Audience questionnaires MALE

1. What gender are you?

A.      Male :12

B.      Female

2. What type of thrillers do you enjoy the most?

A.      Action :9

B.      Psychological :3

C.      Gory: 0

3. What do you enjoy most about thrillers?

A.      Suspense :2

B.      Violence :3

C.      Gore :1

D.     Action :4

E.      Storyline :2

F.      Protagonist: 0

4. What ending do you prefer?

A.      Happy :8

B.      Sad :3

C.      Cliff Hanger :1

5. What gender protagonist do you prefer within a thriller?

A.      Male :2

B.      Female :10

C.      Don’t mind: 0

6. Do you prefer a storyline that…

A.      Keeps you in suspense :10

B.      Gives away the plot/storyline :2

C.      Omniscient: 0

7. Do you prefer a thriller that is…?

A.      A Classic :1

B.      Modern day :9

C.      Don’t Mind :2

8. Do you prefer a film in…?

A.      Black and white: 0

B.      Colour :12

C.      Other: 0

9. Where do you most like watching thrillers?

A.      Cinema :3

B.      Home :7

C.      Other :2

10. Do you like a thriller title sequence that…?

A.      Gives away some of the storyline :2

B.      Keeps you in suspense :6

C.      Only gives a small section of the narrative away :4

11.  How many thrillers do you watch in a month?

A.      0-5 :7

B.      5-10 :4

C.      More than 10 :1

Overall, the results of the male questionnaires led to these options being Favoured : 

• Action thrillers are Favorited
• Action is enjoyed the most within a thriller
• They prefer a happy ending
• A female protagonist is preferred
• A story line that keeps you in suspense is the best
• The thriller should be set in modern day
• It should be in colour
• Watching thrillers at home is enjoyed the most
• A story line that keeps you in suspense is the best
• The title sequence should keep you in suspense
• Most watch 0-5 thrillers a month

These results will help towards our title sequence 

Audience questionnaires FEMALE

1. What gender are you?

A.      Male

B.      Female : 12

2. What type of thrillers do you enjoy the most?

A.      Action : 7

B.      Psychological : 5

C.      Gory : 0

3. What do you enjoy most about thrillers?

A.      Suspense : 8

B.      Violence : 0

C.      Gore : 0

D.     Action : 1

E.      Storyline : 3

F.      Protagonist : 0

4. What ending do you prefer?

A.      Happy : 4

B.      Sad : 5

C.      Cliff Hanger : 3

5. What gender protagonist do you prefer within a thriller?

A.      Male : 7

B.      Female : 2

C.      Don’t mind : 3

6. Do you prefer a storyline that…

A.      Keeps you in suspense : 6

B.      Gives away the plot/storyline : 0

C.      Omniscient: 6

7. Do you prefer a thriller that is …

A.      A Classic : 1

B.      Modern day : 5

C.      Don’t Mind : 6

8. Do you prefer a film in…

A.      Black and white : 0

B.      Colour : 12

C.      Other : 0

9. Where do you most like watching thrillers?

A.      Cinema :3

B.      Home :7

C.      Other :2

10. Do you like a thriller title sequence that…

A.      Gives away some of the storyline :1

B.      Keeps you in suspense : 5

C.      Only gives a small section of the narrative away : 6

11.  How many thrillers do you watch in a month?

A.      0-5 : 9

B.      5-10  :2

C.      More than 10 :1

 Overall, the results of the female questionnaires led to these options being Favoured: 

• Action thrillers are most enjoyed
• They enjoy suspense the most in a thriller
• A sad ending is preferred
• They prefer a male protagonist
• A story line that keeps you in suspense and an omniscient story line were the favorites
• They do not mind the time frame of the film
• They all prefer the film in colour  
• They like watching thrillers at home
• They like the title sequence to only give a little away
• Most watch between 0-5 thrillers a month

These results will help towards our title sequence.

Narc title sequence analysis

The font for the titles is slightly messy which gives a grimy/dirty feel to the beginning of the film. The black and white in the titles are very contrasting, the white could suggest purity and the black could suggest dirty which could imply a large amount about the film on a whole.
The fast pace editing and movement gives the clear idea that the film is a thriller and action genre. Also the fast pace of the beginning would alert the audience into focusing on what is happening.

The use of intense heavy breathing within the opening would mean that the audience are matching their breathing with the characters which causes them to feel an attachment to the characters of the film. The darkish blue saturation coluring of the sequence gives a very grimy feel as well, the playground contrasts with this as it is quite colourful compaired to the rest of the scenery, which adds to the feeling of innocence. The fact that the playground is a place of innoncence creates a juxta postion with the actions that take place.

American beauty title sequence

The title sequence begins with an establishing shot of a suburban area, to possibly where the film will be set. The name of the film then come comes up on a plain black screen with deep red writing; the red writing could have the connotations of blood, passion and anger which could suggest a large amount about the film. Throughout the title sequence there is always a non-diagetic commentary of the same character which could suggest that he is the main protagonist of the film. The film begins in autumn which could possibly symbolise the autumn of the protagonists life? This leads on to winter which could be the winter of his life- suggesting death?
The background music with the non-diagetic commentary could be contrapuntal sound- the whimsical music contrasts with the protagonist speaking about death.
The slow paced editing of the title sequence gives the idea that the main protagonist is bored of his life and feels emotionally and physically drained. The idea of boredom within the protagonists life is also backed-up by the decreased colour and dullness of his bedroom, also the fact that his slippers are at the side of the bed ready for him suggests the same routine and precision.

We felt the use of contrapuntal sound within this title sequence worked and so decided that perhaps we could use the same idea within our own title sequence. This can be seen with dull slow imagery whilst the young girl is being chased, but the happy music box sound suggests the complete opposite.

Memento title sequence analysis

The opening title sequence of Memento :

• Distributors – New Market and Summit Entertainment
• Production company – Team Todd
• Film Supervisors
• Name of Film - Memento
• Names of stars and actors
• Casting Directors
• Music Supervisor
• Costume Designer
• Editor
• Production Designer
• Director of Photography
• Co-Producer
• Co-Executive Producers
• Producers
• Screenplay Supervisor
• Based on the story by…
• Director

There is a camera close up on a mans face, this could show that he is the main protagonist of Memento.

The font within the title sequence is always in capitals which has quite a dramatic effect on the title sequence and is placed in the centre of the screen which makes the audience focus, this is also backed up by the large writing.

The writing also contrasts with the background of the screen, the colour gives a very pure but sad feel.

When the suspected protagonist is shaking the picture it could be seen that he is trying to get rid of the memory.

There is the diagetic sound of the gun.

When the titles are showing, the orchestral sound links with the font and pace of the font. This gives a very emotive and undenerving feel. The minor key of the music makes the title sequence seem increasing depressing.

The low angle used could suggest dominance of one charater over another.

The lighting then shows half of a face in light and half in dark, this could show a split personality of the protagonist.

Camerawork

Camera Distance:Close up- A shot taken very close to the subject, often a person's head or other significant object, which fills the screen.
Establishing shot- Usually a long shot that establishes the spatial relations between figures, objects and the setting of the film or scene.
Extreme close up- A shot in which the scale of the object is even larger, as when a small object, detail or  body part (face, eyes, etc.) fills the screen.
Extreme long shot- The subject is extremely small in relation to the size of the screen; frequently an interior establishing shot.
Long shot- A shot in which the object shown is small in relation to the size of the screen; frequently an interior establishing shot.
Medium close up- A shot framing the human figure from the chest up.
Medium long shot- A shot framing the human figure from the knees up.
Medium shot- A shot framing the human figure from the waist up.


Camera Movement:
Paranoma shot- The camera rotates from a fixed position along a horizontal plane.
Swish pan- The camera moves very rapidly along the horizontal plane so that the action appears blurred.
Tilt- The camera tilts up or vertically.
Tracking shot- The camea travels in any direction. The camera can be mounted on a truck or dolly to permit high speed movement.

Editing

Axis match: This is when the angle of the camera is in relation to the object on the screen, this remains the same from shot to shot.
Cross-cut: This is when two different shots of different action and places are put together simultaneously, they are usually related.
Direction match: The direction of a person or object that is the same throughout cuts.
Dissolve: This is when one shot gradually disappears and the next shot gradually appears.
Duration and pacing: The rhythm and duration of scenes and shots.
Eye line match: A cut of two characters within different shots that appear to be looking at one another due to the direction of the way they are looking.
Fade in: The gradual lighting of an image from dark (black) to light.
Fade out: The gradual darkening of an image.
Graphic match: Juxtaposition of graphically similar images.
Iris in: When an image is gradually shown from blackness through an expanding circle.
Iris out: This is the reverse of the iris in.
Jump cut: A break or jump in time, caused by removing a section of a shot and then splicing together what remains of it; on-screen the result is often jerky.
Movement match: Action that starts in one shot and continues onto the next shot.
Parallel cut: Editing that alternates shots of two or more areas of action occurring in two different places, usually simultaneously, that often run together later in the narrative.
Straight cut: Two shots that are joined together with no obvious continuity.
Wipe: One image is gardually replaced by another at a boundary that moves across the frame. This boundry is often a straight line, which moves vertically across the screen (but may also take other directions and shapes.