Research

In early research for our coursework, we looked at the title sequence for a TV show, we know that it is a TV show but this has taught me a lot about title sequences.



The first TV show title sequence we watched was Six Feet Under, below are some of the features included in the prgoramme are listed below.

Close - ups are used in title sequences to draw the audiences attention to what the programme is about. E.g In Six Feet Under, we see a close - up of some feet, which have a tag on, this suggests to the audience that it is a human body.

Titles are displayed in the programme in various ways, on grave stones, on the embalming fluid, the seperation of the hands at the beginning leave a title, these all symbolise death.

A shot of somebody disinfecting their hands suggests to the audience some kind of hospital, and that they may have just been dealing with somebody who has passed on.

Impact music has been used, a good example of this is when the wheel on the trolley moves rapidly, this draws the audiences attention to the fact that the programme is going to take place in a hospital and also that something has happened.

A crow has been used in the programmes opening title sequence, this symbolises death this is because crow's are associated with death as they are scavengers.

The name of the programme has been shown to the audience in a very clever way, a shot of the tree has been used, with roots coming down witht he name in a box made by the roots. This represents the cycle of life and also the roots represent the title, they are going down six feet.


Dexter, is another TV programme we have watched and picked up tips off.




This has used similiar features to Six Feet Under, Close - ups have been used, in this TV programme the use of close - ups is also representative to death. E.g. the close - up of Dexter swatting the mosquito, this gives the audience a insight into what type of person he is, and that he likes to kill things.

Natural diegetic sound has been used in this TV programme, the sounds go well with the images used, as they represent two things, the exact thing they are meant to and also people's body parts and blood. E.g. the ham that is sizzling in the frying pan. This represents the reality to the imnage, of some ham being fried but also the horrible thoughts of an animal gorging on a piece of meat.

The use of image in this title sequence has been used to represent body parts being torn, broken, mushed and squeezed. E.g. the coffee beans being grinded in the coffee machine, this makes the audience think of bones being crushed, another example is when Dexter is putting his t-shirt on, the image given to the audience represents a body bag. All these images symbolise death.

Non  - diegetic sound is used throughout this title sequence. The use of a theme tune for the TV programme, is that it reminds the viewer of what they are watching, if it is catchy enough then people are more likely to remember it and also it lets the TV programme have its own unique feel to it. Another use of non - diegetic music is the use of a triangle when the blood droplet lands in the sink. This draws the audiences attention to the blood droplet, and how it is significant to the programme.

A different title sequence we have watched and learnt from was one from a former De Aston student. El Hombre Angelico is a title sequence involving murders.



The features used in this Movie Title Sequence were again, close - ups, there were close - ups of the dead people's hands, the blood droplets on the plate, the beef, the mouth chewing on the food, the eye of the murderer. These made the film seem very intense and at the same time 'moreish' in an odd way, that you want to see what happens next.

The music used in the title sequence was very intense, it made it very gripping, this causes tension and also grabs the viewers attention, so that they want to watch it. The constant beat and rhythm of the music is disturbed by the stabbing of the piece of meat, this creates a sense of uncertainty and death.

The titles in this TV programme have been very carefully thought about, sometimes hard to read but very clever in the way it has been laid out. E.g. the names of the actors were written on a letter contained in an envelope, the magnifying glass, this is a very clever one as it creates the mood of mystery so does the name written on the piece of paper which is being burnt.

We viewed To Kill A Mocking Bird to observe the features used in that title sequence.

To Kill a Mocking Bird

The features used in this TV programme are similiar to the previous programmes above.

Close - ups are used again, in this programme theyare used for a reason other than death. The movement of the toys in the box represent.........

The background in this title seqeunce is black, this draws more attention to the foregrounded images, this is done for a reason.

Titles used in this programme are the same for everybody, but different fonts and styles are used to show the certain jobs, the crew have done. E.g. Set Decorations Oliver Emert, these help to seperate the jobs from the people who perform these jobs.

Downton Abbey

This is another TV programme we have watched to pick up on features used in the title sequence.

Titles used in this sequence are all the same style, font, size, this suggests to the audience that no one is better than another person and that they all do the same job. Also at the end of the title sequence the name of the programme is shown on a black and white background, these colours contrast, this suggests to the audience the contrast in the house of thge servants and the residents, that the residents are better and it also implies the contrast of the current house and the house that they will be moving into if they can't find a way to keep their house.

there is use of close - ups in this title sequence, a close up of the plate and the cutlery being perfectly aligned suggests the wealth of the residents. there is also a close up of the bell, this bell is used to call the servants, to a certain room, this suggests the staus and class of the residents as they have servants.