opening title sequence final analysis

7/30/2019 Opening Title Sequence Final Analysis

1/16

Opening Title Sequence

Analysis

The Ouija Board


2/16

This is our second opening title sequence, the final cut. We

felt that we made a large improvement over our last opening

title sequence. We addressed the key issues such as lighting,

continuity, match on action, the 180-degree rule and weshortened the sequence down to the length that was

required. We fixed the lighting problem with the use of the

lamp, which helped to reduce the noise and showed more

details of the characters faces, as before it was too dark to

recognise the faces. The setting of the scene inside thebuilding could also be seen more clearly now and helped give

the audience a better view of where the characters are going

to play the Ouija board. We also improved the shakiness of

the camera with the use of a tripod and we used a greater

range of shot types. We have also added a background sound

track, which builds up the audiences tension.


3/16

In the first shot (0-5sec), we had an establishing shot of the two characters walking towards the isolated building and

having a random conversation. This shot also shows that the characters are friends and have the same social standing,as they are wearing similar clothes, such as jeans and a hoody. In our last establishing shot in the first opening title

sequence attempt, we included a fast forward motion effect to speed up the shot of the characters walking towards

the building, however this time we decided not to include it because it didnt give the desired effect and looked

unprofessional. At 00:01 we included our first credit which was the name of the production studio, called

IndependentStudios. This is tells the audience the name of the production company of this film. We also aligned the

credit to flow with the angle of the pavement, in order to create a uniformed look. We used the titles on IMovie called

SoftEdge, which we then edited by changing the font to Baskerville and made it plain white. We thought this font

stood out in the shots, as the contrast allows the text to stand out clearly. Because we started filming out of focus atthe beginning, it made the titles even clearer and draws the audiences attention to who the producers of the film are.

At the end of the shot, the title splits the two words Independent & Studios into two and they flow in opposite

directions, sliding off the screen. The sound track we used in this shot is diegetic, as the characters are able to hear it.

This sound used consisted of unpleasant sounds of weather.


4/16

In the second shot (6-8sec), we had a close up shot of the boy holding

and carrying the Ouija board. This gives the audience a sort of clue to

indicate that the two boys are going to paly the Ouija board. We

reused this shot from our previous opening title sequence, because

we thought that it work well and lets the audience know what is

about to happen next, as they will be playing the Ouija board. We

also used a tripod in this scene in order to make the shot more stable,

this made it have a more professional look.


5/16

In the third shot (9-23sec), we had a low angle tilt shot of the two characters climbing up the

ladder to enter the building. We showed continuity here by showing their journey to the building

so they dont randomly appear. The tilt shot allowed us to show the height of the building and

shows that it is dangerous. We also showed good framing by placing the characters in the centre

to draw the focus on them by making them the main focal point. The colour of the building gives

off a reddish effect to indicate danger, because when you think of red, you think of blood. At00:08, the title Directed by Rachel Whitewood appeared. This shows the audience who the

director of the film is. We made the credits flow in the direction of the character climbing up the

ladder to emphasize where he is going. The credits also start to fade away the higher the character

climbs. We thought the credits worked well, as they flowed in the direction of the tilt shot. The

fade of the credits was also used to indicate the presence of ghosts and spirits.


6/16

In the fourth shot (23-27sec), we had a close up shot of the one

character forcefully opening the door. We reused this shot from our

first rough cut, as we thought the framing was good because the boys

hand was centred and was the main focus and showed how he opened

the lock. Before the character opened the door, there was a low level ofnoise and when he started banging the door and that gave off a loud

and creepy effect with an echo. As the characters were forcefully

opening the door it strongly suggests to the audience that the

characters are breaking in and trespassing.


7/16

In the fifth shot (28-36sec), we had a long shot of the character slamming the door open from the interior of

the building. This shot shows the characters facial expressions as they first look inside the building. This shot

was an improvement from our rough cut, as we used a tripod to make the shot stable and to get the framing

right. The characters are also placed in the middle of the frame to make them the focal point of the shot and

to show their expressions of surprise and shock. This shot also shows that there is natural daylight outside,

which is high key lighting and in the inside of the building the lighting is very low key. We wanted to give off

this effect of low-key lighting to show that the characters will be playing the Ouija board in a very dark,creepy and dangerous environment. This relates well to our genre and it communicates how people get

scared at night because they think of ghosts, spirits, etc. So the audience expect something disturbing to

happen next. At 00:28 we had credits appearing saying Starring Marc Jordan & Joshua Bentley. This is to

credit the actors and to let the audience know who the actors or main characters of the film are. We

positioned the credits in the shadows, out of the characters view. This was done intentionally because we

wanted to suggest that something else was present in the room. Placing the credits in the shadows also

made them stand out more, because it created a contrast between light and dark.


8/16

In the sixth shot (36-51sec), we had a long shot of the characters entering

the building. As the characters enter, the shot becomes a tracking shot in

order to follow the characters entering to have continuity. As the characters

enter, there is only a silhouette to be seen of them, this shows how low the

lighting is in the building. This also indicates a kind of danger, as the

characters have never been in the building and they cant see, so they dontknow what to expect and what the surrounding environment inside is like.

There might be dangerous objects that they can harm themselves on. It also

builds up the audiences tension, as they dont know what to expect next.

The sound inside the building has an echoed effect. As the characters

entered the camera tilted upwards slightly, which indicates that there may

be a spirit present.


9/16

In the seventh shot (52-57sec), we had a long shot tracking the characters as they

enter the building. In this shot the camera was handheld and taken from behind a

wooden beam to indicate that a spirit was watching the characters. The characters

in this shot are only seen as silhouettes, which also shows the extremely low-key

lighting. As the character on the right walks in he looks hesitant, stopping in his

tracks slightly and walking slowly, which also shows that he is nervous and scared

about playing the Ouija board and being in such a dark environment. At 00:53, we

have credits appearing saying Sound by Marc Jordan. This lets the audience know

was responsible for the sound in this film. The credit also appears in the

darkness/shadows to make it stand out more. The credit also moves half way across

the screen to the right and then mystically fades away, which also indicates orrelates to ghosts and spirits, as they also mystically disappear.


10/16

In the eight shot (58sec-01:05min), we had a close up

shot of the lamp, which the characters are busy turning

on, as it is too dark for them to see. The glowing of the

lamp places a red tint on the characters hands to signify

danger. The lamp has a candle like glow to it, which is

often associated with spirits and paranormal activities.

The diegetic sound of the lamp indicates how quiet it is in

the room and it gives off a creepy roaring-like sound. The

framing of the lamp is centred and draws attention to the

bright and radiant lamp.


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In the ninth shot (01:06-01:20min), we had a long shot that tracks the

characters walking towards the place where they will be playing the Ouija

board. This shot also shows that the further the characters walk into the

building, the darker it gets. This could show how the film will have the

tension build up gradually, as the characters get close to danger. At 01:18

we had credits appearing saying Produced by Rachel Whitewood. Thislets the audience know who the producer of the film is. The credit also

moves in the direction of the tilting of the shot. It adds a professional

look because the movement the shot is going and the words of the credit

flow in the same direction, this also creates an emphasis of what the

characters are doing.


12/16

In the tenth shot (01:20-01:22), we had

a shot reverse shot of the one character

asking the other character whether

they should set up the candles. The

light from the lamp shining up at his

face was used intentionally to create a

creepy effect. The directional lighting is

also a convention often used in horror

movies, so this reinforces to the

audience that our movie is in this

genre.

In the eleventh shot (01:22-01:25min),

we had a close up shot of the second

character answering the other

characters question. The same lighting

is used in this shot, as in the shot

before to also give off a creepy effect.

The framing in this shot was used well,because it clearly shows the audience

that both characters are having a

conversation, because they are looking

in the other characters direction.


13/16

In the twelfth shot (01:26-01:50min), we had a high angle shot

showing the characters setting up the Ouija board and lighting

the candles. This shot is also a good example of how we

improved the lighting over the rough cut because you can see

more detail and what is happening. One of the characters also

asks do you think this is a good idea, this shows that the

character is hesitant and having doubts about playing the Ouija

board and he is worried about the spirits. The other character

however is more confident.


14/16

In the thirteenth shot (01:51-02:01min), we had a

medium shot of the characters placing their hands on the

Ouija board and playing the game. The natural daylight

coming in from outside the door indicates that it is a sort

of escape for the characters. Tension is being built up, as

the characters hands are placed on the Ouija board for a

while. The audience will be left in suspense, as they will

wonder what will happen next.


15/16

In the fourteenth shot (02:01-02:02min), we had a close up

shot of blood randomly dripping on the characters hands and

the board. This gives the characters and the audience a sudden

freight, because they werent expecting it. The sudden scream

in this shot is diegetic sound, as the characters can hear the

scream in the background.


16/16

In the fifteenth shot (02:03-02:09min), we had a long shot of the characters reacting to the sudden

scream and the blood randomly dripping onto their hands. This shot also shows the characters

getting up and trying to escape, however they get locked in, as the door suddenly closes by itself.

This creates an enigma in the audiences mind whether they are going to get out or not and what is

going to happen next. The lighting in this shot was very low key in order to show that the

characters were getting closer to the spirits. The low-key lighting also adds a eerie atmosphere and

also builds up the audiences tension. At 02:07, we had credits appearing saying The Ouija Board,

which indicates what the film is called. By making the word Ouija red and adding a different font,

which has a cracked effect, indicates clearly what the film is about and the Ouija board is

responsible for the events that happened to the characters by provoking the spirits by playing the

Ouija board. The ellipsis also creates a feeling that the film is going to continue and makes the

audience find out what will happen next.

opening title sequence final analysis

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