Pre-production: Production Log/Reflective Analysis [Week 3]

This week has been a useful as I learnt about opening sequences and title devices. I looked at an opening sequence from the film 'This Is England' to see what sort of acts as a foundation stage for the film's plot/story-line and creates an enigma. The different titles also help to introduce who the cast, crew and production company.

From doing this task, I have realised that the titles have a formulaic way of being shown in terms of duration and transitional effects for opening sequences. They help create a rhythmic feel for the film. For example, in 'This Is England' the clips were shown for no longer than 6 seconds and used a great amount of fades which helped with the continuity and reflect the casual historical events in the 1980s such as the rioting and Princess Diana's wedding and creates the colloquial mood of the film. This has helped recognise that the editing should have an artistic element to it which in doing so creates a connotation related to the topic of the film.

I have also realised by looking at the titles that they are arranged in a logical way that complements the film. For example, the major cast, crew and production members often come at the start or the end whereas the less significant members are denoted somewhere near the middle of an opening sequence.
In my opening, I think that I am going to use this so that the cast are credited in a reasonable way in terms of their contribution/significance for my film.

I also believe that my clips in my opening sequence needs have a creative feel to it in order to make it seem innovative and not cliche. This means that the titles should connote my film's storyline by reflecting the themes and topics. For example, in This Is England, it uses an urban typography which connotes the gritty and rough experience we are yet to witness.