My own title sequence
I got inspiration from the Skins title sequence, and decided to do something similar for my own. I particularly liked the way it had fast cut shots of the same scene, making it almost stop motion and interesting. I also liked the way it has two layers on the screen so two things are going on at the same time, creating a unique and interesting effect. I filmed myself in the garden in various outfits doing various movements and actions to the camera. I then filmed scenes like trees, spinning around and vintage wallpaper, so that I could layer these images over the top of the shots of myself. I did this using Premiere Pro and changed the opacity to around 40% so each piece of footage could be seen, but obstructed. I used the song ‘Number One’ by Stenchman because it went really well with the way the footage is cut up, but also had similar themes to the Skins title sequence, such as a light bell noise. If I had been able to use more models I would have been able to do more things, and have my title sequence for Skins, but because I could only use myself in it I decided to do homage, and call it Rizlas and have it about one person instead.
My own logo
The original idea I had for my logo was to have a deer in a deer stalker hat. The stag would be just black with no detail to simplify it, and a triangle would be on the hat to personalize the logo to me. I hand drew the design, but in order to make it symmetrical I only drew half so that I could scan it in and flip it in Photoshop to make it perfect. I then went on dafont.com to pick a suiting text face. I decided to use one that was thick, but almost like it had been sketched as I thought it they contrasted each other seeing as I drew the logo. I then found a simple looking font that I particularly liked, and drew antlers on the D or Deer Stalker and put the stalker under the deer. I decided I preferred this, as it was simpler and more effective than the other one.
Television Title Sequence Conventions
Stereotypical title sequences : in a television series it will probably include freeze frame shots of the character next to their real name, or segments of footage from the pilot episode, setting up the story for the series. Sometimes it will include highlights from the current series, for example Friends shows clips of each character doing something funny when it says their name, then altogether. The Simpsons was voted the best title sequence by TV Guide. In the news it may have clips from the top stories, with the newsreaders voice over the top saying a catching title. For a documentary, like Big Fat Gypsy Weddings, it will have the narrator setting up the episodes features with snippets of the highlights of the program.
Movie Title Sequence Conventions
The film Se7en (1995) influenced lots of films to opt for a black background with text over the top, simple effective and blunt- also cheap. In several films including the Wizard of OZ the titles have appeared against a cloudy sky.
Austin Powers 2 Title Sequence Critique
This title sequence consists of Austin, the protagonist, naked walking through a hotel. As the film is a fifteen, his penis is covered by a variety of different objects, such as a French loaf and a babies rattle. It works really well as an introduction, as it is humorous and fits in well with the rest of the film. The credits are interesting too, as they are in bright 60’s style font, and are involved in the action, for example coming down in the lift. It is two minutes long, which is long for a title sequence but I think that it is good being this long and it doesn’t get old and is funny all the way through.
What are the different factors which make up ‘Hollywood’ studio logos ?
-The image/object/symbol
The logo for Universal shows space with the earth in the centre, which is of course an extremely grand scale, and perhaps represents how larger company they are. It also involves all audiences, as of course everyone lives on earth, making it ‘universal’. It is also quite classical, and of an old Hollywood style fitting in with film and the overall theme. A reoccurring theme between Columbia Pictures, Paramount, Fox and Universal, is that they are all extremely large scale, and roughly last ten seconds. Each has motion, but it is slow and subtle, for example the stars around the mountain in Paramount.
-The typeface/text used
The three newest Universal logos have the name in big, bold gold text flowing slowly across the circumference of the world, making it seem important and quite ‘in your face’. In the original logo created in 1927, the font is reflective to its period and is of course in black and white, it is quite classical and now dated. The late 1920’s to1930’s logo has narrower text, which is more angular but still bold. In the late 1930’s the writing is taller and much bigger, to match the art deco style. In the 1940’s the font is serif and luxurious with a classical feel which suits the period. In the 80’s the font is the biggest it has been and is very bold, it is now sans serif as it would have been dated by then. The current logo is gold and shiny, and 3D and bold, making it stand out and be up to date. A similarity I have found between most of the companies is that their logos are gold. This is perhaps luxurious and gold is seen as a rich colour and is expensive.
-The music
In the first two logos, there is no sound except the noise of the aeroplane which drags along the text. The art deco globe has soft ambient guitar which goes well with the visual theme, whereas the 1940’s’ logos classical and has a loud waltzy fanfare, which fits in with the time as musical were extremely popular. The fanfare theme is carried on up until present, where it varies from soft to triumphant.
-The technology used to create the look
There are various techniques used over the years to create the moving logo. Animation is used for some of them, but `I thought it was used for all of them except the first two which shows that they are well made some are made by overlapping images of the various parts.
Title sequence treatment of film
BBC 2 Logo
The logo had to fit in with the theme of all the others, which was everyday occurrences, such as having a cup of coffee, and the logo being in the foam. We came up with the idea of having the logo on the sole of somebody’s shoe, because walking is obviously part of everyday life and it gave us an opportunity for an interesting shot. We decided to put the camera on the floor outside Drake’s Circus as lots of people would be walking past here, we filmed for about six minutes and then had the Connor walk over the camera and put the sole of his shoe in the frame slightly to the left. We then edited the footage using Premier Pro, by speeding up the footage to make it about ten seconds in duration, and then freezing it on the shoe so that we could put the 2 on the sole of it using Photoshop. We made the 2 blue as it fitted in with the background colours and the 2 is normally blue. For the music we used the song ‘Basic Space’ by The XX, but we put it into Logic, and played with the sounds until it sounded almost unrecognisable, but still pleasant. I think that the music goes really well with the image, particularly because of the pace and I am extremely pleased with how the final piece looks, there is nothing I would change as I think its perfect how it is and I could see it as a genuine BBC 2 logo.
Skins Series 1 Title Sequence
When Skins first came out in 2007, it was targeted at teenagers and was supposed to be something different and ground-breaking. The title sequence had to live up to this, and I think its desired effect is achieved because it is original and unique. The music is key in this piece as it sets the tone and matches the film being shown. The effect used in the titles that really bring the music and image together is that the film is broken up into roughly two second segments, showing the same scene several times but at slightly different times creating an almost stop motion effect, but more flowing. The music matches this because it is also broken up and has a rhythm that fits. The introduction show clips of each character getting ready (e.g. putting on makeup), and doing things personal to them for example photography or playing musical instruments. It also shows them in different scenarios, like in a pub, or a field showing them together and having fun, doing things teenagers can relate to, it also has close up shots of each of their faces giving them identity. When the music fully begins, overlapping images of the letters S K I and N flash up, and images of the sky, landscapes and buildings, creating the atmosphere and setting- Skins is set in Bristol. The effect used is almost like a kaleidoscope, and the colours used are very bright creating an unusual, interesting effect.
Shameless Series 1 Title Sequence
This features a voice over by Frank, the protagonist, introducing each of the main characters (mainly his family), and setting the scene of Chatsworth Estate, the setting. This suits the program, and gets the viewer immediately interested and involved in the story. Similar to the Skins title sequence, it also uses short sections of film, keeping the tempo up and in time with the music whilst being aesthetically pleasing. I, however, do not like the music as I think it is a strange choice as it is almost folk-like and think something else would perhaps be more suited. It’s interesting to use pieces of humour and action from the series, as it entices the viewer to want to watch it so see why these things are happening.
Dawn of the dead
This title sequence is created by blending the audio of a fictional news story- the outbreak of zombies(the plot of the film), and archive footage of destruction, violence and uprising.