forests.

3) What connotation do the images carry?
  - The connotation that the images carry are horrific looking trees that are scary.

4) How is the genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?
  - The genre is reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset, because the trees and forests give you a chilling vibe, allowing the viewers to be scared.

5) How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?
  - The film establishes an enigma from the outset, because the use of the red and black colored forest and trees give a gory feeling. This allows the audience to want to watch more.

6) What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?
  - The strategies that are used to ensure that the film appeals to its target audience, are the ways that the titles flow in and out smoothly, the music that allows the audience to feel the scary vibes, and the pictures that the opening sequence gives.

7) How has technology been used effectively? You want to consider camera angles, transitions, and editing techniques.
  - Technology has been used effectively in this film, because editing was used to transition between each slide properly, music has been added for a scary effect, both high and low angles were used also.

Title Research: Watch the Titles Website

I visited a title website which features opening scenes from movies and television shows. Thus, I will be able to watch examples of opening scenes from horror movies. This will help me learn how Katelyn and my opening scene should look for the final project. To begin, I learned that for an opening scene the titles should be spread throughout the whole time. This is compared to them being squished in the first few or last few seconds. Also, the opening scene should represent the genre your whole movie would be. That is why Katelyn and mine should represent horror. Overall, I was intrigued that a website existed purely for opening scenes. This helped me learn the importance of titles in any movie or television show. It is important for numerous reasons. To explain, the audience decides if they are interested or not within the time of the opening scene. To add upon, the opening scenes has the titles which gives credit to who worked on the movie or television show. This credit goes to people who worked on different parts such as the storyline, sound, edits, script, and acting. All of theses things make the movie either successful or not. Katelyn and I will need to pay attention to all the small details for our final project to be successful.

Title Research: Art of the Title Website

Maya and I researched on this website. Art of the Title contains information on the film opening sequence. This website shows us the beginning of movies. It is very useful to us. The website allows us to see what our opening sequence should look like. Along with this, we noticed very important details. None of the ones we watched were choppy. They all had the same font. Also, the titles were spaced out throughout the opening sequence. They were not all together in the beginning. Each opening sequence looked neat and organized with their titles. To us, the website was very helpful because it was also organized. By this, we mean that we were able to find whichever movie we wanted easily. We chose the horror genre, and it was easy to find movies following that genre. Maya and I will have to be very careful and make sure we follow all of the right procedures during this process.

Genre Research: Split

1) Common CAMS

  - The common camera angles from the movie "Split" are high angle, eye level, pan, tilts. two person shots, and close up shots.

2) Common CLAMPS

  - The costumes in this movie are realistic to what people wear on a daily basis. Also the costumes resemble the characters multiple personalities.

  - The lighting in this movie begins natural and darkens at points to make a creepier mood.

  - The actors fit their roles very well in this movie and act accordingly.

  - The makeup is minimal in this movie in order to make it seem more realistic.

  - The prop used in this movie are flowers, phones, knives, pillows, and more. 

  - The setting is a small town. It specifically takes place in a parking lot and a deserted house.

3) Common Sounds

  - The sound in this movie is diegetic and music. An example of the music is incidental as it is used to bring emotion. 

4) Common Editing

  - Most of the editing used for this movie is to shock the the audience. These are common throughout the entire movie.

5) Elements of Genre

  - Some of the elements this movie included are high energy, jump scares, and the element of surprise.

6) What elements do I like

  - One element I liked from this movie was the story-line in the movie, especially how it develops along with high energy scenes such as the one where the police are called.

7) What elements do I not like

  - An element from this movie that I disliked is how the movie did not build suspense. There were many jump scares and surprises but the audience was not left wondering.

Genre Research: Countdown

1) Common CAMS

  - The common camera angles from the movie "Countdown" are low angle, eye level, zoom, wide shots, and close shots.

2) Common CLAMPS

  - The characters costumes in the movie are realistic to what people wear on a daily basis.

  - The lighting in the movie begins natural and progressively darkens at pivotal moments.

  - The actors fit their role well and act accordingly.

  - The makeup is minimal in order to make it seem more realistic.

  - The prop used in this movie is a cell phone.

  - The setting is a small town: its houses, hospital, phone store, and restaurants.

3) Common Sounds

  - The sound in the movie "Countdown" is diegetic and dialogue. Some of the diegetic sounds are amplified to increase suspense such as the footsteps of a character.

4) Common Editing

  - Most of the editing in this movie is shot reverse shot. These are common throughout the entire movie.

5) Elements of Genre

  - Some of the elements in this movie include high energy, jump scares, and suspense.

6) What elements do I like

     - Some of the elements I like from this movie is the element of suspense. I feel many horror movies do not have a well developed story line, but this one does by using suspense to tell it.

7) What elements I dislike

  -  The element I dislike from this move is the jump scares. I would have preferred if they were spread out more throughout the whole movie because few were at the end.

Genre Research: Friend Request

1) Common CAMS
  - The common camera angles from the movie "Friend Request" are high angle, close up, pan, tilt, long shot, wide shot, and low angle.

2) Common CLAMPS
  - In this movie, the characters and dressed so that they represent a bit of their personalities.
  - The lighting is both in the night and day, but mainly during the nighttime.
  - The actors are well put together and are one with their role.
  - The makeup is very detailed in order to add a sense of reality to the movie.
  - The props include: knives, chainsaws, vehicles. There are also other aspects that create a chilling feel, such as rocking chairs, dolls, or mirrors.
  - The setting is a dark, rural location. It is isolated and dimly lit, creating a scary aura.

3) Common Sounds
  - Some common sounds from the movie are footsteps, screaming, and eerie music. Sometimes, there is a chilling silence, indicating something dangerous is going to occur soon.

4) Common Editing
  - Common editing in this movie are transitions that will give you jump scares, and when the character looks in the mirror there is a ghost behind her.

5) Elements of Genre
  - Common elements of this genre are: characters that can disappear at any moment, a frightening menace, the element of surprise, a backstory for the villain, a trademark murder weapon, proper theme music, jump scares, and the fear of death.

6) Elements you Liked
  - The elements I liked from this movie was the fear of death, the backstory for the villain, and the proper theme music.

7) Elements you Disliked
  - The elements I disliked from this movie was the jump-scares, and the murder weapons the villain used.

Genre Research: Happy Death Day 2U

1) Common CAMS
  - The common camera angles from the movie "Happy Death Day 2U" are high angle, close up, pan, tilt, extreme close up, long shot, wide shot, low angle, and over the shoulder shot.

2) Common CLAMPS
  - In this movie, the characters and dressed so that they represent a bit of their personalities.
  - The lighting is both in the night and day, but mainly focuses on the nighttime. Shadows are used, which are created through dimly lit lighting to add uncertainty to the film.
  - The actors are well put together and are one with their role.
  - The makeup is very detailed in order to add a sense of reality to the movie.
  - The props include but are not limited to: knives, chainsaws, vehicles. There are also other aspects that create a chilling feel, such as rocking chairs, dolls, or mirrors.
  - The setting is a dark, rural location, and the main characters dorm. The dark rural area is isolated and dimly lit, creating a scary aura.

3) Common Sounds
  - Some common sounds from the movie are footsteps, growling, screaming, and eerie music. Sometimes, there is even a chilling silence, indicating something dangerous is going to occur soon.

4) Common Editing
  - Common editing in this movie are transitions that will give you jump scares, and when the character looks in the mirror there is a ghost behind her.

5) Elements of Genre
  - Common elements of this genre are: characters that can disappear at any moment, a frightening menace, the element of surprise, a backstory for the villain, a trademark murder weapon, proper theme music, jump scares, and the fear of death.

6) Elements you Liked
  - The elements I liked from this movie was the fear of death, the backstory for the villain, and the proper theme music.

7) Elements you Disliked
  - The elements I disliked from this movie was the jump-scares, and the murder weapons the villain used.

Genre Research: Epic and Drama

Epic Genre:

Common Camera Angles (CAMS):

     - Birds eye and high angle are the most common.

     - Zoom outs are used within wide shots.

     -Wide shots are used often.

Common Mis-en-scene (CLAMPS):

     - The costumes are elaborate and detailed.

     - The lighting usually begins dark and progressively gets lighter as the movie progresses.
     - The actors are very in character

     - The makeup is minimal in order to make it seem more realistic.

     - The props are usually hand props like guns or swords.

     - The setting is usually somewhere historic or monumental.

Common Editing:

     - Most of the editing is special editing. This helps make the movie visually appealing and allows for even brighter colors.

Elements:

     -   Some elements include high energy, fights, and continuous motion.

Example films:

     - A few famous examples are Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Gladiator.

Common Sounds:

     - The sound is dramatic and most of the time made to sound heavy.

What elements do I like:

     - I like the element of special editing. Many epic movies use special effects to portray things that could not be shown otherwise.

What elements do I dislike:

     -  I do not like the length of epic movies. This element is negative because epic movies often are over three hours long.

Drama Genre

Common Camera Angles (CAMS):

     - Birds eye and eye level are the most common.

     - There is little camera movement, but if any usually a pan or tilt.

     -Medium shots and extreme close up are used.

Common Mis-en-scene (CLAMPS):

     - The costumes are used to accentuate the theme and the characters' personality.

     - The lighting is usually dark and realistic.
     - The actors are in character

     - The makeup is minimal in order to make it seem more realistic.

     - The props are minimal because focus should be on actors.

     - The setting is usually somewhere with a hidden meaning towards the theme.

Common Editing:

     - Most of the editing is to enhance the shot while still allowing it to look natural.

Elements:

     -   It usually has a clear pot which highlights the tension or conflict between two individuals or groups.

Example films:

     - A few famous examples are Titanic, Jaws, and Schindler's List.

Common Sounds:

     - The sound is usually diegetic and belongs in the scene/location.

What elements do I like:

     -Many drama movies' plots are clear to understand and follow because they are realistic.

What elements do I dislike:

     -  I do not like how some drama movies are over exaggerated in order to build tension.

Genre Research: Genre Decision

Maya and I have finally come to the conclusion on which genre our opening sequence will be. It was a tough decision between thriller and horror. In the end, we chose horror. We chose horror because we believe our opening sequence carries a lot of suspense and scary places. Our opening sequence also seeks to elicit fear out of the viewer, which is one of our main goals in this. Our other goal is to entertain and keep the viewer hooked, wanting to watch more. It will contain certain some personal fears which may scare some of the viewers, and may not scare others. But all in all, it will have the qualities for a horror genre.

Genre Research Powerpoint

The PowerPoint at the beginning of the year was done by me and my partner Maya. Our genre was Action. We created our PowerPoint using what we had previously learned. We included common lighting, camera angles, movement, mis-en-scene, elements, film examples, sounds, and also what we liked and disliked about the genre. This was a very helpful project as it allowed us to get a feel as to what the genre was. It also helped us look as all of the aspects of the Action Genre. My favorite part about this PowerPoint is looking at the likes and dislikes, because it allows me to realize that every genre has personal pros and cons to it.

Decision of the Pitch

Maya and my first pitch is "On the way to the party of her dreams, Rose faces a setback that makes her wish she never went out that night." We like this pitch because we like the backstory it has behind it. It is about a girl that likes to party a lot, and has a partying problem. One night when she is going to the party that is said to be "the best party of the year", her car breaks down. It leaves the audience wondering, did someone do something to her car? Or was she just having car problems? Besides that, there is no signal in the area, so she is stranded. A van stops next to her, and while she thinks they are there to help her, they end up taking her. The introduction of the film will end with her being put into the van. This leaves the viewers wondering who took her, why her car broke down, and who would want to kidnap her. It also leaves them wondering if it is someone who has a personal vendetta against her, or a complete stranger.

Our second pitch is "The plan is almost completed when Blake hitches a ride in Rose's car, yet her dreams are crushed through his actions." This is our other pitch, and we like it because it will show both perspectives. The hitchhiker, Blake, and the main character, Rose, who likes to party a lot. Our first and second pitch are sort of similar, but both lead to completely different endings. This pitch allows for us to film Rose's perspective. Her point of view would be her getting ready for the party, and on the way to the party she encounters a hitchhiker. She allows him to ride with her, as he would like to go to the local Walmart. Or so she thought. From Blake's point of view, we will be able to view all of his thoughts. Before he asked Rose for a ride, he was planning his way to kidnap her. He had a very thought out process. Through this introduction, we will be able to see both perspectives, giving the viewers a peek at both sides of the characters.

Finally, Maya and I decided on a pitch. We chose pitch 1 due to many reasons. One of them is because it has a better and more detailed backstory. There is more information added to this introduction. We believe it is also easier to film. The second pitch may be too complicated to film, and the first pitch seems easier. However, we are not only choosing pitch 1 because it is easier. We are also choosing it because pitch 2 would become confusing. Between switching back and forth with both perspectives, the view may get lost in the process. Pitch 1 has a more flowing plot line, resulting in a smoother film.

Start of Final Task

I have worked with Maya for every assignment I have been given. I believe we are a good team. We work efficiently together, and we learn together. We plan on working together for the final project as well. Due to this, we have already began deciding what we are doing. Thankfully, we pretty much have the same viewpoints. This makes it easier to work with her. The reason for this is because we get along well, and we are able to come to conclusions and make decisions much easier. Maya is a very well organized person. I'm glad I've worked with her throughout this year.


Over the time period of this course, I have learned so much. Whether it be about editing, filming, or creating a storyboard, there are so many new things I have been introduced to. There are many talents that I am excited to use for the final task. Filming is a very tiring task, as there are many ways to angle your take. However, through all of the struggles, you are presented with your film. When you put a lot of work into a film, it turns out great. I'm very happy that Maya and I have made our films flowing and good. Editing is another amazing aspect of this class. I love piecing together our project, and seeing what we make it into. It is great to see our creation after putting hours of work into it.

A pitch is a Hollywood term used to describe an idea where a film is encapsulated in 25 words or less. It is usually with one sentence, and it gets the viewers wanting to hear more. Maya and I came up with three pitch ideas. The first one is "On the way to the party of her dreams, Rose faces a setback that makes her wish she never went out that night." The second one is "The plan is almost completed when Blake hitches a ride in Rose's car, yet her dreams are crushed through his actions." The last pitch is "A party turns bad with a simple text which leads to the fifth killing in Pinksville, a city that has never faced crime."