Task: Design the title sequence of a new fictional TV show from the
following genres:
-
Sci Fi
-
Horror
-
Thriller
-
Teenage
On top of
creating the title sequence you will need to: research (4 or 5) title sequences from your genre, deconstructing
and explaining how they’re designed to communicate ideas about the programme
that is being presented and how it generates the audience’s interest.
You will also
need to explain conventions of the
title sequences and define whether the title sequences in the genre that I
choose are the same or different.
You will then
have to create a detailed animated
storyboard for the title sequence that you create.
The genre that I
have chosen to research is Horror.
For my research,
I am going to look at the TV shows based around the horror genre. These will
include:
-
Dexter
-
True
Blood
-
Grimm
-
Super
Natural
Dexter
The opening sequence of Dexter immediately
identifies the genre by using extremely graphic images, including many
references to blood. The whole sequence builds up a series of events as it
takes the audience through different happenings, letting them reflect on the
ongoing narrative.
Firstly, there is a mosquito shown on the arm
of a man, you know this because of the arm hair, and the men then hits the
mosquito, suggesting that maybe killing comes easy to the man, as if it is
second nature as he hits the mosquito without discomfort or struggle. As the
mosquito is hit, blood then appears on his arm, suggesting that maybe he’s a
killer, getting the victims blood on his own body. As the title is introduced
into the sequence, it is shown in a red, bold front, as blood splatters around
the text, highlighting to the audience what kind of events are up next. As the
man who is shown throughout, begins to shave him face, he cuts his skin which
could imply that when he is on one of his killing spree’s, then maybe he gets
part of the crime scene on his, which links to the blood of the mosquito being
imprinted onto is skin. As the scene progresses, the actor beings to cut roar
meet, portraying an image of human flesh to the reader, suggesting that maybe
he uses several different methods to kill his victims. The actor begins to eat
his meet, and a CU shot is used on his mouth to present that maybe he gets
close to his victims before he attacks. Also, as he is eating his egg, ketchup
splashes around the plate, which looks extremely like blood, implying that his
actions will always haunt him during every day rituals. As the actors morning
routine continues, he is shown wrapped dental floss around his fingers, which
could create an unpleasant image in the readers head of someone being
strangled, or tied up as he continues to wrap it round is fingers. This is also
reinforced when he ties his shoelaces. At the end of the actor’s daily routine
of getting ready, the camera shows a CU of the actors face, letting the
audience get a clear view on who they have been watching during the previous
footage in the opening sequence. As the actor is shown walking out of his home,
he has a smile on his face suggesting that he is ready for action and ready to
take on anything that gets in his way.
Throughout the opening sequence, the cast’s
names were shown in a red, bold typography connoting that they are strong
individuals and are ready to make an impression towards the audience.
The tone that is being set is extremely
serious due to the large series of events that the actor is participating in.
This tone is presented to the audience through the amount of suspense being
created through the use of the sound track being played as the actor conducted
his daily routine. The sound track sounds light-hearted, however in parts it is
very sinister and it changes its tone throughout. Just as the audience think
that something is going to happen, it builds up the suspense and then changes
again, and making the reader engage in the sequence to see what is going to
happen next.
The target audience that would fit into the
horror genre is adults with busy lives, however also middle class audiences.
The actor seems middle aged, and fits into the 30-40’s category, which
represents what kind of audience will watch the programme. I have chosen adults
with busy lives to fit into this genre, as they will use the programme as a
form of escapism, however also a sense of self-actualisation. The escapism
would be easy to fulfil, as the opening sequence is full of suspense, thus
suggesting that if the opening sequence engages them, then they’re left
questioning what will the series be like? Leaving them wanting to watch more.
This means that they’re able to escape their normal, hectic lives and indulge
in something else to take their minds off their busy daily schedule.
Self-actualisation is also easily fulfilled due to the normal, daily routine
that the actor is conducting such as, shaving, eating and getting ready. The
males of the target audience are then able to gather reassurance from the
opening sequence, reinforcing they aren’t the only ones suffering with a busy
schedule, but others are too.
As I mentioned in the section when I analysed
the tone of the opening sequence, each clip of actions builds up suspense and
then it changes onto the next shot. Each clip however is held for quite long,
which immediately builds up the suspense, as the audience want to know what’s
going to happen next.
The opening sequence lasts for 1:47, which is
pretty long for just an opening sequence. Due to the duration of the sequence,
the audience soon become aware of the happenings that are later to come as the
character in the opening sequence isn’t fully revealed until the end of the
sequence, suggesting that he is trying to hide, however he is has been found.
This immediately links in with the actual program as the main character is a
serial killer.
The iconography that is used throughout the
entire sequence is extremely challenging for the audience to watch, because
although it fits into the category of ‘black comedy’, the events that’re taking
place have more literal meaning, allowing the audience’s thoughts/feelings to
run wild, which enables them to come up with conclusions of their own.
True Blood
The start of the True Blood opening sequence
is filled with a large amount of suspense which is portrayed through the use of
the fast-moving edits and the use of the imagery of nature, highlighting
deserted land, giving off a sense of mystery and the thought of the unknown.
When the opening sequence starts, the clip camera appears to be merging from
water and carrying on on a journey, highlighting a new adventure as the camera
guides the audience through the nature.
The casts names are shown in white,
suggesting purity against the other dark colours being presented within,
however either their first or second name is shown in a bigger font,
representing that the clip is all building up to something, which is exactly
what happens.
Immediately, the audience are able to sense
that the genre that this opening sequence fits into is horror, due to the eerie
atmosphere of the clips. At the start of the opening sequence, each clip is
presented by using a fast pan, again bringing about a sense of mystery and
suspense, leaving the audience wanting more.
The tone throughout is extremely serious as
no diagetic sound is available to the audience, leaving them wondering why. The
whole clip is filled by the non-diagetic sound of the music clip by Jace
Everett – Bad things. The sound clip immediately links to the genre of horror
as it is called ‘Bad Things’, suggesting to the audience that bad things may
happen during the series, which sets the tone for the rest of the clip.
Personally, I think that the target audience
that would fit into this particular opening sequence would be teenagers. This
is because, although the program fits into the horror genre, it also fits into
the supernatural genre and mainly teenagers tend to enjoy vampire programs.
This has been evident from the likes of twilight and young people have been
fanatical about it, however this would be more suited to teenagers as it is
gruesome and vivid, unlike twilight, which children watch. By watching this,
they’re able to form a sense of escapism, from school/college work and have a
break from their lives. This enables them to socialise with friends and talk
about this program.
The length of this opening sequence is 1:31.
Although it is still quite long, the Dexter opening sequence is definitely
longer and more events occur in that one, however the opening sequence of True
Blood, seems to show a series of events and repeat parts of them, however new
events are also introduced within. The new events that occur during the opening
sequence is the dead rat being shown on the road, suggesting that it has been
ran over, the little boy with blood smeared all around his mouth, immediately
links to the supernatural nature of the program as it is based on the lives on
vampires and vampires are stereotypically known to suck people’s blood and also
the cleansing of a women at the end, being done by two men. This immediately
suggests that men are more dominating that woman as the men are shown to be
standing over the women, trying to cleanse her by dunking her head in the
water. The start of the opening sequence introduces nature and water towards
the audience and the sequence ends by three characters being shown in water,
which could suggest that the events shown within this series are all, linked
together and relevant.
Throughout the entire opening sequence, there
is an extremely clear contrast between black civil rights people, praying for
their rights in church and also a woman prancing about in lingerie and revealing
clothing, acting extremely seductive towards men. References to vampires occur
throughout the entire sequence, through the use of the mise en scene. The use
of the reoccurring blood images that are presented towards the audience,
suggest that the vampires are extremely attracted to blood, linking to the
stereotypical view of a vampire. “God hates fangs” is shown on a billboard,
also showing an extreme contrast, as the black people in the church are shown
praying for their rights, however the women is being extremely promiscuous.
Overall, True Blood is about a group of vampires that are split into two camps:
the ones who’re fighting equal rights and the others that believe that humans
and vampires can’t mix, due to the violent nature of vampires which is shown
throughout the clip as the men are shown fighting and also at the end of the
clip, the women is shown to be being cleansed of her sins by two men being
extremely forceful when trying to cleanse her. When the vampires are shown on
the screen, a red tint in the film is shown, which highlights their violent
nature, immediately contrasting the purity of the black people in white
protesting for their civil rights.
