Opening Sequence Research

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.